Moveable joint

Abstract

A moveable joint suitable for connection with a tubular member including a socket member having an inner surface defining a cavity and a rotation member having an outer surface corresponding to the cavity wherein the rotation member is journaled for rotation in said cavity. The rotation member has an inner surface defining a cylindrical bore through the rotation member and centered on a longitudinal axis of rotation member, the cylindrical bore being configured to receive a tubular member. The moveable joint further includes a releasable locking mechanism for releasably locking a tubular member in the cylindrical bore so that when the tubular member is locked in the cylindrical bore the tubular member and the rotation member are fixed with respect to one another and are rotatable relative to the socket member. The locking mechanism includes a cage connected to the rotation member.

1 . A moveable joint suitable for connection with a tubular member, comprising:
 a socket member having an inner surface defining a cavity; and   a rotation member having an outer surface corresponding to said cavity, said rotation member being journaled for rotation in said cavity;   wherein said rotation member has an inner surface defining a cylindrical bore through said rotation member and centered on a longitudinal axis of said rotation member, the cylindrical bore being configured to receive a tubular member, where said moveable joint further comprises a releasable locking mechanism for releasably locking a tubular member in said cylindrical bore so that when said tubular member is locked in said cylindrical bore said tubular member and said rotation member are fixed with respect to one another and are rotatable relative to said socket member; and   wherein said locking mechanism comprises a cage connected to the rotation member and having a plurality of windows partially closing recesses in the inner surface of said rotation member, which recesses are elongate in a longitudinal direction parallel the longitudinal axis, house a roller and have a base inclined in said longitudinal direction so that at a lower end of each recess the roller protrudes through said window and at an upper end thereof the roller protrudes less or not at all.   
     
     
         2 . The moveable joint according to  claim 1 , wherein said cavity corresponds to a spherical segment and said rotation member is a ball member that has an outer surface corresponding to a spherical segment that is complementary to said cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The moveable joint according to  claim 2 , wherein said ball member has three rotational degrees of freedom with respect to said socket member. 
     
     
         4 . The moveable joint according to any preceding  claim 1 , further comprising one or more limiting members that are arranged to limit rotational movement of the rotation member relative to the socket member. 
     
     
         5 . The moveable joint according to  claim 1 , wherein said rotation member comprises an outer sleeve having a frusto-conical bore centered on said longitudinal axis, a clamp member in the sleeve formed by clamp-segments, each having side faces, end faces, a frusto-conical exterior surface adapted to match said frusto-conical bore, and a cylindrical interior surface defining said cylindrical bore, wherein said cage comprises a cage-segment in respect of each clamp-segment. 
     
     
         6 . The moveable joint according to  claim 5 , wherein each of said clamp segments has a lift eye by which said clamp elements may be lifted with respect to said sleeves so that said clamp-segments slide up said frusto-conical bore separating from one another in a peripheral direction as they progress. 
     
     
         7 . The moveable joint according to  claim 5 , wherein a key on one of said frusto-conical surfaces is engageable in a groove in the other of said frusto-conical surfaces such that torque applied to said clamp-segments is transmitted to said sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The moveable joint according to  claim 7 , wherein said key is slidable in said slot and said key and said slot are parallel the cone angle of said frusto-conical surfaces. 
     
     
         9 . The moveable joint according to  claim 5 , wherein there are three clamp-segments. 
     
     
         10 . The moveable joint according to  claim 5 , wherein a bias mechanism urges said clamp-segments apart from each other in a peripheral direction, where said bias mechanism is preferably a spring disposed between said side faced of the clamp segments. 
     
     
         11 . The moveable joint according to  claim 5 , wherein between a clamp position and an open position of the moveable joint, the clamp-segments move from a position in which the arcs of the cage-segments lie in a common cylindrical surface and the frusto-conical surfaces are flush with each other, to a release position in which said side faces are spaced from one another and said frusto-conical surfaces have only line contact between them. 
     
     
         12 . The moveable joint according to  claim 5 , wherein said frusto-conical surfaces are part-cylindrical surfaces that are inclined toward said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . The moveable joint according to  claim 1 , wherein said rollers are balls and said recesses have a semi-circular base of diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the balls. 
     
     
         14 . The moveable joint according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the outer surface of the rotation member and the inner surface of the socket member comprise a low friction surface so as to permit rotation of the rotation member relative to the socket member. 
     
     
         15 . The moveable joint according to  1 , further comprising bearings between the rotation member and the socket member so as to permit rotation of the rotation member relative to the socket member. 
     
     
         16 . The moveable joint according to  claim 1 , wherein said cylindrical bore passes through the rotation member such that the cylindrical bore has two open ends, the socket member being configured around said rotation member such that a tubular member may protrude from both of the open ends of the cylindrical bore. 
     
     
         17 . The moveable joint according to  claim 16 , wherein said socket member comprises two socket segments that are connectable to one another around said rotation member. 
     
     
         18 . The moveable joint according to  claim 1 , wherein said cylindrical bore is a blind bore such that the cylindrical bore has only one open end, the socket member being configured around said rotation member such that a tubular member may protrude from the open end of the cylindrical bore. 
     
     
         19 . The moveable joint according to  claim 1 , including a tubular member. 
     
     
         20 . The moveable joint according to  claim 19 , wherein said tubular member is one of a wellbore casing member, a drill string tubing member, a pipe member, a collared tubing member, and a steel catenary riser (SCR). 
     
     
         21 . (canceled)