Swivel Misalignment Coupling for Connecting Conduit Sections

Abstract

A swivel misalignment coupling for connecting pipe sections in a high-pressure conduit. In one embodiment, the coupling is a three-bolt coupling having a female coupling member, a male coupling member, and a swiveling collar member. The male and female coupling members have contact surfaces that are spherical to enable sealing contact between them. A seal ring may be positioned between the contact surfaces to ensure a good seal. The collar swivels around the male coupling member to facilitate fastening of the collar to the female coupling member, which holds the male and female coupling members in sealing engagement. Recesses may be positioned radially inward from the attachment points (e.g., bolt holes) of the female coupling member to reduce stress and potential deformation of the contact surface.

1 . A swivel misalignment coupling for connecting conduit sections comprising:
 a female coupling member having an aperture therethrough, wherein the female coupling member includes
 a rearward end which is configured to be connected to a first conduit section, 
 a forward end which has a female pocket including a first contact surface, and 
 a stationary flange at the periphery of the female coupling member having no more than three attachment points; 
   a male coupling member having an aperture therethrough, wherein the male coupling member includes
 a rearward end which is configured to be connected to a second conduit section, and 
 a forward end which has a male nose including a second contact surface configured to mate with the first contact surface of the female coupling member; 
   a swiveling collar member
 wherein the swiveling collar member is configured to be positioned around the male coupling member and to swivel around the male coupling member, 
 wherein the swiveling collar member has no more than three attachment points and wherein each of the attachment points of the swiveling collar member is positioned to be secured to a corresponding one of the attachment points of the stationary flange, and 
 wherein the swiveling collar member is configured to abut a rearward-facing portion of the male coupling member; and 
   one or more fasteners, wherein each of the fasteners is configured to secure one of the attachment points of the swiveling collar member to the corresponding one of the attachment points of the stationary flange, thereby securing the swiveling collar member to the stationary flange and holding the first contact surface of the female coupling member against the second contact surface of the male coupling member.   
     
     
         2 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the first contact surface comprises a concave spherical contact surface. 
     
     
         3 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the second contact surface comprises a convex spherical contact surface. 
     
     
         4 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein each of the attachment points includes a bolt hole and wherein each of the fasteners comprises a threaded bolt configured to be inserted through one of the bolt holes of the swiveling collar member and one of the bolt holes of the stationary flange and a corresponding threaded nut configured to be threaded onto the bolt, thereby securing the corresponding attachment points of the swiveling collar member and the stationary flange to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling is configured to provide a sealing connection at internal pressures of at least 200 psi. 
     
     
         6 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the female coupling member, male coupling member and swiveling collar member are forged. 
     
     
         7 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the female coupling member, male coupling member and swiveling collar member are machined. 
     
     
         8 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein for each attachment point, the stationary flange includes a recess positioned radially inward from attachment point. 
     
     
         9 . A position-adjustable conduit comprising:
 a plurality of conduit sections; and   a plurality of couplings;   wherein each of the conduit sections is coupled to another one of the conduit sections by one of the couplings, and wherein each of the couplings includes
 a female coupling member having an aperture therethrough, wherein the female coupling member is connected to a first one of the conduit sections and has a forward end which has a female pocket including a first contact surface and has a stationary flange at the periphery of the female coupling member having no more than three attachment points, 
 a male coupling member having an aperture therethrough, wherein the male coupling member is connected to a second one of the conduit sections and has a forward end which has a male nose including a second contact surface configured to mate with the first contact surface of the female coupling member, 
 a swiveling collar member configured to be positioned around the male coupling member, to abut a rearward-facing portion of the male coupling member and to swivel around the male coupling member, wherein the swiveling collar member has no more than three attachment points and wherein each of the attachment points of the swiveling collar member is positioned to be secured to a corresponding one of the attachment points of the stationary flange, and 
 one or more fasteners, wherein each of the fasteners is configured to secure one of the attachment points of the swiveling collar member to the corresponding one of the attachment points of the stationary flange, thereby securing the swiveling collar member to the stationary flange and holding the first contact surface of the female coupling member against the second contact surface of the male coupling member. 
   
     
     
         10 . The position-adjustable conduit of  claim 9 , wherein the first contact surface comprises a concave spherical contact surface. 
     
     
         11 . The position-adjustable conduit of  claim 9 , wherein the second contact surface comprises a convex spherical contact surface. 
     
     
         12 . The position-adjustable conduit of  claim 9 , wherein each of the attachment points includes a bolt hole and wherein each of the fasteners comprises a threaded bolt configured to be inserted through one of the bolt holes of the swiveling collar member and one of the bolt holes of the stationary flange and a corresponding threaded nut configured to be threaded onto the bolt, thereby securing the corresponding attachment points of the swiveling collar member and the stationary flange to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The position-adjustable conduit of  claim 9 , wherein the coupling is configured to provide a sealing connection at internal pressures of at least 200 psi. 
     
     
         14 . The position-adjustable conduit of  claim 9 , wherein the female coupling member, male coupling member and swiveling collar member are forged. 
     
     
         15 . The position-adjustable conduit of  claim 9 , wherein the female coupling member, male coupling member and swiveling collar member are machined. 
     
     
         16 . The position-adjustable conduit of  claim 9 , wherein for each attachment point, the stationary flange includes a recess positioned radially inward from attachment point.