Pivot joint

• US 10,443,769 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2015
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Stachowiak, Jr., John Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Sayre, James G
• Application Number:
  US14/828,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20160047191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/08 Wipers; Oil savers
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/035 placed around the spigot end before connection F16L21/022, F16L21/025 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/08 allowing adjustment or movement only about the axis of one pipe

Abstract

A pivoting member is coupled to the stuffing box to allow the stuffing box to move in a radial direction relative to a wellhead.

Claims

1. A pivot joint, comprising:

a housing;

an adapter at least partially disposed in the housing;

a bore extending through the housing and the adapter;

a compressive member having a rectangular cross section and disposed between the adapter and the housing, wherein the compressive member axially separates the adapter from the housing and is disposed in recesses formed in the adapter and the housing;

a sealing member disposed between the adapter and the housing; and

a vent port for fluid communication between the bore and an annular area between the adapter and the housing, wherein the vent port is formed through a wall of the adapter.

2. The joint of claim 1, wherein the compressive member is a first compressive member;

the sealing member is a second compressive member; and

the first compressive and the second compressive member contact each of the adapter and the housing, wherein the first compressive member has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the second compressive member.

3. The joint of claim 1, wherein the adapter is configured to contact the housing at a predetermined compressive force.

4. The joint of claim 1, wherein the sealing member comprises two rigid members movable relative to each other along an arcuate surface.

5. The joint of claim 4, further comprising a seal disposed between the two rigid members.

6. The joint of claim 1, wherein the sealing member comprises an o-ring.

7. The joint of claim 1, wherein the compressive member contacts the recesses formed in the adapter and the housing.

8. A pivot joint for coupling a stuffing box to a wellhead, comprising:

a housing having a lower end connected to the wellhead;

an adapter at least partially disposed in the housing, wherein an upper end of the adapter is connected to the stuffing box;

a bore extending through the housing and the adapter; and

a first compressive member and a second compressive member disposed between the adapter and the housing, wherein the first compressive member has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the second compressive member, and wherein the first compressive member contacts the adapter and the housing.

9. The joint of claim 8, wherein the second compressive member is energized radially.

10. The joint of claim 8, further comprising a vent port for fluid communication between the bore and an annular area between the adapter and the housing.

11. The joint of claim 10, wherein the vent port is formed in the adapter.

12. The joint of claim 8, wherein the first compressive member comprises a rectangular cross section, and wherein the first compressive member is disposed in recesses formed in the adapter and the housing.

13. The joint of claim 8, wherein the adapter is configured to contact the housing at a predetermined compressive force.

14. The joint of claim 8, further comprising an annular plate for retaining the second compressive member in the housing.

15. The joint of claim 8, wherein the second compressive member has a circular cross section.

16. The joint of claim 8, wherein the second compressive member contacts the adapter and the housing.

17. The joint of claim 8, wherein the first compressive member axially separates the adapter from the housing and is disposed in recesses formed in the adapter and the housing.

18. A pivot joint, comprising:

a housing;

an adapter at least partially disposed in the housing;

a bore extending through the housing and the adapter;

a compressive member having a rectangular cross section and disposed between the adapter and the housing, wherein the compressive member axially separates the adapter from the housing and is disposed in recesses formed in the adapter and the housing; and

a sealing member disposed between the adapter and the housing;

wherein the adapter is laterally movable with respect to the housing.

19. The joint of claim 18, further comprising a vent port for fluid communication between the bore and an annular area between the adapter and the housing.

20. The joint of claim 19, wherein the vent port is formed in the adapter.

21. The pivot joint of claim 18, wherein the sealing member comprises an o-ring.