Connector assembly and method

Abstract

A connector assembly for connection of two tubular members without rotation. The assembly includes the pin end of a first tubular member stabbed within the connector end of a second tubular member. A connector nut is threadedly connected or snap locked to the connector end of the second tubular member. The connector nut includes a retaining shoulder cooperating with a beveled shoulder on the pin end of the first tubular member to retain the first tubular member. The assembly includes seals to provide pressure integrity and prevent leaking. Cooperating rotational torque transfer profiles in the first and second tubular members enable operational rotation of the tubular string.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connector assembly, comprising:
 a first tubular member including an outer surface, an inner surface, and a recess in said outer surface, said inner surface forming a first bore, said first tubular member having a pin end with a first rotational torque transfer profile;   a second tubular member including an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface forming a second bore, said second tubular member having a connector end adapted to receive said pin end of said first tubular member within said second bore, wherein said inner surface of said connector end includes a second rotational torque transfer profile dimensioned to engage said first rotational torque transfer profile to transfer torque from said first tubular member to said second tubular member;   a connector nut interconnecting said first tubular member with said second tubular member to achieve fluid communication between said first bore and said second bore, said connector nut including an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper section, a lower section, and a thru hole in said upper section, said lower section of said connector nut detachably affixed to said connector end of said second tubular member, said upper section of said connector nut operatively retaining said pin end of said first tubular member; and   a holding device detachably positioned in said thru hole and said recess to maintain said connector nut in a fixed position relative to said first tubular member.   
     
     
         2 . The connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said inner surface of said lower section of said connector nut includes a first set of threads and said outer surface of said connector end of said second tubular member includes a second set of threads, said lower section of said connector nut threadedly affixed to said connector end of said second tubular member via mating engagement of said first set of threads with said second set of threads. 
     
     
         3 . The connector assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said first and second set of threads are each wicker-type threads. 
     
     
         4 . The connector assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said first and second set of threads are each breech lock-type threads, wherein the starting points of said breech lock-type threads of said first and second set of threads are staggered. 
     
     
         5 . The connector assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said inner surface of said upper section of said connector nut includes a retaining shoulder and said outer surface of said pin end of said first tubular member includes a beveled shoulder, said retaining shoulder cooperatively engaging said beveled shoulder to operatively retain said pin end of said first tubular member. 
     
     
         6 . The connector assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein said outer surface of said pin end of said first tubular member includes one or more seal means forming a pressure seal between said outer surface of said pin end of said first tubular member and said inner surface of said connector end of said second tubular member. 
     
     
         7 . The connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said pin end of said first tubular member includes a distal end, said distal end containing said first rotational torque transfer profile. 
     
     
         8 . The connector assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said first rotational torque transfer profile comprises a first wave-shaped surface and said second rotational torque transfer profile comprises a second wave-shaped surface dimensioned to operatively engage said first wave-shaped surface to transfer torque from said first tubular member to said second tubular member. 
     
     
         9 . The connector assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said first rotational torque transfer profile comprises a first castle-shaped surface and said second rotational torque transfer profile comprises a second castle-shaped surface dimensioned to operatively engage said first castle-shaped surface to transfer torque from said first tubular member to said second tubular member. 
     
     
         10 . A connector assembly, comprising:
 a first tubular member including an outer surface, an inner surface, and a recess in said outer surface, said inner surface forming a first bore, said first tubular member having a pin end;   a second tubular member including an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface forming a second bore, said second tubular member having a connector end adapted to receive said pin end of said first tubular member within said second bore;   a connector nut interconnecting said first tubular member with said second tubular member to achieve fluid communication between said first bore and said second bore, said connector nut including an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper section, a lower section, and a thru hole in said upper section, said lower section of said connector nut detachably affixed to said connector end of said second tubular member, said upper section of said connector nut operatively retaining said pin end of said first tubular member; and   an anti-rotation assembly positioned in said thru hole of said connector nut, said anti-rotation assembly comprising a stopper that is selectively movable from a neutral position within said thru hole to an engaged position in which said stopper engages said recess of said first tubular member to maintain said connector nut in a fixed position relative to said first tubular member.   
     
     
         11 . The connector assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said anti-rotation assembly further comprises:
 a body disposed within said thru hole of said connector nut, said body comprising an inner wall having an outer bearing cavity and an inner bearing cavity, said body dimensioned to slidingly receive said stopper;   a support member slidingly disposed within said body, a proximal end of said support member operatively connected to a distal end of said stopper, said support member comprising a protuberance;   a plug disposed within said support member, said plug comprising a tapered outer surface extending from a proximal end to a distal neck;   a spring disposed within said support member, said spring interconnecting said proximal end of said plug and said distal end of said stopper;   a bearing disposed between said support member and said tapered outer surface of said plug, said bearing dimensioned to engage said outer bearing cavity to secure said support member and said stopper in said neutral position and said inner bearing cavity to secure said support member and said stopper in said engaged position.   
     
     
         12 . The connector assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said inner surface of said lower section of said connector nut includes a first set of threads and said outer surface of said connector end of said second tubular member includes a second set of threads, said lower section of said connector nut threadedly affixed to said connector end of said second tubular member via mating engagement of said first set of threads with said second set of threads. 
     
