Port and plug system for subsea equipment

• US 9,446,821 B1
• Filed: 05/21/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Austin Mohrfeld
• Original Assignee: Austin Mohrfeld
• Inventors: Mohrfeld, Austin
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson, Lars A
• Application Number:
  US14/719,235
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 114/183.R, 114/197, 114/198, 138/89, 138/90, 138/93, 405/169, 405/170, 405/171
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 13/00 Conduits for emptying or ballasting; Self-bailing equipment; Scuppers draining means for hatches B63B19/26; centrifugal bilge-water separators B04; arrangements of installations for treating ballast water B63J4/002; pipes in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 7/00 Methods or apparatus for placing sheet pile bulkheads, piles, mouldpipes, or other moulds for both placing and removing E02D11/00; accessories for coupling driver to piles or the like E02D13/10; for trees or other plants A01G17/16; placing posts E04H17/26
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/00 Sealings
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 1/26 Repairing or joining pipes on or under water
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/30 Detecting leaks
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1108 fixed by screwing or by means of a screw-threaded ring
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1125 fixed by rotating a limited amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/132 the closure device being a plug fixed by radially deforming the packing
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/00 Investigating fluid-tightness of structures

Abstract

The system for sealing subsea equipment includes a port tube, having a test port hole and a curved slot, a test port plug mounted in the test port hole, an insert body having an insertion tip portion, a middle sealing portion, and a base portion, an insert stem engaged to the base portion, a top cap engaged to the insert body, and a sealing device mounted around the insert body and in sealing engagement with the port tube. A locked configuration corresponds to a locking arm of the top cap at a terminal end of the curved slot. A set configuration corresponds to compression of the sealing device by actuation of the insert body by the plug stem. The sealing device aligns with the test port plug in the set configuration so as to allow verification of sealing engagement of each seal ring and the port tube.

Claims

1. A system for sealing subsea equipment, the system comprising:

a port tube having a distal end and a proximal end, said port tube being comprised of a cylindrical body defining an interior volume, said port tube being comprised of a test port hole in said cylindrical body and a curved slot, said curved slot having an opening at said distal end and a terminal end toward said proximal end of said port tube, said test port hole being closer to said proximal end than said curved slot;

a test port plug mounted in said test port hole;

an insert body having an insertion tip portion, a middle sealing portion, and a base portion, said insertion tip portion, said middle sealing portion, and said base portion being in oriented within said port tube from said proximal end to said distal end of said port tube;

an insert stem engaged to said base portion of said insert body, said insert stem being comprised of a tubular member, said tubular member having a first end and a second end, said first end being in threaded engagement to said base portion of said insert body, said second end being extended outside said distal end of said port tube;

a top cap engaged to said insert body, said top cap being comprised of a lower housing and an upper plate, said lower housing being a cylindrical member with an exterior surface, said insert stem inserting through said upper plate of said top cap, said lower housing engaging said insert body and having a locking arm extending orthogonal to said exterior surface and a locking means removably engaged to said base portion of said insert body; and

a sealing means for said insert body and said port tube, said sealing means being positioned at said middle sealing portion of said insert body, said sealing means being held in position by said insertion tip portion of said insert body and said lower housing of said top cap, each seal means being aligned with each test port plug so as to allow verification of sealing engagement of said insert body and said port tube,

wherein a locked configuration corresponds to said locking arm at said terminal end of said curved slot, and wherein a set configuration corresponds to said sealing means compressed between said port tube and said insert body.

2. The system for sealing, according to claim 1, said proximal end being engageable to the subsea equipment so as to form a fluid connection between said interior volume of said cylindrical body and said subsea equipment.

3. The system for sealing, according to claim 1, said second end having a handle element, wherein rotation of said handle element corresponds to rotation of said insert stem.

4. The system for sealing, according to claim 3, wherein said insert stem actuates said insert body by said threaded engagement with said base portion of said insert body between said locked configuration and said set configuration, said insert body compressing said sealing means at said set configuration.

5. The system for sealing, according to claim 1, wherein said insert stem is further comprised of a top washer seal, a bottom washer seal, and a retaining ring, said top washer seal being mounted around said insert stem and above said upper plate, said bottom washer seal being mounted around said insert stem and below said upper plate, and wherein said retaining ring is mounted around said insert stem and below said upper plate and below said bottom washer seal.

6. The system for sealing, according to claim 1, said upper plate of said top cap having a shoulder rim for releasable engagement with said port tube.

7. The system for sealing, according to claim 1, said lower housing of said top cap being friction fit engagement with said base portion of said insert body.

8. The system for sealing, according to claim 1, said lower housing of said top cap having a fluid channel so as to release fluid between said top cap and said insert body.

