Pipe connector device with pin and box members having corresponding frusto-conical surfaces

摘要

The present invention relates to improvements in pipe connectors particularly but not exclusively for use in the oil industry for connecting metal pipe sections of a pipe string. The pipe connector comprising a tubular pin member (1) having a generally frusto-conical outer peripheral surface (3) and a tubular box member (2) having a generally frusto-conical inner peripheral surface (4) corresponding to the frusto-conical outer peripheral surface of the pin member and which overlies the frusto-conical surface of the pin member when the members are fully engaged together. The members are provided with interengageable annular projections (5) and grooves (6) on the said peripheral surfaces for axially locking the members together when they are fully engaged together, the projections and grooves being spaced apart along the surfaces. Means (9, 10, 11) are provided for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure between the overlying parts of the surfaces (3, 4) of the members when fully engaged together to expand the box member (2) and/or contract the pin member (1) to bring the projections (5) out of engagement with the corresponding grooves (6) and permit the members to be disengaged. The members include means (12, 13, 14, 15) for radially restraining the free end of at least one of the members of the connector and the extent ofthe radial overlap at full engagement of at least the projections (5) and grooves (6) in the region of the said free end of the one member and the corresponding inner end of the other member is reduced relative to that in the region of the centre of the connector.