Hot swappable choke actuator system and/or method

Abstract

A system having a choke assembly with a mandrel extending therefrom, an actuator with an actuator member extending therefrom, and a spool having a bore therethrough configured to provide a passage for the mandrel and the actuator member. The spool further includes a first end configured to be coupled to the choke assembly, a second end configured to be coupled to the actuator; and an access port formed in a wall of the spool. The system also includes a locking device configured to couple the mandrel to the actuator member within the bore of the spool. The access port is configured to receive the locking device.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a spool configured to couple a choke assembly to an actuator, the spool comprising:   an access port extending from an outer surface of the spool to an inner surface of the spool; and   a locking device configured to couple a mandrel of the choke assembly to an actuator member of the actuator.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first flange disposed proximate a first end of the spool coupled to the choke assembly and a second flange disposed proximate an opposite end of the spool coupled to the actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first flange is removably coupled to the choke assembly and the second flange is removably coupled to the actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spool further comprises a longitudinal bore providing a passage for the mandrel and the actuator member. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mandrel comprises a first transverse locking bore and the actuator comprises a second transverse locking bore. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first transverse locking bore is aligned with the second transverse locking bore to provide a passage through the mandrel and the actuator member for the locking device. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , the spool further comprising an access port configured to receive the locking device, the access port configured to provide a further passage through the spool to the passage through the mandrel and the actuator member for the locking device. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein alignment of the access port with the first transverse locking bore and the second transverse locking bore occurs when the choke assembly is in a fail-closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein alignment of the access port with the first transverse locking bore and the second transverse locking bore occurs when the choke assembly is in a fail-open position. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 opening an access port of a spool disposed between the choke assembly and the actuator;   removing a locking device configured to couple a mandrel of the choke assembly and an actuator member of the actuator; and   decoupling the actuator member from the mandrel.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising removing a removable cover from the access port prior to removing the locking device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising aligning the locking device with the access port. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising aligning the access port of the spool with a first transverse locking port of the mandrel and a second transverse locking port of the actuator member prior to aligning the locking device with the access port. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising servicing the actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising coupling the mandrel to the actuator member. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 a choke assembly comprising a mandrel extending therefrom;   an actuator comprising an actuator member extending therefrom;   a spool having a bore therethrough configured to provide a passage for the mandrel and the actuator member, the spool further comprising:
 a first end configured to be coupled to the choke assembly; 
 a second end configured to be coupled to the actuator; and 
 an access port formed in a wall of the spool; and 
   a locking device configured to couple the mandrel to the actuator member within the bore of the spool,   wherein the access port is configured to receive the locking device.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the actuator further comprises a coupling bore configured to receive the mandrel. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the mandrel further comprises a shoulder configured to abut the actuator member. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the spool further comprises a removable cover configured to be disposed in the access port. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the spool is removably coupled to the choke assembly and the actuator.