JOHNSON KEVIN (GB)
SHORROCK PETER (GB)
| WO2016016597A1 | 2016-02-04 | |||
| WO1999032821A1 | 1999-07-01 |
| US3083041A | 1963-03-26 |
| CI ai rrc: 1. A connector devi ce corrpri si ng: a rral e part ; a femal e part whi ch engages the mal e part when those two parts are connected together, those two parts havi ng respecti ve passageways whi ch are coaxi al when those two parts are connected together; a col l et whi ch surrounds the mal e part and i s coupl ed thereto, whi ch col l et has an external screwthread whi ch engages an i nternal screwthread on the femal e part, so that rel ati ve rotati on between those screwthreads i n a gi ven sense causes the femal e part to seal i ngl y engage the mal e part, and whi ch col l et has at l east one sl ot i n i t whi ch extends l ongi tudi nal l y wi th respect to the axi s of the screwthreads to enabl e the col l et to be spl ayed, and whi ch sl ot i s open at both ends so that the col l et i s a s pi i t col I et ; and a wedge part whi ch i s l ocated between the mal e part and the col l et and i s di spl aceabl e l ongi tudi nal l y wi th respect to the axi s of the screwthreads to spl ay the col l et thereby to l ock the mal e and femal e parts i n such a seal i ng engagement wi th one another; charact eri sed i n t hat the connector devi ce further corrpri ses a ri ng whi ch surrounds that end of the col l et whi ch i s further f rom the posi ti on at whi ch the mal e and femal e parts seal i ngl y engage one another, thereby to resi st spl ayi ng of the col I et at t hat end. 2. A connector devi ce accordi ng to cl ai m 1, characteri sed i n that the sai d seal i ng engagement i s between a chamfered ri m at an end of the mal e part, and a chamfered l i p wi thi n the femal e part. 3. A connector devi ce accordi ng to cl ai m 2, characteri sed i n that the angl e of the chamferi ng on the rral e part, rel ati ve to the axi s of the scre t hreads, i s l ess than the angl e of the chanceri ng on the femal e part. 4. A connector devi ce accordi ng to cl ai m 2 or cl ai m 3, characteri sed i n that the i ncl uded angl e of the chamferi ng on the rral e and femal e parts i s i n the range f rom 55fi!to 65fft 5. A connector devi ce accordi ng to cl ai m 4 read as appended to cl ai m 3, characteri sed i n that the i ncl uded angl e of the chanceri ng on the rral e part end i s substanti al l y 59i¾and the angl e of the chanceri ng on the ferral e part i s substanti al l y 6(M¾ 6. A connector devi ce accordi ng to any precedi ng cl ai characteri sed i n that the col l et i s coupl ed to the rral e part by way of a col l ar around the mal e part adj acent to the sai d seal i ng engagement, an end of the col l et abutti ng the col l ar duri ng rel ati ve rotati on between the sai d screwt hreads. 7. A connector devi ce accordi ng to any precedi ng cl ai rn characteri sed i n that the col l ar i s secured to the mal e part by way of i nt er engagi ng screwt hreads on the col l ar and on t he rral e part . 8. A connector devi ce accordi ng to cl ai m 7, characteri sed i n that the i nt erengagi ng screwthreads on the col l ar and on the mal e part are of opposi te handedness to the sai d external screwthread of the col l et and the sai d i nternal screwthread of the ferral e part. 9. A connector devi ce accordi ng to any precedi ng cl ai m characteri sed i n that the surfaces of the col l et and the col l ar whi ch abut one another are on a sl ant, such that the col l ar tapers i n a di recti on towards the col l et. 10. A connector devi ce accordi ng to cl ai m 9, characteri sed i n that the angl e of the sl ant at the surfaces of the col l et and the col l ar whi ch abut one another rel ati ve to the axi s of the s c r e t hr eads i s i n the range ίΓθΐη 55Ί¾ΐο 65f¾ 11. A connector devi ce accordi ng to cl ai m 10, characteri sed i n that the sl ant of the surfaces of the col l et and the col l ar whi ch abut one another rel ati ve to the axi s of the screwthreads i s substanti al l y 6CH¾ 12. A connector devi ce accordi ng to any precedi ng cl ai m characteri sed i n that the col l et i s provi ded wi t h a nut porti on to faci l i tate rel ati ve rotati on between the col l et and the femal e part. 13. A connector devi ce accordi ng to any precedi ng cl ai m characteri sed i n that the connector devi ce further corrpri ses a screw havi ng an external screwthread whi ch engages an i nternal screwthread of the col l et, the screw bei ng provi ded wi th a porti on whi ch engages the wedge part so that rel ati ve rotati on between the screw and the col l et causes the wedge part to be dri ven further i nto the regi on between the col l et and the mal e part, to spl ay t he col I et . 