Connector assembly for wireline tool string

• US 4,986,690 A
• Filed: 02/01/1990
• Issued: 01/22/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Company
• Original Assignee: Otis Engineering Corporation (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Cooksey, Andrew G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DeLiGuori, Franco S.
• Application Number:
  US07/473,344
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 403/300, 403/305, 403/314, 403/317, 403/320, 403/319, 403/325-327, 403/348-349, 403/353-354, 403/29, 24/591, 24/593, 24/596-597, 285/376
• US Class Current: 403/319
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/042 Threaded
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/71 Blocking disengagement of catches or keys
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/20 using bayonet connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/20 with indicator or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/5793 including member wedging or camming means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/599 Spring biased manipulator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/602 by separate spring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7005 Lugged member, rotary engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7016 Diametric end slot is joint component

Abstract

A connector assembly adapted to quickly connect and disconnect tools and stem sections in wireline tool strings. Connector assembly (10) comprises box end (12) and pin end (14) adapted to be slidably engaged and locked by rotating either end 90° relative to the other in either direction. Connector assembly (10) is released by the direct application of manual force to ears (48, 50) of locking plate (38) accessible in flutes (26, 27) of box end (12). Once the locking plate is retracted, pin end (14) is rotated 90° in either direction relative to box end (12) and then withdrawn axially from box end (12). Flats (130, 131) are provided on box end (126) and pin end (128) to indicate relative rotational alignment. Disclosed also are provisions for limiting the rotation of axially spaced lugs (138, 140) before the lugs are axially aligned with annular channels (142, 144).

Claims

1. A connector assembly suitable for use in connecting tools and stem sections in wireline tool strings, said connector assembly comprising coaxially aligned pin and box ends;

said pin end comprising axially spaced lugs adapted to be inserted into said box end and thereafter rotated into axially spaced annular channels within said box end so as to engage annular shoulders within said box end to thereby limit further relative axial movement between said pin end and said box end;

a transverse slot disposed in a forwardly extending face of said pin end;

a spring-biased locking plate disposed within said box end adapted to slidably engage said transverse slot in said pin end upon rotation of said pin end relative to said box end following full insertion of said pin end into said box end to thereby limit further relative rotational movement between said pin end and said box end, said locking plate comprising externally accessible, manually manipulatable means for selectively forcing said locking plate away from said pin end against said spring bias to disengage said locking plate from said pin end;

said box end comprising diametrically opposed, outwardly facing, axially extending flutes, an axial bore, and diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending slots communicating between said flutes and said bore;

said manually manipulatable means comprising ears that extend radially outward through said slots into said flutes but not radially beyond said flutes, so as to be manually manipulatable within said flutes in the axial direction away from said pin end to disengage said locking plate from said pin end;

said pin end and said box end further comprising means for limiting relative rotational movement therebetween during insertion of said pin end into said box end until said pin end is inserted sufficiently into said box end that all of said axially spaced lugs are axially aligned with said axially spaced annular channels.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for limiting relative rotational movement between said pin end and said box end during insertion of said pin end into said box end comprises a radial restriction in the bore of said box end that prevents said axially spaced lugs on said pin end from substantial rotation within said bore of said box end until said axially spaced lugs are axially aligned with said axially spaced annular channels.

3. The connector assembly of claim 2 wherein said radial restriction is disposed adjacent to the point of insertion of said pin end into said box end, and has an axial length greater than the axial distance between said axially spaced lugs.

4. A connector assembly suitable for use in connecting tools and stem sections in wireline tool strings, said connector assembly comprising coaxially aligned pin and box ends;

said pin end comprising axially spaced lugs adapted to be inserted into said box end and thereafter rotated into axially spaced annular channels within said box end so as to engage annular shoulders within said box end to thereby limit further relative axial movement between said pin end and said box end;

a transverse slot disposed in a forwardly extending face of said pin end;

a spring-biased locking plate disposed within said box end adapted to slidably engage said transverse slot in said pin end upon rotation of said pin end relative to said box end following full insertion of said pin end into said box end to thereby limit further relative rotational movement between said pin end and said box end, said locking plate comprising externally accessible, manually manipulatable means for selectively forcing said locking plate away from said pin end against said spring bias to disengage said locking plate from said pin end;

said box end comprising diametrically opposed, outwardly facing, axially extending flutes, an axial bore, and diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending slots communicating between said flutes and said bore;

said manually manipulatable means comprising ears that extend radially outward through said slots into said flutes but not radially beyond said flutes, so as to be manually manipulatable within said flutes in the axial direction away from said pin end to disengage said locking plate from said pin end;

said pin and box ends further comprising externally visible means for determining the relative rotational position between said pin and box ends whenever said pin end is at least partially inserted into said box end.

5. The connector assembly of claim 4 wherein said means for determining the relative rotational position between said pin and box ends comprises flats disposed on said pin and box ends.

