Pneumatic Rotating Control Device Latch

Abstract

A rotating control device can include an engagement member that secures relative to an outer housing an annular seal and/or a bearing, the member displacing in response to a pneumatic pressure differential. A method can include applying a pneumatic pressure differential, thereby displacing an engagement member that secures an annular seal relative to an outer housing, with rotation of the seal relative to the housing being permitted when the member is displaced to a position in which removal of the seal from the housing is prevented. A rotating control device can include a piston and an engagement member which secures an annular seal relative to an outer housing, the piston having piston areas exposable to a pneumatic pressure differential, and with increased pressure applied to another piston area of the piston displacing the piston to a position in which the member does not secure the seal relative to the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rotating control device, comprising:
 an outer housing;   at least one annular seal in a passage extending through the outer housing; and   a latch in the outer housing, the latch including at least one engagement member which releasably secures relative to the outer housing at least one of a group comprising the annular seal and a bearing, wherein the engagement member displaces radially in response to a pneumatic pressure differential.   
     
     
         2 . The rotating control device of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement member displaces in further response to displacement of a piston exposed to the pneumatic pressure differential. 
     
     
         3 . The rotating control device of  claim 2 , wherein the piston displaces upwardly against gravity to a position in which the engagement member secures relative to the outer housing the at least one of the group comprising the annular seal and the bearing. 
     
     
         4 . The rotating control device of  claim 3 , further comprising a retainer member which releasably retains the piston in the upwardly displaced position. 
     
     
         5 . The rotating control device of  claim 2 , wherein the piston displaces to a position in which the engagement member does not secure relative to the outer housing the at least one of the group comprising the annular seal and the bearing, and wherein a wedge biases the engagement member to displace in response to the displacement of the piston to the position. 
     
     
         6 . The rotating control device of  claim 2 , wherein the piston includes first and second piston areas exposable to the pneumatic pressure differential, and wherein increased pressure applied to a third piston area of the piston displaces the piston to a position in which the engagement member does not secure relative to the outer housing the at least one of the group comprising the annular seal and the bearing. 
     
     
         7 . The rotating control device of  claim 1 , further comprising seals which straddle the engagement member and sealingly engage between the outer housing and a seal and bearing assembly which includes the bearing. 
     
     
         8 . A method of releasably latching at least one annular seal relative to an outer housing of a rotating control device, the method comprising:
 applying a pneumatic pressure differential to a latch of the rotating control device, thereby displacing an engagement member that releasably secures the annular seal relative to the outer housing, and   wherein rotation of the annular seal relative to the outer housing is permitted when the engagement member is displaced to a position in which removal of the annular seal from the outer housing is prevented.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising a bearing which provides for rotation of the annular seal relative to the outer housing, and wherein the displacing the engagement member also releasably secures the bearing relative to the outer housing. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising rotating a threaded member, thereby displacing the engagement member to a position in which removal of the annular seal from the outer housing is permitted. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the displacing the engagement member further comprises displacing a piston exposed to the pneumatic pressure differential. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the displacing the piston further comprises displacing the piston upwardly against gravity. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the displacing the piston upwardly comprises engaging a retainer member, thereby releasably retaining the piston. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising displacing the piston to a position in which the engagement member does not secure the annular seal relative to the outer housing, thereby causing a wedge to bias the engagement member outwardly. 
     
     
         15 . A rotating control device, comprising:
 an outer housing;   at least one annular seal; and   a latch including a piston and an engagement member which releasably secures the annular seal relative to the outer housing, the piston having first and second piston areas exposable to a pneumatic pressure differential, and wherein increased pressure applied to a third piston area of the piston displaces the piston to a position in which the engagement member does not secure the annular seal relative to the outer housing.   
     
     
         16 . The rotating control device of  claim 15 , wherein the engagement member displaces to a position in which the engagement member secures the annular seal relative to the outer housing in response to exposure of the first and second piston areas to the pneumatic pressure differential. 
     
     
         17 . The rotating control device of  claim 15 , wherein the piston displaces upwardly against gravity to a position in which the engagement member secures the annular seal relative to the outer housing. 
     
     
         18 . The rotating control device of  claim 17 , further comprising a retainer member which releasably retains the piston in the upwardly displaced position. 
     
     
         19 . The rotating control device of  claim 15 , wherein a wedge biases the engagement member to displace in response to the displacement of the piston to the position in which the engagement member does not secure the annular seal relative to the outer housing. 
     
     
         20 . The rotating control device of  claim 15 , further comprising seals which straddle the engagement member and sealingly engage in the outer housing.