14. A connector devi ce accordi ng to any precedi ng cl ai characteri sed i n that both the wedge part and the regi on between the col l et and the mal e part taper i n a di recti on towards the femal e part. 15. A connector devi ce accordi ng to cl ai m 14, characteri sed i n that the angl e of sl ant of the taperi ng rel ati ve to the axi s of the screwthreads i s i n the range f rom 25iftto 50 16. A connector devi ce accordi ng to cl ai m 15, characteri sed i n that the angl e of the sl ant of the taperi ng i s substanti al l y 35ί¾ 17. A connector devi ce accordi ng to any precedi ng cl ai m characteri sed i n that the wedge part al so has at l east one sl ot i n i t extendi ng l ongi tudi nal l y rel ati ve to the axi s of the screwthreads. 18. A connector devi ce accordi ng to cl ai m 13 or any one of cl ai m 14 to 17 read as appended to cl ai m 13, characteri sed i n that the screw and the sai d wedge part abut one another at respecti ve surfaces whi ch are sl anted at substanti al l y 45Ί¾ΐο the axi s of the sai d screw. 19. A connector devi ce accordi ng to cl ai m 13 or any one of cl ai m 14 to 17 read as appended to cl ai m 13, characteri sed i n that the screw and the sai d wedge part abut one another at respecti ve surfaces whi ch are orthogonal to the axi s of the sai d screw. |
[ 0001] The present i nventi on rel ates to a connector devi ce corrpr i s i ng:
[ 0002] a rral e part;
[ 0003] a ferral e part whi ch engages the rral e part when those two parts are connected together, those two parts havi ng respective passageways whi ch are coaxi al when those two parts are connected together;
[0004] a col l et whi ch surrounds the rral e part and i s coupl ed thereto, whi ch col l et has an external screwthread whi ch engages an i nternal screwthread on the ferral e part, so that rel ative rotati on between those screwthreads i n a given sense causes the ferral e part to seal i ngly engage the rral e part, and whi ch col l et has at l east one sl ot i n i t whi ch extends l ongi tudi nal ly wi th respect to the axi s of the screwthreads to enabl e the col l et to be spl ayed, and whi ch sl ot i s open at both ends so that the col l et i s a s pi i t col I et ; and
[ 0005] a wedge part whi ch i s l ocated between the rral e part and the col l et and i s di spl aceabl e l ongi tudi nal ly wi th respect to the axi s of the screwthreads to spl ay the col l et thereby to l ock the rral e and ferral e parts i n such a seal i ng engagement wi th one another.
[ 0006] A connecti on devi ce havi ng such a constructi on i s descri bed and i l l ustrated i n WD2016/ 016597. One probl em wi th the devi ce di scl osed therei n i s that the col l et may spl ay at the end further from the posi ti on where the mal e and ferral e parts seal i ngly engage one another, and al though thi s does not render the l ocki ng effect of spl ayi ng of the col l et i neffective, i t does have a somewhat del eteri ous effect thereon. On the other hand, col l ets descri bed i n that earl i er speci fi cati on whi ch have a sl ot whi ch term nates before i t reaches the rear end of the col l et tend to be too sti ff for an especi al l y good l ocki ng acti on.
[0007] The present i nventi on seeks to provi de a remedy.
[0008] Accordi ngl y, the present i nventi on i s di rected to a connector devi ce havi ng the constructi on set out i n the openi ng sentence of the present speci fi cati on, charact eri sed i n t hat
[0009] the connector devi ce further compri ses a ri ng whi ch surrounds that end of the col l et whi ch i s further f rom the posi ti on at whi ch the mal e and femal e parts seal i ngl y engage one another, thereby to resi st spl ayi ng of t he col I et at t hat end.
[0010] The sai d seal i ng engagement may be between a chamfered ri m at an end of the mal e part, and a chamfered l i p wi thi n the femal e part.
[0011] Thi s faci l i tates a good seal .
[0012] The angl e of the chamferi ng on the mal e part, rel ati ve to the axi s of the screwt hreads, may be l ess than the angl e of the chamferi ng on the femal e part.
[0013] Thi s enabl es the materi al at the end of the mal e part to di spl ace the materi al of the femal e part, and effect a strong seal .