6. A connector assembly suitable for use in connecting tools and stem sections in wireline tool strings, said connector assembly comprising a box end and a pin end, said pin end comprising lugs adapted to be inserted longitudinally into said box end and thereafter rotated to engage annular shoulders within said box end to limit further relative longitudinal motion therebetween;

said pin end further comprising a transverse slot disposed in a forwardly extending face thereof; and

a spring-biased locking plate disposed within said box end adapted to slidably engage said transverse slot in said pin end upon rotation of said pin end relative to said box end following insertion of said pin end in said box end and thereby limit further relative rotational motion therebetween, said locking plate comprising externally accessible, manually manipulatable means for selectively forcing said locking plate away from said pin end against said spring bias to disengage said locking plate from said pin end, said means having a maximum width less than the maximum width of said box end;

said box end comprising diametrically opposed, outwardly facing, longitudinally extending flutes, an axial bore, and diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending slots communicating between said flutes and said bore; and

said means comprising ears that extend radially outward through said slots into said flutes but not radially beyond said flutes so as to be manually manipulatable within said flutes in the longitudinal direction away from said pin end to disengage said locking plate from said pin end.

7. The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein said box end and said pin end are each further adapted to threadedly engage wireline tools.

8. The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein said box end and said pin end are each unitarily manufactured onto opposite ends of a wireline tool.

9. The connector assembly of claim 6 applied to wireline tools in such manner that one end of each wireline tool comprises said box end and the other end of said wireline tool comprises said pin end.

10. A connector assembly for releasably connecting tools in a wireline tool string, said connector assembly comprising pin and box ends and a manually releasable locking means;

said pin end comprising a transverse slot disposed in a forwardly extending face thereof, and radially extending lugs adapted to be slidably inserted into cylindrical channels communicating with an axial bore in said box end and thereafter rotated into engagement with opposite annular shoulders adjacent to said axial bore so as to limit further relative longitudinal motion therebetween;

said locking means comprising a spring-biased locking plate disposed within said box end, said locking plate adapted to abut said forwardly extending face of said pin end upon insertion of said pin end into said box end and to thereafter slidably engage said transverse slot in said face of said pin end to rotationally lock said pin end relative to said box end following rotation of said pin end approximately 90 degrees relative to said box end;

said box end further comprising diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending flutes and slots within said flutes providing access to said axial bore;

said locking plate further comprising ears adapted to extend radially through said slots and into said flutes, said ears being slidably disposed in said slots and in said flutes so as to not extend radially beyond said flutes but being manually munipulatable against said spring bias in the longitudinal direction to disengage said locking plate from said pin end and thereby permit said pin end to be rotated about 90 degrees relative to said box end and thereafter slidably withdrawn from said box end.

11. A connector assembly for use with wireline tool strings, said connector assembly comprising a box end, a pin end, and a latch means;

said pin end further comprising first and second coaxially aligned cylindrical shaft sections having respective first and second diameters, said first diameter being less than said second diameter;

at least one lug comprising radially extending lobes connected in fixed relation to said first shaft section, said lobes being longitudinally spaced apart from the end of said first shaft section opposite said second shaft section with a transverse slot being disposed in said end of said first shaft section;

said box end further comprising a substantially cylindrical body having an outside diameter substantially the same as said second shaft section of said pin end;

an axial bore within said body, said bore extending from one end of said body to an occluded end inwardly disposed from the opposite end of said body and having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said first shaft section of said pin end but less than the distance spanned by said lobes;

channel means within said body communicating with said axial bore and further adapted to receive said first shaft section and said lug of said pin end therethrough;

at least one cylindrical channel concentric with said bore adapted to receive said lobes of said pin end whenever said first shaft section of said pin end is slidably inserted through said channel means of said box end sufficiently that said second shaft section of said pin end abuts said box end and is thereafter rotated about 90 degrees in either direction, said cylindrical channel further comprising annular shoulders adapted to retain and support said lobes, limiting further longitudinal motion until said pin end is again rotated about 90 degrees in either direction;

diametrically opposed, outwardly facing, longitudinally extending flutes disposed in said body;

longitudinally extending slots connecting said flutes to said cylindrical bore;

said latch means comprising a coil spring disposed in said cylindrical bore of said box end at the occluded end of said bore;

a spring guide adapted to retain said spring within the occluded end of said bore and further comprising a transverse slot in the end thereof opposite said spring, said transverse slot being radially aligned with said longitudinal slots in said body; and

a lock plate;

said lock plate comprising an upper end adapted to engage the slot in said spring guide;

diametrically opposed, radially extending ears adapted to slidably engage the longitudinal slots in said body and extend radially outward through said slots into said flutes so as to be accessible for manual manipulation therein in the longitudinal direction; and

a downwardly extending shank portion adapted to abut the slotted end of said first shaft section of said pin end in a radial direction perpendicular to said slot when said pin end is slidably inserted into engagement with said box end, and to releasably engage said slot when said pin end is thereafter rotated about 90 degrees relative to said box end;

said connector assembly being thereby adapted to be slidably engaged and rotationally locked by inserting a portion of said pin end into said box end and thereafter rotating said pin end about 90 degrees relative to said box end, and being further adapted to be unlocked and disengaged by directly applying manual pressure to said ears of said lock plate against said spring guide and said spring in a direction opposite to said pin end, thereby disengaging said shank portion of said lock plate from said slot in said pin end, permitting said pin end to be again rotated about 90 degrees relative to said box end and thereafter slidably withdrawn from said box end.