US 12,460,754 B2
Clamp-to-fastlock converter
Sebastien Bories, Beziers (FR); David Sanchez, Beziers (FR); and Jérome Proust, Beziers (FR)
Assigned to Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Appl. No. 18/253,533
Filed by Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US)
PCT Filed Nov. 22, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/072542
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 18, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/109614, PCT Pub. Date May 27, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/198,885, filed on Nov. 20, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/198,886, filed on Nov. 20, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0011585 A1, Jan. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. F16L 23/04 (2006.01); E21B 17/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 23/04 (2013.01) [E21B 17/02 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A clamp for coupling two tubular members together, the clamp comprising:
an annular body comprising a first planar surface at a distal end of the annular body;
a plurality of fixed segments that are configured to be secured at least partially within a recess formed in an inner surface of the annular body, wherein the plurality of fixed segments is circumferentially offset from one another with respect to a central longitudinal axis through the annular body, wherein the plurality of fixed segments is configured to exert a downward force on a first hub of a first tubular member, wherein the plurality of fixed segments together forms a second planar surface at a distal end of the plurality of fixed segments, and wherein each fixed segment of the plurality of fixed segments comprises a first tapered inner surface configured to interface with a second tapered surface of the first hub;
an annular plate configured to be removably coupled to the first planar surface via one or more coupling members and removably coupled to the second planar surface via one or more additional coupling members, wherein the annular plate comprises a plurality of portions that together extend circumferentially around the annular body and the plurality of fixed segments, wherein the plurality of portions is circumferentially offset from one another with respect to the central longitudinal axis; and
a plurality of clamping segments, wherein each clamping segment of the plurality of clamping segments comprises:
a shaft comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the shaft is configured to extend radially through the annular body;
an inner end portion configured to couple to the first end portion of the shaft, wherein the inner end portion is further configured to exert an upward force on a second hub of a second tubular to secure the first and second hubs axially between the plurality of fixed segments and the plurality of clamping segments, and wherein the inner end portion comprises a third tapered inner surface configured to interface with a fourth tapered surface of the second hub; and
an outer end portion configured to couple to the second end portion of the shaft, wherein the outer end portion is configured to drive the shaft to rotate and actuate the clamping segment between a retracted position and an extended position;
wherein the plurality of clamping segments is circumferentially offset from one another, and
wherein the plurality of clamping segments is axially offset from the fixed segments.