[0014] The i ncl uded angl e of the charrf eri ng on the mal e and femal e parts may be i n the range f rom 55lto 651.
[0015] Thi s i s especi al l y effecti ve i n creati ng a good seal .
[0016] The i ncl uded angl e of the chamferi ng on the mal e part end may be substanti al l y 591 and the angl e of the chamferi ng on the femal e part may be substanti al l y 601.
[0017] The col l et may be coupl ed to the mal e part by way of a col l ar around the mal e part adj acent to sai d seal i ng engagement, an end of the col l et abutti ng the col l ar duri ng rel ati ve rotati on between the sai d scre t hreads.
[0018] Thi s provi des an effecti ve transmi ssi on of an axi al force f romthe col l et to the mal e part.
[0019] The col l ar rray be secured to the rral e part by way of i nt erengagi ng screwthreads on the col l ar and on t he rnal e part .
[0020] Thi s effects a strong connecti on between the col l ar and the mal e part.
[0021] The i nt erengagi ng screwthreads on the col l ar and on the mal e part may be of opposi te handedness to the sai d external screwthread of the col l et and the sai d i nternal screwthread of the femal e part.
[0022] Thi s ensures that any f ri cti on between the col l et and the col l ar does not undo the col l ar whi l st the col l et i s screwed i nto the femal e part.
[0023] The surfaces of the col l et and the col l ar whi ch abut one another may be on a sl ant, such that the col l ar tapers i n a di recti on towards the col l et.
[0024] Thi s al so tends to spl ay the col l et as the l atter i s screwed i nto the femal e part.
[0025] Thi s i s achi eved most readi l y i f the angl e of the sl ant rel ati ve to the axi s of the screwthreads i s i n the range f rom 551to 651, preferabl y 601.
[0026] The col l et rray be provi ded wi th a nut porti on to faci l i tate rel ati ve rotati on between the col l et and t he f ernal e part .
[0027] The connector devi ce rray further compri se a screw havi ng an external screwthread whi ch engages an i nternal screwthread of the col l et, the screw bei ng provi ded wi t h a porti on whi ch engages the wedge part so that rel ati ve rotati on between the screw and the col l et causes the wedge part to be dri ven f urther i nto the regi on between the col l et and the rral e part, to spl ay the col I et .
[0028] Thi s acti on may be enhanced by havi ng both the wedge part and the regi on between the col l et and the mal e part taperi ng i n a di recti on towards the f erral e part.
[0029] The angl e of sl ant of the taperi ng rel ati ve to the axi s of the screwthreads rray be i n the range f rom 251 to 501, preferabl y about 351.
[0030] The wedge part rray al so have at l east one sl ot i n i t extendi ng l ongi tudi nal l y rel ati ve to the axi s of the screwthreads.
[0031] Thi s provi des the advantage that as the screw i s ti ghtened, the wedge part i s squeezed onto the mal e part at the same ti me as the col l et i s spl ayed agai nst the i nternal screwthread of the femal e part, i ncreasi ng the l ocki ng together of these parts.
[0032] The screw and the sai d wedge part rray be abut one another at respecti ve surfaces whi ch are sl anted at substanti al l y 45e to the axi s of the sai d screw.
[0033] The present i nventi on extends to a connector devi ce corrpri si ng a col l et and a wedge part as set out i n the precedi ng paragraphs rel ati ng to the present i nventi on but wi thout the mal e and femal e parts, the devi ce then bei ng sui tabl e for connecti ng together such rral e and f erral e part s.
[0034] An exarrpl e of a connector devi ce errbodyi ng the present i nventi on wi l l now be descri bed i n greater detai l wi th reference to the acconpanyi ng drawi ngs, i n whi ch:
[0035] Fi gure 1 shows an end vi ew of parts of a connector devi ce errbodyi ng the present i nventi on, wi thout a f erral e part t hereof;
[0036] Fi gure 2 shows an axi al secti onal vi ew of the parts shown i n Fi gure 1, i n the pl ane i ndi cated by the l i ne 11 - 11 shown i n Fi gure 1; [0037] Fi gure 3 shows a perspecti ve vi ew f rom one si de and f rom one end of the devi ce shown i n Fi gures 1 and 2;
[0038] Fi gure 4 shows a si de vi ew of the devi ce shown i n Fi gur es 1 and 2;
[0039] Fi gure 5 shows an expl oded vi ew of parts shown i n Fi gur es 1 t o 4; and
[0040] Fi gure 6 shows an axi al secti onal vi ew on a l arger scal e of the part of the devi ce shown i n Fi gures 1 and 2 wi th the rral e part thereof connected to a ferral e part of t he devi ce.
