Gravity actuated connection mechanism for high pressure wellhead applications
A pressurizable assembly which comprises first and second assemblies. The first assembly has a plurality of cam grooves while the second assembly is size and shaped to intimately receive and mate with the first assembly. The second assembly has a connection member a plurality of radially mounted locking pin mechanisms for interacting with one of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves. Axial movement of the second assembly, toward and away from the first assembly, causes the plurality of locking pin mechanisms to follow along the cam grooves to an intermediate locking position which locks the second assembly with the first assembly, while a subsequent axial movement of the second assembly, toward and away from the first assembly, causes the plurality of locking pin mechanisms to follow along the plurality of cam grooves and disengage the second assembly from the first assembly.
1. A pressurizable assembly for facilitating the flow of a fluid from a wellhead to pressurized equipment and vice versa, the pressurizable assembly comprising:
a first assembly having a wellhead connection member which facilitates a releaseable connection with the wellhead, and the first assembly defining a first assembly fluid passageway axially through the first assembly;
a second assembly having an equipment connection member which facilitates a releaseable connection with the pressurized equipment, and the second assembly defining a second assembly fluid passageway axially through the second assembly;
the first assembly carrying one of: 1) at least one spring loaded locking pin mechanism, or 2) at least one cam groove defining a one way passageway for the locking pin, while the second assembly carrying the other of: 1) the at least one spring loaded locking pin at least one locking pin mechanism and 2) at least one the cam groove defining a one way passageway for the at least one locking pin mechanism;
when the first assembly engages with the second assembly, by a relative downward movement of the second assembly relative to the first assembly to a lower most position then followed by a relative upward movement, the at least one locking pin mechanism follows the at least one cam groove one way passageway in a first direction and the first and the second assemblies become locked to one another and the first assembly fluid passageway and the second assembly fluid passageway form a fluid-tight seal therebetween which permits the flow of the fluid between the wellhead and the pressurized equipment; and
when the second assembly is subsequently moved, downward and then upward, relative to the first assembly, the at least one locking pin mechanism continues following the at least one cam groove one way passageway in the first direction and the first and the second assemblies become disengaged and separated from one another.
2. A pressurizable assembly comprising:
a first assembly and a second assembly which, when assembled with one another, form the pressurizable assembly;
the first assembly having a tubular section, at a first end thereof, for mating with an inwardly facing surface of the second assembly and a connection member, at a second end thereof, for connecting the first assembly to the wellhead;
the connection member, the first assembly, and the tubular section of the first assembly having an opening extending therethrough which permits a flow of fluid;
the first assembly having a plurality of spaced apart cam grooves one way passageways formed in an exterior surface thereof;
the second assembly comprising a hollow housing which has an internal diameter which is size and shaped to intimately receive and mate with the tubular section of the first assembly and at least partially surround the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves one way passageways of the first assembly;
one of the first assembly and the second assembly supporting at least one elastomeric seal for forming a seal therebetween when the first assembly and the second assembly engage with one another;
the second assembly having a connection member which facilitates connection of the second assembly to a desired piece of pressure equipment, and the second assembly having a plurality of locking pin mechanisms which are each located to interact respectively with one of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves one way passageways of the first assembly;
the connection member of the second assembly and the hollow housing having an opening extending therethrough which permits a flow of fluid; and
axially movement of the second assembly, toward and away from the first assembly, causing each of the plurality of locking pin mechanisms to follow along a respective one of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves one way passageways to an intermediate locking position which connects the second assembly to the first assembly, while a subsequent axially movement of the second assembly, toward and away from the first assembly, causing each of the plurality of locking pin mechanisms to follow along a respective one of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves one way passageways to a release position which permits the second assembly to disconnect from the first assembly.
3. The pressurizable assembly according to claim 2 , wherein each of the locking pin mechanisms comprises a pin housing which accommodates a locking pin and a compression spring, and the compression spring biases the locking pin radially inward for engagement with one of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves one way passageways of the first assembly.
4. The pressurizable assembly according to claim 3 , wherein plurality of spaced apart cam grooves one way passageways comprises four cam grooves and the plurality of radially mounted locking pin mechanisms comprise four locking pin mechanisms.
5. The pressurizable assembly according to claim 3 , wherein when a rear surface of each locking pin mechanism is generally fully retracted into the locking pin housing and thus generally not visible to an operator, this provides visual feedback to the operator that the locking pin mechanism is fully engaged and locked.
6. The pressurizable assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the first assembly has a cylindrical surface and a pair of V-shaped pin guide surfaces which assist with directing and channeling each of the locking pins toward a respective entrance of one of the plurality of cam grooves one way passageways.
7. The pressurizable assembly according to claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves one way passageways of the first assembly having an entrance and an exit, and the intermediate locking position is located between the entrance and the exit.
8. The pressurizable assembly according to claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves one way passageways of the first assembly comprises a first cam segment, a second cam segment, a third cam segment and a fourth cam segment which are sequentially arranged and interconnected with one another between the entrance and the exit.
9. The pressurizable assembly according to claim 8 , wherein each of the first cam segment, the second cam segment, the third cam segment and the fourth cam segment are stepped segments which assist with guiding the respective locking pin mechanism from the entrance toward the exit during the relative axial movement of the second assembly toward and away from the first assembly.
10. The pressurizable assembly according to claim 9 , wherein each step of the first cam segment, the second cam segment, the third cam segment and the fourth cam segment each have a step of between 1/16 to 1 inch.
11. The pressurizable assembly according to claim 8 , wherein each one of the first cam segment, the second cam segment, the third cam segment and the fourth cam segment are inclined cam surfaces which are interconnected with, but separated one another, by a respective step so as to form a continuous cam groove that defines a single direction of travel for the respective locking pin mechanism.
12. The pressurizable assembly according to claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves one way passageways of the first assembly has a generally W-shaped configuration.