Double lobe tubular connector clamp

Abstract

A hub clamp will be used to connect two conduits together in end-to-end relationship. Each conduit has a pair of generally parallel load shoulders that extend around the conduit and are axially spaced from each other. The clamp has two sets of load shoulders, one for engaging each set of load shoulders on each end of the conduit. The clamp is in two halves, and when bolted together, draws the ends of the conduits toward each other. Each load shoulder is separated by a flank. The two flanks of the mating load shoulders are separated by a gap when fully made up. The first load shoulder of each conduit has multiple angled sections. The load section is at a greater angle than the load section relative to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conduit. The clamp will be mounted releasably to an upper conduit so that it can slide inward and outward, for vertical conduit applications.

We claim: 
     
       1. Connection means for connecting two conduits together with their axes coinciding with each other and with their ends opposing each other and compressing a seal between them, the connection means comprising in combination: a pair of axially spaced generally parallel conical conduit load shoulders formed on each conduit, each of the conduit load shoulders of each pair extending circumferentially around each of the conduits and being separated from the other conduit load shoulder of the pair by a conical conduit flank;   a clamp having two semi-circular halves for clamping the ends of the conduits together, each half of the clamp having two paris of axially spaced generally parallel conical clamp load shoulders for mating with the conduit load shoulders, each of the clamp load shoulders of each pair being separated from the other clamp load shoulder of the pair by a conical clamp flank;   means for bolting the halves of the clamp together for causing the clamp load shoulders to slide on the conduit load shoulders and draw the ends of the conduits toward each other, compressing the seal; and   each of the clamp flanks being spaced from each of the conduit flanks by a gap when the connection means is fully made up which has a minimum and a maximum and is defined as follows:   the maximum gap=0.1056[exp((In D--0.8324)sq/4.134)];       the minimum gap=0.0000009562[exp((In D+14.16)sq/28.85)];     wherein D is the outer diameter of each of the conduits at the end of each of the conduits.     
     
     
       2. Connection means for connecting two conduits together with their axes coinciding with each other and with their ends opposing each other and compressing a seal between them, the connection means comprising in combination: a pair of axially spaced conduit load shoulders formed on each conduit, each of the conduit load shoulders of each pair extending circumferentially around each of the conduits;   one of the conduit load shoulders of each pair having a conduit lead portion joining a conduit load portion, both conduit lead and conduit load portions being conical, the conduit lead portion being at a greater angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the conduit than the conduit load portion;   a clamp having two semi-circular halves for clamping the ends of the conduits together, each half of the clamp having two pairs of axially spaced clamp load shoulders for mating with the conduit load shoulders;   one of the clamp load shoulders of each pair of the clamp having a clamp lead portion joining a clamp load portion and configured at the same angles as and for mating with the conduit lead and load portions, respectively; and   means for bolting the halves of the clamp together, for causing the conduit lead portions and clamp lead portions to slide on each other to move the ends of the conduits toward each other, then for causing the conduit load portions and clamp load portions to slide on each other to axially pre-load the ends of the conduits against each other and compress the seal.   
     
     
       3. Connection means for connecting two conduits together with their axes coinciding with each other and with their ends opposing each other and compressing a seal between them, the connection means comprising in combination: axially spaced first and second conduit load shoulders formed on each conduit, each of the conduit load shoulders of each pair extending circumferentially around each of the conduits, the first conduit load shoulder of each conduit being spaced closer to the end of each conduit than the second conduit load shoulder;   the first conduit load shoulder of each conduit having a conduit lead portion joining a conduit load portion, both conduit lead and load portions being conical, the conduit lead portion being at a greater angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the conduit than the conduit load portion;   the second conduit load shoulder of each conduit being conical and having a depth that is less than the depth of the first conduit load shoulder;   a clamp having two semi-circular halves for clamping the ends of the conduits together, each half of the clamp having two sets of axially spaced first and second clamp load shoulders for mating with the first and second conduit load shoulders, respectively;   the first clamp load shoulder of each set of the clamp having a clamp lead portion joining a clamp load portion and configured at the same angles as the conduit lead and load portions, respectively;   the second clamp load shoulder of each set of the clamp being conical and having a depth that is less than the depth of the first clamp load shoulder; and   means for bolting the halves of the clamp together, for causing the conduit and clamp lead portions to slide on each other to move the ends of the conduits toward each other, then for causing the conduit and clamp load portions to slide on each other to axially preload the ends of the conduits against each other and compress the seal.   
     