9. The system for sealing, according to claim 1, wherein said locking means of said lower housing of said top cap is comprised of a locking hole in said exterior surface of said lower housing and a threaded member, said threaded member extending through said locking hole,

wherein said base portion of said insert body is further comprised of a locking slot oriented within said port tube from said proximal end to said distal end of said port tube, and

wherein said threaded member inserts through said locking hole and into said locking slot so as to prevent rotation of said insert body relative to said top cap.

10. The system for sealing, according to claim 9, wherein said threaded member actuates within said locking slot according to said insert body between said locked configuration and said set configuration.

11. The system for sealing, according to claim 9, wherein movement of said threaded member within said locking slot relative to said insert body corresponds to actuation of said insert stem by said threaded engagement to said base portion of said insert body, said insert stem moving said insert body closer to said top cap in order to compress said sealing means, said insert stem moving said insert body farther from said top cap in order to release compression of said sealing means.

12. The system for sealing, according to claim 1, wherein said locking arm aligns with said curved slot of said port tube, wherein rotation of said insert body relative to said port tube corresponds to position of said locking arm within said curved slot.

13. The system for sealing, according to claim 1, wherein said locking arm aligns with said curved slot of said port tube, wherein position of said locking arm within said curved slot corresponds to insertion of said insert body into said port tube.

14. The system for sealing, according to claim 1, wherein said locking arm aligns with said curved slot of said port tube, wherein a shoulder rim abuts against said distal end of said port tube in said locked configuration.

15. The system for sealing, according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means is comprised of a seal ring mounted around said insert body and in sealing engagement with said port tube, said seal ring positioned at said middle sealing portion of said insert body, said seal ring being aligned with said test port plug so as to allow verification of sealing engagement of said seal ring and said port tube.

16. The system for sealing, according to claim 1, wherein said port tube is further comprised of additional test port holes, and wherein said sealing means is comprised of a plurality of seal rings mounted around said plug body and in sealing engagement with said port tube, said seal rings positioned at said middle sealing portion of said insert body, each seal ring being aligned with a respective test port hole so as to allow verification of sealing engagement of each seal ring and said port tube.

17. The system for sealing, according to claim 16, wherein said sealing means further comprises a spacer, said spacer being mounted around said insert body and between adjacent seal rings.

18. The system for sealing, according to claim 16, wherein said sealing means further comprises a plurality of spacers, each spacer being mounted around said insert body and between adjacent seal rings, wherein a number of spacers corresponds to a number of seal rings.

19. A system for sealing subsea equipment, the system comprising:

a port tube having a distal end and a proximal end, said port tube being comprised of a cylindrical body defining an interior volume, said port tube being comprised of a test port hole in said cylindrical body and a curved slot, said curved slot having an opening at said distal end and a terminal end toward said proximal end of said port tube, said test port hole being closer to said proximal end than said curved slot;

a test port plug mounted in each test port hole;

an insert body having an insertion tip portion, a middle sealing portion, and a base portion, said insertion tip portion, said middle sealing portion, and said base portion being in oriented within said port tube from said proximal end to said distal end of said port tube, said insert body having a flow channel in fluid connection with said port tube;

an insert stem engaged to said base portion of said insert body, said insert stem being comprised of a tubular member, said tubular member having a first end and a second end, said first end being in threaded engagement to said base portion of said insert body, said second end being extended outside said distal end of said port tube, said tubular member being in fluid connection with said port tube;

a top cap engaged to said insert body, said top cap being comprised of a lower housing and an upper plate, said lower housing being a cylindrical member with an exterior surface, said insert stem inserting through said upper plate of said top cap, said lower housing engaging said insert body and having a locking arm extending orthogonal to said exterior surface and a locking means removably engaged to said base portion of said insert body, said tubular member being in fluid connection with said port tube through said top cap; and

a sealing means for said insert body and said port tube, said sealing means being positioned at said middle sealing portion of said insert body, each seal means being aligned with each test port plug so as to allow verification of sealing engagement of said insert body and said port tube,

wherein a locked configuration corresponds to said locking arm at said terminal end of said curved slot, and wherein a set configuration corresponds to said sealing means compressed between said port tube and said insert body.

20. The system for sealing, according to claim 19, wherein said sealing means is comprised of:

a plurality of seal rings mounted around said insert body and in sealing engagement with said port tube, said seal rings positioned at said middle sealing portion of said insert body, each seal ring being aligned with a respective test port hole so as to allow verification of sealing engagement of each seal ring and said port tube; and

a plurality of spacers, each spacer being mounted around said insert body and between adjacent seal rings, wherein a number of spacers corresponds to a number of seal rings,

wherein said sealing means is positioned between said insertion tip portion of said insert body and said lower housing of said top cap.