[0041] A connector devi ce 10 shown i n Fi gures 1 to 5 corrpri ses a stai nl ess steel tubul ar mal e part 12 havi ng an axi al I y extendi ng through- bore 14. The forward end of the rral e part 12 has a charrfered outer ri m 16, the sl anti ng surface of whi ch i s everywhere at substanti al l y 29.5e to the l ongi tudi nal axi s of the rral e part 12, so that the i ncl uded angl e of chanceri ng i s substanti al l y 59e.
[0042] The through- bore 14 i s of sl i ghtl y i ncreased cross- sect i onal di ameter at a rear porti on 18 of the mal e part 12.
[0043] The mal e part 12 i s surrounded by a screw 22 havi ng an external l y screwt hreaded sl eeve porti on 23 at i ts forward end. The mal e part 12 i s al so surrounded by a col l et 24 at i ts forward and, the col l et havi ng a rri ddl e porti on 26 i n the form of a hexagonal nut wi th an i nternal screwthread of greater cross- sect i onal di ameter than the external cross- sect i onal di ameter of the rral e part 12, the i nternal screwthread of the col l et 24 bei ng screwt hreadi ngl y engaged by the external screwthread of t he screw 22.
[0044] The screw 22 has a rearward porti on 32 whi ch i s i n the form of a hexagonal nut to enabl e i t t o be engaged by a spanner ( not shown) . [0045] The connector devi ce 10 i s f urther provi ded wi th a wedge part 34 wi th a spl i t rearward hal f and whi ch has forward outer wedge surfaces 36 whi ch are everywhere on a sl ant rel ati ve to the l ongi tudi nal axi s of the mal e part 12, and al so therefore rel ati ve to the axi s of the screwthreads of the devi ce 10, at an angl e of substanti al l y 35e thereto. The wedge part 34 i s general l y cyl i ndri cal , and i s sandwi ched between the col l et 24 and the rral e part 12 whi ch i t surrounds. The col l et 24 i s provi ded wi th an i nternal wedge surface 37 whi ch i s al so on a sl ant rel ati ve to the l ongi tudi nal axi s of the mal e part 12 at an angl e of substanti al l y 35e, and i s i n abutment wi th the wedge surfaces 36 of the wedge part 34.
[0046] The rear end of the wedge part 34 i s chamfered to provi de an outer surface whi ch i s everywhere on a sl ant rel ati ve to the l ongi tudi nal axi s of the mal e part 12 at an angl e of substanti al l y 45e thereto. It abuts a co respondi ng i nternal surface of the screw 22 whi ch i s al so at an angl e of 45e to the l ongi tudi nal axi s of the rral e part 12.
[0047] The connector devi ce 10 shown i n Fi gures 1 to 5 i s al so provi ded wi t h a reverse threaded col l ar 38 havi ng an i nternal l eft- handed screwthread engagi ng a l eft- handed screwthread on the outsi de of the forward end of t he rral e part 12.
[0048] As i s more readi l y seen i n Fi gure 5, the col l et 24 i s a spl i t col l et i n that i t has a through-sl ot 40 extendi ng al l the way f rom and openi ng onto i ts f ront end, to i ts rear end at whi ch i t i s al so open. The col l et 24 has a general l y cyl i ndri cal rear end 94 wi th an outer surface havi ng an annul ar groove 96 i n i t whi ch recei ves a cl osed ri ng or hoop 98.
[0049] The rear porti on 18 of the mal e part 12 i s provi ded on i ts outsi de surface wi t h a seri es of annul ar ri bs, and i s surrounded by a hol l ow cyl i ndri cal hose connector ferrul e 80 the i nternal surface of whi ch i s al so formed wi t h a seri es of annul ar ri bs whereby a hose end ( not shown) can be urged i nto the hol l ow of the ferrul e 80 and trapped between the ri bbed surfaces of the mal e part 12 and the ferrul e 80. The forward end of the ferrul e 80 i s thi cker so that i t fi ts snugl y agai nst the exteri or surface of the mal e part 12. The hose end ( not shown) i s then hel d i n posi ti on by swagi ng of the ferrul e 80.
