Pressure-retaining connector useful on wellheads

1. A pressure-retaining connector, comprising:

a generally tubular adapter having first and second adapter ends, the first adapter end configured to mate with pressure-retaining equipment, an elongate adapter sealing portion formed on the second adapter end, the adapter sealing portion providing an adapter sealing portion interior and an adapter sealing portion exterior;

a generally tubular receptacle, the receptacle having first and second receptacle ends, a receptacle sealing portion formed on the first receptacle end;

wherein a pressure seal is formed between the adapter sealing portion and the receptacle sealing portion when the adapter sealing portion is fully received over the receptacle sealing portion and constrained radially outwards;

a generally tubular lower body, the lower body having first and second lower body ends, the lower body received over the receptacle and contacting the receptacle at the lower body second end, the first lower body end extending parallel with the receptacle sealing portion and positioned to constrain the adapter portion radially when the adapter sealing portion is fully received over the receptacle sealing portion;

a generally cylindrical ball race, the ball race having first and second ball race ends, the ball race providing a plurality of holes in a circumferential pattern proximate the second ball race end, the ball race positioned such that the second ball race end contacts the first lower body end;

a plurality of ball bearings each received from outside the ball race into a corresponding hole, the holes each having a hole diameter such that the ball bearings protrude through the holes without passing through the holes while still allowing the ball bearings to roll freely as received in the holes; and

at least one annular adapter groove formed on an exterior of the adapter, the adapter groove positioned and shaped to receive the ball bearings through the holes when the adapter sealing portion is fully received over the receptacle sealing portion, wherein the adapter sealing portion and the receptor sealing portion are locked in sealing engagement when the ball bearings are compressed radially into the adapter groove.

2. The pressure-retaining connector of claim 1 , in which the receptacle sealing portion provides at least first and second o-ring seals, and in which the adapter sealing portion further provides a quick test port, the quick test port comprising a fluid passageway from the adapter sealing portion exterior through to the adapter sealing portion interior, wherein the quick test port is open to the adapter sealing portion interior at a location selected to lie between the first and second o-ring seals when the adapter sealing portion and the receptacle sealing portion form the pressure seal.

3. The pressure-retaining connector of claim 1 , further comprising:

a generally tubular floating member, the floating member having first and second floating member ends, the floating member received over the ball race and the lower body, wherein an interior of the first floating member end is in rolling engagement with the ball bearings while retaining the ball bearings in their holes, and wherein an interior of the second floating member end is in sliding sealing engagement with an exterior of the first lower body end;

a generally tubular sleeve, the sleeve having first and second sleeve ends, the sleeve received over the ball race, the floating member and the lower body wherein the an exterior of the second floating member end is in sliding sealing engagement with an interior of the sleeve, the second sleeve end sealingly contacting the lower body at the lower body second end so as to create a lower chamber below the second floating member end, the first sleeve end sealingly contacting the ball race so as to create an upper chamber above the first floating member end;

wherein hydraulic pressure introduced into the upper chamber encourages the floating member to slide towards the second sleeve end, which in turn causes a thicker portion of the floating member to compress the ball bearings radially; and

wherein hydraulic pressure introduced the lower chamber encourages the floating member to slide towards the first sleeve end, which in turn causes a thinner portion of the floating member to release the ball bearings from radial compression.

4. The pressure-retaining connector of claim 3 , in which the receptacle sealing portion provides at least first and second o-ring seals, and in which the adapter sealing portion further provides a quick test port, the quick test port comprising a fluid passageway from the adapter sealing portion exterior through to the adapter sealing portion interior, wherein the quick test port is open to the adapter sealing portion interior at a location selected to lie between the first and second o-ring seals when the adapter sealing portion and the receptacle sealing portion form the pressure seal.