     
         13 . The connector assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said first and second set of threads are each wicker-type threads. 
     
     
         14 . The connector assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said first and second set of threads are each breech lock-type threads, wherein the starting points of said breech lock-type threads of said first and second set of threads are staggered. 
     
     
         15 . The connector assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said pin end of said first tubular member includes a first rotational torque transfer profile and said inner surface of said connector end of said second tubular member includes a second rotational torque transfer profile, said first and second rotational torque transfer profiles operatively engaging to transfer rotational torque from said first tubular member to said second tubular member via said interconnection provided by said connector nut. 
     
     
         16 . A method of connecting two tubular members, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a connector assembly, comprising: a first tubular member including an outer surface, an inner surface, and a recess in said outer surface, said inner surface forming a first bore, said first tubular member having a pin end with a first rotational torque transfer profile; a second tubular member including an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface forming a second bore, said second tubular member having a connector end adapted to receive said pin end of said first tubular member within said second bore, wherein said inner surface of said connector end includes a second rotational torque transfer profile dimensioned to engage said first rotational torque transfer profile; a connector nut capable of interconnecting said first tubular member with said second tubular member to achieve fluid communication between said first bore and said second bore, said connector nut including an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper section, a lower section, and a thru hole in said upper section, said lower section of said connector nut capable of being detachably affixed to said connector end of said second tubular member, said upper section of said connector nut capable of operatively retaining said pin end of said first tubular member; a holding device dimensioned to fit in said thru hole and said recess; and a plurality of seals capable of forming a pressure seal within said assembly;   b) stabbing said pin end of said first tubular member into said connector end of said second tubular member so that said first bore and said second bore are placed in fluid communication and said first rotational torque transfer profile operatively engages said second rotational torque transfer profile in order to transfer rotational torque from said first tubular member to said second tubular member;   c) detachably affixing said lower section of said connector nut to said connector end of said second tubular member;   d) causing said plurality of seals to operatively seal said assembly to prevent leaking of a pressurized fluid flowing through said first and second bores; and   e) positioning said holding device in said thru hole of said connector nut and said recess of said first tubular member to maintain said connector nut in a fixed position relative to said first tubular member.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said inner surface of said lower section of said connector nut includes a first set of threads and said outer surface of said connector end of said second tubular member includes a second set of threads, and wherein in step (c) said lower section of said connector nut is threadedly affixed to said connector end of said second tubular member via mating engagement of said first set of threads with said second set of threads. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said first and second set of threads are each breech lock-type threads which are placed in mating engagement in step (c) by rotating said connector nut by a ½ turn, wherein the starting points of said breech lock-type threads of said first and second set of threads are staggered. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said inner surface of said lower section of said connector nut includes a first set of wicker-type threads and said outer surface of said connector end of said second tubular member includes a second set of wicker-type threads, and wherein in step (c) said lower section of said connector nut is snap locked to said connector end of said second tubular member via mating engagement of said first set of wicker-type threads with said second set of wicker-type threads. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said inner surface of said upper section of said connector nut includes a retaining shoulder and said outer surface of said pin end of said first tubular member includes a beveled shoulder, and wherein in step (e) said retaining shoulder is positioned to cooperatively engage with said beveled shoulder to operatively retain said pin end of said first tubular member. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said seal means include a plurality of pressure seals positioned on said outer surface of said pin end of said first tubular member, and wherein in step (d) said plurality of seals form a pressure seal between said outer surface of said pin end of said first tubular member and said inner surface of said connector end of said second tubular member. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said holding device comprises an anti-rotation assembly having a stopper, and wherein step (e) comprises activating said anti-rotation assembly such that said stopper moves from a neutral position in which said stopper is disposed within said thru hole to an engaged position in which said stopper engages said recess of said first tubular member to maintain said connector nut in a fixed position relative to said first tubular member. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein said anti-rotation assembly further comprises: a body disposed within said thru hole of said connector nut, said body comprising an inner wall having an outer bearing cavity and an inner bearing cavity, said body dimensioned to slidingly receive said stopper; a support member slidingly disposed within said body, a proximal end of said support member operatively connected to a distal end of said stopper, said support member comprising a guide; a plug disposed within said support member, said plug comprising a tapered outer surface extending from a proximal end to a distal neck, said distal neck dimensioned to fit through an aperture in said guide of said support member; a spring disposed within said support member, said spring interconnecting said proximal end of said plug and said distal end of said stopper; and a bearing disposed between said support member and said tapered outer surface of said plug, said bearing dimensioned to engage said outer bearing cavity and said inner bearing cavity; and wherein said activation of said anti-rotation assembly in step (e) further comprises:
 i) inserting a tool through a distal opening of said body and a distal opening of said support member in order to engage said distal neck of said plug with said tool;   ii) applying pressure to said distal neck of said plug with said tool in order to displace said plug, compress said spring, and release said bearing from said outer bearing cavity;   iii) applying pressure to said guide with said tool in order to slide said support member and said stopper to engage said recess of said first tubular member with said stopper;   iv) withdrawing said tool from said guide and said distal neck in order to expand said spring and transfer said bearing into said inner bearing cavity with said tapered outer surface of said plug to secure said support member and said stopper in said engaged position.