     
       4. Connection means for connecting an upper conduit onto a lower conduit with their axes being vertical and coinciding with each other and with their ends opposing each other and compressing a seal between them, the connection means comprising in combination: axially spaced first and second conduit load shoulders formed on each conduit, each of the conduit load shoulders of each pair extending circumferentially around each of the conduits, the first conduit load shoulder of each conduit being spaced closer to the end of each conduit than the second conduit load shoulder;   the first conduit load shoulder of each conduit having a conduit lead portion joining a conduit load portion, both conduit lead and load portions being conical, the conduit lead portion being at a greater angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of each of the conduits than the conduit load portion;   the second conduit load shoulder of each conduit being conical and having a depth that is less than the depth of the first conduit load shoulder;   a clamp having two semi-circular halves for clamping the ends of the conduits together, each half of the clamp having two sets of axially spaced first and second clamp load shoulders for mating with the first and second conduit load shoulders, respectively;   the first clamp load shoulder of each set of the clamp having a clamp lead portion joining a clamp load portion and configured at the same angles as and for mating with the conduit lead and load portions of the first conduit load shoulders;   the second clamp load shoulder of each set of the clamp being conical and having a depth that is less than the depth of the first clamp load shoulder;   means for bolting the halves of the clamp together, for causing the conduit and clamp lead portions to slide on each other to move the ends of the conduits toward each other, then for causing the conduit and clamp load portions to slide on each other axially preload the ends of the conduits against each other and compress the seal; and   carrying means for mounting each half of the clamp to the upper conduit for allowing radial inward and outward sliding movement of each half relative to the conduits when bolting and unbolting the halves.   
     
     
       5. Connection means for connecting two conduits together with their axes coinciding with each other and with their ends opposing each other and compressing a seal between them, the connection means comprising in combination: axially spaced first and second conduit load shoulders formed on each conduit, each of the conduit load shoulders of each pair extending circumferentially around each of the conduits and being separated from the other conduit load shoulder of the pair by a conical conduit flank, the first conduit load shoulder of each conduit being spaced closer to the end of each conduit than the second conduit load shoulder;   the first conduit load shoulder of each conduit having a conduit lead portion joining a conduit load portion, both conduit lead and load portions being conical, the conduit lead portion being at a greater angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the conduit than the conduit load portion;   the second conduit load shoulder of each conduit being conical and having a depth that is less than the depth cf the first conduit load shoulder;   a clamp having two semi-circular halves for clamping the ends of the conduits together, each half of the clamp having two sets of axially spaced first and second clamp load shoulders for mating with the first and second conduit load shoulders, respectively, each set of first and second clamp load shoulders being separated from each other by a conical clamp flank;   the first clamp load shoulder of each set of the clamp having a clamp lead portion joining a clamp load portion and configured at the same angles as and for mating with the conduit lead and load portions, respectively;   the second clamp load shoulder of each set of the clamp being conical and having a depth that is less than the depth of the first clamp load shoulder;   means for bolting the halves of the clamp together, for causing the conduit and clamp lead portions to slide on each other to move the ends of the conduits toward each other, then for causing the conduit and clamp load portions to slide on each other axially preload the ends of the conduits against each other and compress the seal; and   each of the clamp flanks being spaced from each of the conduit flanks by a substantial gap when the connection means is fully made up.   
     
     
       6. Connection means for connecting an upper conduit onto a lower conduit with their axes being vertical and coinciding with each other and with their ends opposing each other and compressing s seal between them, the connection means comprising in combination: a pair of axially spaced generally parallel conical conduit load shoulders formed on each conduit, each of the conduit load shoulders of each pair extending circumferentially around each of the conduits and being separated from the other conduit load shoulder of the pair by a conical conduit flank;   clamp having two semi-circular halves for clamping the ends of the conduits together, each half of the clamp having two pairs of axially spaced generally parallel conical clamp load shoulders for mating with the conduit load shoulders, each of the clamp load shoulders of each pair being separated from the other clamp load shoulder of the pair by a conical clamp flank;   means for bolting the halves of the clamp together for causing the clamp load shoulders to slide on the conduit load shoulders and draw the ends of the conduits toward each other, compressing the seal;   a pair of braces extending radially outward from the upper conduit on opposite sides of the upper conduit; and   cooperating means for slidably mounting one of the halves of the clamp to each of the braces to allow the halves to slide radially inward and outward for bolting and unbolting the clamp.   
     
     
       7. The connection means according to claim 6 wherein each of the braces comprises a rod; and wherein the cooperating means comprises an aperture extending through each of the halves for receiving the rod.   
     
     
       8. The connection means according to claim 6 wherein each of the braces comprises a flange extending radially from the upper conduit; and wherein the cooperating means comprises a slot formed in each of the halves for receiving the flange. .Iadd.   
     
