Heavy Duty Riser Connector Assembly Push-to-Lock Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current marine riser connector systems lack the necessary reliability to withstand heavy loads and maintain a secure seal in deep water environments, requiring complex bolted flanges and heavy equipment for assembly and disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A heavy-duty marine riser connector assembly featuring a push-to-make and push-to-lock mechanism with a permanent locking sliding sleeve, utilizing flexible collets and a retaining ring for secure engagement and disengagement without the need for bolts or heavy flanges, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly using a handheld tool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bolted flanges and heavy equipment are used for assembly, then connection strength and reliability are improved, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical bolted flange systems with a simplified collet-based locking mechanism. The collet, when expanded, engages with the connector housing to provide secure mechanical interlocking without requiring multiple bolts or heavy flanges. This substitution maintains connection reliability while dramatically reducing assembly complexity and equipment requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the collet's physical state - transitioning from a compressed transport state to an expanded locked state. This parameter change allows the same component to provide both easy assembly (when compressed) and secure connection (when expanded), resolving the contradiction between simplicity and reliability.
2Strength
If complex bolted flanges are used, then connection strength is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex multi-bolt mechanical system with a single-action collet expansion mechanism. The operator simply needs to activate the collet expansion, which then provides secure mechanical interlocking equivalent to or exceeding bolted flanges, while requiring minimal operational effort and skill.
Solution Approach 2:
The collet mechanism is designed to be self-actuating - once the connector components are positioned, the collet automatically expands to lock the connection without requiring additional manual operations. This self-service characteristic dramatically improves ease of operation while maintaining connection strength.
3Reliability
If traditional connector systems are used, then sealing capability is maintained, but productivity and assembly speed decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing function and locking function into a single integrated action. The collet expansion simultaneously provides both the mechanical lock and activates the sealing elements, eliminating the need for separate sealing operations. This merging dramatically increases assembly speed while maintaining sealing reliability through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing elements are pre-positioned and pre-configured within the connector housing before assembly. When the collet expands, the sealing action occurs automatically as a preliminary prepared function, eliminating the need for separate sealing operations and significantly improving assembly productivity.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If heavy flanges and bolts are used, then connection durability is improved, but weight and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy bolted flange assemblies with a lightweight collet expansion mechanism. The collet, when expanded, provides durable mechanical interlocking through direct engagement with the connector housing, achieving equivalent or superior durability to heavy flanges while reducing overall connector weight significantly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the collet's physical state - transitioning from a compressed transport state to an expanded locked state. This parameter change allows the same lightweight component to provide both easy assembly (when compressed) and secure connection (when expanded), resolving the contradiction between simplicity and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A heavy duty riser connector assembly for joining together and sealing sections of pipe, having an upper connector housing, a lower connector housing and grooves and ribs formed circumferentially on an outer diameter each housing. The assembly having a locking sliding sleeve to slide over and lock together the connector housing and a locking detent ring adapted to pop out and lock the locking sliding sleeve in place so the permanent locking sliding sleeve is not effected by vibration when the locking sliding sleeve has been slid over at least one flexible collet. The assembly can simultaneously seal a riser bore against internal and external pressure while additionally carrying heavy tensile and bending loads without deforming while engaging a riser for both drilling and production or any other application requiring rapid makeup of pipe.