[0050] An ant i - vi brat i on nut 82 has an i nternal screwt hreadi ng at i ts forward end whi ch engages an external screwt hreadi ng on a rear end 84 of the screw 22. The end 84 has a rearwardl y faci ng end surface 86 whi ch i s everywhere at an angl e of 45e to the axi s of the mal e part 12, the end surface 86 bei ng concave. The nut 82 has an ant i - vi brat i on rearward end 88 that engages a rearward end of a spl i t wedge ferrul e 90 accomrrodat ed between the nut 82 and the mal e part 12. The forward end of the spl i t wedge ferrul e 90 has a convex surface 92, and i s everywhere at an angl e of 45e to the mal e part axi s. The rearward end of the spl i t wedge ferrul e 90 tapers more sharpl y than the i nteri or of the rear end of the anti - vi brati on nut 82. The forward end of the spl it wedge ferrul e 90 abuts the surface 86.
[0051] Fi gure 6 shows parts of the devi ce shown i n Fi gures 1 to 4 connected to a stai nl ess steel femal e part 50 (onl y a porti on of whi ch i s shown i n Fi gure 6) to corrpl ete the devi ce. The femal e part 50 i s provi ded wi th an i nternal screwt hreaded porti on 52 whi ch engages the external l y s c r ewt hr eaded sl eeve of the col l et 24. The femal e part 50 i s al so formed wi th a bore 54 whi ch corrrruni cat es wi th and i s i n al i gnment wi th the axi al through- bore 14 of the mal e part 12. [0052] The ferral e part 50 i s provi ded wi t h a recess 56 to accommodate the col l ar 38 on the ma I e part 12. The ferral e part 50 al so has an i nternal sl anti ng annul ar surface 58 whi ch abuts the charrfered end 16 of the mal e part 12, whi ch surface 58 i s everywhere at substanti al l y 30e to the l ongi tudi nal axi s of the mal e part 12.
[0053] The wedge part 34 can be seen more cl early i n Fi gure 6. Thi s shows that the rearward hal f of the wedge part 34 i s spl i t by means of a sl ot 60 whi ch i s open at the rearward end of the wedge part 34 and whi ch i s bl i nd at i ts opposi te end where i t wi dens by vi rtue of i ts openi ng i nto a l ateral l y extendi ng through- hol e 62. Thus the di ameter of the through- hol e 62 i s greater than the wi dth of the sl ot 60. The through- hol e 62 acts as stress rel i evi ng poi nt to reduce the l i kel i hood of the materi al of the wedge part 34 f racturi ng at the bl i nd end of the si ot 60.
[0054] Al l the parts of the connector devi ce shown i n Fi gure 4 are rrade of stai nl ess steel , but other materi al s may be used.
[0055] The connector devi ce shown i n Fi gure 6 i s asserrbl ed i n the fol l owi ng order:
[0056] Fi rst the wedge part 34 i s i nserted i nto the col l et 24. Next, the screw 22 wi th the ant i - vi brat i on parts 82 to 92 on i ts rear end has i ts forward end screwt hreaded i nto the col l et 24, and the asserrbl y of the screw 22, the col l et 24, and the wedge part 34 i s sl i d on to the forward end of the rral e part 12. The col l ar 38 i s then screwed onto the forward end of the mal e part 12.
[0057] Thi s asserrbl y i s now screwed i nto the ferral e part 50. As the col l et 24 i s ti ghtened wi thi n the ferral e part 50, the forward end of the col l et 24 abuts the col l ar 38 at the same ti me as the charrfered end 16 of the mal e part 12 i s urged agai nst the correspondi ngl y sl anti ng i nner surface 58 of the ferral e part 50. Si nce the sl anti ng surface 16 tapers sl i ghtl y l ess sharpl y than the surface 58, the corner between the surface 16 and the forwardrrost f ront surface of the mal e part 12 i s urged i nto the surface 58 to form a metal to metal seal between the mal e part 12 and the femal e part 50 at the smal l est di ameter of the surface 16, to rri ni ni se the total force exerted by f l ui d when the devi ce i s i n use, by vi tue of the pressure i n that f l ui d, and ensure no such pressure i s exerted between the surfaces 16 and 58. Because the screwthreads of the col l et 24 and the ferral e part 50 are ri ght- handed, whereas the screwthreads of the col l ar 38 and the forward end of the mal e part 12 are l eft- handed, the f ri cti onal engagement between the col l et 24 and the col l ar 38 tends to rotate the col l ar 38 towards the col l et 24 as the col l et 24 i s urged towards the col l ar 38, so that these two parts are j ammed ti ghtl y agai nst one another. Further ti ghteni ng of the col l et 24 wi thi n the ferral e part 50 thereby creates a seal between the mal e part 12 and the ferral e part 50.