     
       9.  A conduit adapted to be connected to a tubular member with a connector member having a connector axis and a pair of connector shoulders which are movable radially inward relative to the connector axis, the conduit having a conduit axis coinciding with a tubular member axis of the tubular member and the connector axis, the conduit having an end which opposes end of the tubular member and compresses a seal between them the conduit comprising in combination: axially spaced parallel first and second conduit load shoulders formed on and extending circumferentially around the conduit, the first conduit load shoulder being located closer to the end of the conduit than the second conduit load shoulder, each of the load shoulders having an inner edge and an outer edge which is radially outward of the inner edge relative to the conduit axis;   one of the conduit load shoulders having a lead portion at its outer edge joining a load portion which extends from its inner edge, both lead and load portions being conical, the lead portion being at a greater angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the conduit axis than the load portion and being positioned to be engaged by one of the connector shoulders prior to engagement of the other of the connector shoulders with the other of the conduit load shoulders, so as to move the ends of the conduit and tubular member toward each other before engagement of the other of the connector shoulders with the other of the conduit load shoulders. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       10.  The conduit according to claim 9 wherein the lead portion is located on the first conduit load shoulder. .Iaddend..Iadd. 
     
     
       11.  The conduit according to claim 9 wherein: the first conduit load shoulder has a greater dimension from the inner edge to the outer edge of the first conduit load shoulder than a dimension of the second conduit load shoulder from an inner edge to an outer edge of the second conduit load shoulder; and   the lead portion is located on the outer edge of the first conduit load shoulder. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       12.  A connector for connecting a conduit to a tubular member, the conduit having a conduit axis coinciding with a tubular member axis of the tubular member, the conduit having an upper end which opposes a lower end of the tubular member and compresses a seal between them, the connector comprising in combination: axially spaced parallel conduit upper and lower load shoulders formed on and extending circumferentially around the conduit each of the load shoulders having an inner edge and extending upward and outward to an outer edge which is located radially outward from the inner edge relative to the conduit axis, the conduit upper load shoulder being located closer to the upper end of the conduit than the conduit lower load shoulder and having a greater dimension from its inner edge to its outer edge than the conduit lower load shoulder, the load shoulders facing downward relative to the upper end of the conduit and outward relative to the conduit axis:   the conduit upper load shoulder having a lead portion at the outer edge of the upper load shoulder which joins a load portion, both lead and load portions being conical, the lead portion being at a greater angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the conduit axis than the load portion and facing downward and outward relative to the conduit axis; and   a connector member adapted to be carried by the tubular member, extending downward therefrom and encircling the conduit upper and lower load shoulders, the connector member having mating connector upper and lower load shoulders which face upward and inward relative to the conduit axis and which are inwardly movable relative to the connector member axis for engaging the conduit upper and lower shoulders, the lead portion of the conduit upper load shoulder being engaged by the upper load shoulder of the connector member prior to engagement of the lower load shoulders, moving the ends of the conduit and tubular member toward each other before the connector lower load shoulder enters into mating engagement with the conduit lower load shoulder. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       13.  The connection assembly according to claim 12 wherein the connector upper load shoulder has a mating lead portion and load portion. .Iaddend..Iadd. 
     
     
       14.  A connector for connecting a conduit to a tubular member, the conduit having an axis coinciding with an axis of the tubular member, the conduit having an upper end which opposes a lower end of the tubular member and compresses a seal between them, the connector comprising in combination: a pair of grooves, each having a base and defining axially spaced parallel conduit upper and lower load shoulders formed on and extending circumferentially around the conduit, each of the load shoulders having an inner edge joining the base of one of the grooves and extending upward and outward relative to the axis of the conduit to an outer edge, the conduit upper load shoulder being located closer to the upper end of the conduit than the conduit lower load shoulder and having a greater dimension from its inner edge to its outer edge than the conduit lower load shoulder, the load shoulders facing downward relative to the upper end of the conduit and outward relative to the axis of the conduit;   the conduit upper load shoulder having a lead portion at its outer edge which joins a load portion, both lead and load portions being conical, the lead portion being at a greater angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the conduit than the load portion and also facing downward relative to the upper end of the conduit and outward relative to the axis of the conduit;   a connector member having a lower portion encircling the conduit upper and lower load shoulders, the connector member lower portion having mating connector upper ad lower load shoulders protruding inward therefrom, which face upward and inward relative to the axis of the conduit, the connector upper load shoulder having a lead portion and a load portion configured at the same angles as the lead portion and load portion of the conduit upper load shoulder;   means for connecting an upper portion of the connector member to the tubular member; and   means for moving the connector upper and lower load shoulders inward into engagement with the conduit upper and lower load shoulders, causing the lead portions to slide on each other to move the ends of the conduit and tubular member toward each other prior to engagement of the load portions with each other and prior to engagement of the lower load shoulders with each other, then for causing the load portions to slide on each other and the lower load shoulders to engage each other to axially preload the ends of the conduit and tubular member against each other and compress the seal. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       15.  The connector according to claim 14 wherein: the conduit upper and lower load shoulders are separated from each other by a conical conduit flank;   the connector member upper and lower load shoulders are separated from each other by a conical connector flank; and   the connector flank is spaced from the conduit flank by a substantial gap when the connector is fully made up. .Iaddend.