Quick connect rods
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to a rod string with a plurality of rod sections and a method for making up and breaking out the rod sections. The rod sections have corresponding pin and box ends, each having grooves and lands and an ungrooved portion. The rod sections can be connected by inserting the pin end into a box end and turning less than a full turn. A lock engagement mechanism having a first end and a second end is provided inside the rod sections and locks when the pin end is rotated into place. The lock engagement mechanism has a rotation stop which protrudes proximate the first end to prevent relative rotation of two rod sections until a key manipulates the lock engagement mechanism to retract the rotation stop.
1. A lock engagement mechanism in a rod section, the lock engagement mechanism being movable between a first position and a second position, the rod section comprising a pin end and a box end, the lock engagement mechanism comprising:
a body located within the rod section;
spring rods located within the body, the spring rods comprising an engagement point located at an end of the spring rods, wherein the engagement point
protrudes from the pin end when the lock engagement mechanism is in the second position, wherein the spring rods bias the lock engagement mechanism in the second position;
a removal drive rotationally connected to the spring rods for rotating the spring rods relative to the body;
cams located in an end of the body wherein the spring rods are movable within the cams.
2. The lock engagement mechanism of claim 1 wherein the engagement point contacts a box end of an adjacent rod section when in the second position.
3. The lock engagement mechanism of claim 2 wherein the box end of the adjacent rod section is locked to the rod section when the lock engagement mechanism is in the second position.
4. The lock engagement mechanism of claim 1 wherein the second position comprises a locked position and wherein the first position comprises an unlocked position.
5. A rod string comprising a plurality of rod sections, each of the plurality of rod sections comprising:
the lock engagement mechanism of claim 4 ;
a plurality of grooves and lands disposed on the pin end of the rod section;
a plurality of grooves and lands disposed in the box end of the rod section corresponding to the grooves and lands of the pin end at the second end of the body.
6. The rod string of claim 5 further comprising a release mechanism for moving the lock engagement mechanism from the locked to the unlocked position.
7. The rod string of claim 5 wherein the lock engagement mechanism is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position by inserting a key into the box end.
8. The rod string of claim 5 wherein the grooves and lands of the box end are discontinuous about the circumference of the pin end.