[0058] At thi s stage, the screw 22 i s ti ghtened rel ati ve to the col l et 24, drivi ng the wedge part 34 further i nto the col l et 24 so that the wedge surfaces 36 and 37 engage one another and so that at the same ti me the forward hal f of the wedge part 34 i s dri ven agai nst the outer surface of the mal e part 12, and the forward porti ons of the col l et 24 are spl ayed outwardl y agai nst the ferral e part 50, so that al l the parts are l ocked together agai nst torsi onal and l ateral forces up to sati sfactory threshol d val ues. At thi s stage, the cl osed ri ng or hoop 98 acts to i nhi bi t the rear end of the col l et 24 f rom bei ng spl ayed, whi ch i f i t were spl ayed woul d have an adverse effect on the spl ayi ng of the forward end of the col l et 24. Al so at the same ti me, the extensi on of the sl ot 40 al l the way to the very rear of the col l et 24, and i ndeed bei ng open at the rear end of the col l et 24, faci l i tates suffi ci ent movement of the col l et materi al under the ri ng or hoop 98 i n turn to faci l i tate spl ayi ng of the forward end of the col l et 24.
[0059] Fi nal l y, the nut 82 i s ti ghtened onto the screw 22. The wedge engagement between the surfaces 86 and 92 ti ghtens the spl i t wedge ferrul e 90 onto the mal e part 12, whereafter the ant i - vi brat i on parts 82 to 92 act to darrpen any vi brati on i n the connector devi ce 10 by vi rtue of a degree of spri ngi ness i n the ant i - vi brat i on rearward end 88 of the nut 82.
[0060] Al l the parts of the connector devi ce are preferabl y ade of the same materi al to avoi d del eteri ous effects f rom corrosi ve el ectrol yti c acti on. Preferabl y they are al l made of stai nl ess steel , for exampl e stai nl ess 316, or i nconel ÷ steel al l oy.
[0061] Numerous vari ati ons and modi f i cati ons to the i l l ustrated connector devi ce may occur to the reader wi thout taki ng the resul ti ng constructi on outsi de the scope of the present i nventi on. For exarrpl e, the wedge part 34 may extend beyond the rear end of the col l et 24. Al ternati vel y or i n addi ti on the sl ot 60 may be absent, so that there i s no sl ot i n the wedge part 34. Al te nati vel y or i n addi ti on, the wedge part 34 may be thi cker at i ts rear end, so that i t has a f l ange there to i rrprove i ts strength, especi al l y for smal l er errbodi ment s . Al ternati vel y or i n addi ti on, the rear end of the wedge 34, and the surface of the screw 22 whi ch abuts the rear end, may be orthogonal to the axi s of the connector devi ce rather than on a sl ant thereto. The through- bore 14 through the mal e part 12 may be of uni form cross- secti on throughout, so that i t has no i ncreased cross- secti on i n the porti on 18, or i t may have a narrowed cross- sect i on i nstead of an i ncreased cross- sect i on.
[0062] The femal e part 50 shown i n Fi gure 6 i s shown as a wal l porti on, but i t may i nstead be part of a t ubul a r port i on.
[0063] The surfaces of the col l et 24 and the col l ar 38 whi ch abut one another may be sl anted rel ati ve to the axi s of the devi ce, for exarrpl e at an angl e of 60e t her et o.
[0064] The connector devi ce i l l ustrated i n the Fi gures may be used to connect hose to a deep sea oi l head, for exarrpl e.
[0065] The rear parts 18 and 80 of the i l l ustrated connector devi ce may be repl aced by a si mpl e pi pe, whi ch may i n turn be wel ded to another part, or the parts 18 and 80 may be repl aced by a stab pl ate connector, for exarrpl e.
[0066] The i nteri or l eadi ng edge of the ri ng or hoop 98 may be chamfered to assi st i ts pl acement on the col l et 24 i nto the groove 96. Al ternati vel y or i n addi ti on, the ri ng may be heated to expand i t and faci l i tate such pl acement. Al ternativel y the ri ng or hoop 98 may be provi ded wi th an i nternal screwthread and the col l et 24 may be provi ded wi t h a correspondi ng external screwthread at i ts rear end i nstead of the groove 96, to enabl e the ri ng or hoop 98 to be screwed onto the rear end of the col I et 24.