Systems And Methods For Threadably Connecting An Object With A Cylinder

Abstract

A system and a method for providing an external thread on a cylinder. The system includes a circumferential groove in an exterior surface of the cylinder and a split ring. The split ring has a lug on an interior side for inserting within the groove and has the external thread on an exterior side. The split ring may include a shoulder on the exterior side of the split ring for providing a torquing surface. The system may include a retaining mechanism for inhibiting rotation of the split ring within the groove. The retaining mechanism may include a slot in the groove and a key for inserting within the slot and within a gap in the split ring. Systems and methods for threadably connecting a tool, component or object having an internal thread with a cylinder having an external thread. The external thread on the cylinder may be provided using the system for providing an external thread on a cylinder, may be integral with the cylinder, or may be provided in some other manner. The cylinder may be a housing and the tool, component or object may be a stabilizer.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A system for providing an external thread on a cylinder, comprising:
 (a) a circumferential groove defined in an exterior surface of the cylinder; and   (b) a split ring having an interior side and an exterior side, the interior side comprising a lug for inserting within the groove and the exterior side comprising the external thread.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the split ring has a split ring axis, a proximal axial end and a distal axial end, wherein the exterior side of the split ring comprises a shoulder transverse to the split ring axis, and wherein the external thread is axially located between the proximal axial end of the split ring and the shoulder. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the lug is axially located between the proximal axial end of the split ring and the shoulder. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the external thread and the lug are axially located at a common axial position on the split ring so that the lug provides support for the external thread. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the split ring has a first circumferential end, a second circumferential end, and a circumferential length between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end, and wherein the shoulder extends for the entire circumferential length of the split ring. 
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the external thread has opposing sides and wherein an angle between the opposing sides is at least 60 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a retainer mechanism for inhibiting rotation of the split ring within the groove. 
     
     
         8 . The system as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the split ring has a first circumferential end and a second circumferential end, wherein a gap is provided between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end of the split ring when the lug is inserted within the groove, and wherein the retainer mechanism comprises a slot defined within the groove and a key for inserting within the slot and within the gap between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end of the split ring. 
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cylinder has a circumference and wherein the groove extends around the entire circumference of the cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the split ring has a first circumferential end, a second circumferential end, and a circumferential length between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end, and wherein the lug extends for the entire circumferential length of the split ring. 
     
     
         11 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cylinder is a component of a pipe string for insertion within a borehole. 
     
     
         12 . The system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the cylinder comprises a housing. 
     
     
         13 . The system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the system is configured to connect a stabilizer with the housing with a threaded connection, and wherein the stabilizer comprises an internal thread which is compatible with the external thread on the split ring. 
     
     
         14 . A method for providing an external thread on a cylinder, comprising:
 (a) providing a circumferential groove in an exterior surface of the cylinder;   (b) providing a split ring having an interior side and an exterior side, the interior side comprising a lug for inserting within the groove and the exterior side comprising the external thread; and   (c) inserting the lug within the groove in order to mount the split ring on the cylinder.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the split ring has a first circumferential end, a second circumferential end, and a circumferential length between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end, further comprising separating the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end and passing the split ring over an end of the cylinder in order to insert the lug within the groove. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising installing a retainer mechanism for inhibiting rotation of the split ring within the groove. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the retainer mechanism comprises a slot defined within the groove and a key for inserting within the slot, and wherein installing the retainer mechanism comprises inserting the key within the slot within a gap between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end of the split ring. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the cylinder is a component of a pipe string for insertion within a borehole, wherein the cylinder comprises a housing, wherein the system is configured to connect a stabilizer with the housing with a threaded connection, wherein the stabilizer comprises an internal thread which is compatible with the external thread on the split ring, and wherein the method further comprises threading the stabilizer onto the split ring. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising threading the stabilizer onto the split ring until a surface on the stabilizer engages with a shoulder on the split ring. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising threading the stabilizer onto the split ring to a desired torque resistance between the stabilizer and the split ring.