A Method of Coupling Tubular Member

Abstract

A method of coupling tubular members.

1 . A method of coupling a first member to a second member, comprising: 
 forming a first set of coupling slots in the first member;    forming a second set of coupling slots in the second member;    aligning the first and second pairs of coupling slots;    inserting coupling elements into each of the pairs of coupling slots; and    removing the coupling elements from the pairs of coupling slots by pressurizing a chamber defined between the first and second member and displacing the first member relative to the second member in the axial direction.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein removing the coupling elements from the pairs of coupling slots by pressurizing a chamber defined between the first and second member comprises: 
 removing the coupling elements from the pairs of coupling slots when the operating pressure within the chamber defined between the first and second member exceeds a predetermined amount.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein removing the coupling elements from the pairs of coupling slots when the operating pressure within the chamber defined between the first and second member exceeds a predetermined amount comprises: 
 displacing a retaining sleeve when the operating pressure within the chamber defined between the first and second member exceeds a predetermined amount.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 removing the coupling elements from the pairs of coupling slots by displacing the first member downwardly relative to the second member and then displacing the first member upwardly relative to the second member.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein decoupling the first member from the second member further comprises: 
 displacing a retaining sleeve when the first member is displaced downwardly relative to the second member.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising decoupling the first member from the second member by decoupling the first member from the second member at a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart locations by displacing the first member upwardly relative to the second member.  
   
   
       7 . A method of coupling a first member to a second member, comprising: 
 forming a first set of coupling slots in the first member;    forming a second set of coupling slots in the second member;    aligning the first and second pairs of coupling slots;    inserting coupling elements into each of the pairs of coupling slots; and    removing the coupling elements from the pairs of coupling slots by: 
 pressurizing an annular chamber defined between the first and second member;  
 removing the coupling elements from the pairs of coupling slots when the operating pressure within the annular chamber defined between the first and second member exceeds a predetermined amount;  
 displacing a retaining sleeve when the operating pressure within the annular chamber defined between the first and second member exceeds a predetermined amount; and  
 displacing the first member relative to the second member in the axial direction.  
   
   
   
       8 . A method of coupling a first member to a second member, comprising: 
 forming a first set of coupling slots in the first member;    forming a second set of coupling slots in the second member;    aligning the first and second pairs of coupling slots;    inserting coupling elements into each of the pairs of coupling slots;    defining a chamber between the first and second members;    removing the coupling elements from the pairs of coupling slots when the operating pressure within the chamber defined between the first and second members exceeds the predetermined amount and displacing a retaining sleeve relative to one of the first and second members in an axial direction.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the retaining sleeve defines one or more longitudinal passages.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the retaining sleeve and one of the first and second members define an annular pressure chamber therebetween.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 displacing the retaining sleeve when the operating pressure within the annular pressure chamber exceeds a predetermined amount.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 resiliently biasing the coupling elements into each of the coupling slots.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 releasably retaining the coupling elements within each of the coupling slots.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second sets of coupling slots are circumferentially spaced apart.  
   
   
       15 . A method of coupling a first member to a second member, comprising: 
 forming a first slot in the first member;    forming a second slot in the second member;    aligning the first and second slots;    inserting a coupling element into the first and second slots;    resiliently biasing the coupling element into the first and second slots;    releasably retaining the coupling element within the first and second slots;    defining an annular chamber between the first and second members; and    allowing the coupling element to be released from the first and second slots when the operating pressure within the annular chamber exceeds a predetermined amount and displacing the first and second members relative to one another in an axial direction.    
   
   
       16 . A method of coupling a first member to a second member, comprising: 
 forming a first set of circumferentially spaced apart coupling slots in the first member;    forming a second set of circumferentially spaced apart coupling slots in the second member;    aligning the first and second pairs of coupling slots;    inserting coupling elements into each of the pairs of coupling slots;    resiliently biasing the coupling elements into each of the coupling slots;    defining an annular chamber between the first and second members;    positioning a retaining sleeve that defines one or more longitudinal passages within the annular chamber for retaining the coupling elements within the coupling slots;    defining a pressure chamber between the retaining sleeve and one of the first and second members; and    allowing the coupling elements to be removed from the coupling slots by displacing the retaining sleeve when the operating pressure within the pressure chamber exceeds a predetermined amount and displacing the first and second members relative to one another in an axial direction.