This invention relates to a connector for a riser and a lubricator. More particularly, it relates to a connector for a riser or a lubricator which is used during wireline or coiled- tubing operations in petroleum wells, and in which, in the active position, a first connector part is kept sealingly connected to a second connector part by means of a nut.

So-called quick unions are well known in connection with equipment, such as a lubricator riser, for wireline or coiled-tubing operations. Owing to their relatively simple method of connection, in which the connector parts are brought together and the nut is tightened, quick unions are well suited for joining components which are repeatedly connected and disassembled.

Known quick unions are formed with threads between the nut and the corresponding connector part, which means that the nut will have to be turned a number of turns during connection and disassembly. This is usually done manually. Turning the nut can be heavy because the threads may be damaged or contaminated. It has turned out that operators working with quick unions may develop musculoskeletal sufferings, for example inflammations of tendons. Such a quick union is available from the company Phuel Oil Tools Ltd, for example.

The patent publication NO 334562 discloses a connector for joining two pipe sections in a riser. The connector includes a female part and a male part which each have an axial shoulder. At their end portions, the male part and the female part are provided with teeth and recesses directed axially so that the teeth of one part fits complemen- tarily in the recesses of the other part. The parts are thereby rotationally locked relative to each other. Seals are positioned between the male part and the female part. The connector further includes a locking ring which is fitted in a rotationally movable manner on one of the parts. The ring is provided, internally, with two rows of lugs which cooperate with two rows of lugs on the outer surface of one of the parts to form a bayonet connection.

P26923PC00DEpno The invention has for its object to remedy or reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art or at least provide a useful alternative to the prior art.

The object is achieved according to the invention through the features which are specified in the description below and in the claims that follow.

A connector for a riser or a lubricator for use during wireline or coiled-tubing operations in petroleum wells is provided, in which, in the active position, a first connector part is kept sealingly connected to a second connector part by means of a nut. The nut is formed, internally, with at least two locking lugs distributed around the centre axis of the connector. In the locking position of application of the nut, the locking lugs are in engagement with corresponding bulbs on the second connector part, and in the disengaged position of application of the nut, the locking lugs are displaceable between adjacent bulbs. The connector is characterized by at least one bulb or at least one locking lug being provided with a stop. The stop of either the bulb or the locking lug ensures that the nut, when rotating around the centre axis, stops in the correct position and is not rotated too much when either the locking lug hits the stop of the bulb or the bulb hits the stop of the locking lug.

The nut is thus arranged to be brought in over the second connector part and turned for example by 45 degrees into its locking position of application when the nut is provided with four locking lugs. The number of locking lugs can be adapted according to the conditions, but in any case, as compared to threaded nuts, only a limited rotation of the nut is required between the locking position of application of the nut and the disengaged position of application of the nut.

The bulbs may be formed with a bevel in order to apply a greater axial force to the nut when being joined. The locking lugs may be formed with a bevel to apply a greater axial force to the nut when being joined.

A seal between the first connector part and the second connector part may consist of a rubber or synthetic-material gasket. In an alternative embodiment, the connector may be provided with a metal gasket between the first connector part and the second connector part to meet any current or future regulations for some operations. In a further alternative embodiment, the connector may be provided with a seal made of a rubber or synthetic-material gasket in one position and a metal gasket in another position between the first connector part and the second connector part.

The connector may be formed with a locking body which is arranged to be in the correct position when the connector is correctly joined. Besides locking the connector and

P26923PC00DEpno thereby preventing the connector from unintentionally coming loose, the locking body, when in its correct position, indicates that the connector is ready for use.

The connector may be provided with a channel extending from the outside of the second connector part and having its mouth between seals, the channel being arranged to be pressurized. The seals of the connector can thereby be pressure-tested before the connector is fitted into adjacent equipment.

The device according to the invention provides for simplified and less laborious connecting and disassembling operations in relation to known connectors of this kind.

In what follows, an example of a preferred embodiment is described, which is visualized in the accompanying drawings in which :

Figure 1 shows, in a longitudinal section, a connector according to the invention in a connected position;

Figure 2 shows, in perspective, a nut with locking lugs;

Figures 3A-B show, in perspective, a second connector part with bulbs in two embodiments; and

Figure 4 shows the same as figure 1, but in another embodiment.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates a connector for connecting a first pipe 2 to a second pipe 4. In the embodiment shown, a first connector part 6 is connected to the first pipe 2 in a manner known per se, whereas a second connector part 8 forms part of the second pipe 4. The connector parts 6, 8 are held in the connected position by a nut 10.

The first connector part 6 is formed with a cylindrical sealing portion 12 which is provided with at least one seal 14, here in the form of a groove with an O-ring . The sealing portion 12 projects into a bore 16 of the second connector part 8 where the seal 14 rests sealingly against the bore 16.

A shoulder 18 on the first connector part 6 forms an abutment for the nut 10.

The second connector part 8 is provided, externally, with a number of bulbs 20 projecting from the external cylindrical jacket surface 22 of the second connector part 8. The bulbs 20 are distributed around the second connector part 8.

The nut 10, which, in the position of application, is arranged to abut against the

P26923PC00DEprio shoulder 18, is provided with a number of distributed locking lugs 24 internally. The locking lugs 24 are formed to be displaceable between adjacent bulbs 20 during a connecting operation, after which a rotation of the nut 10 around the centre axis 26 of the connector 1 relative to the second connector part 8 brings the locking lugs 24 into engagement with respective bulbs 20 as is indicated in figures 1 and 4. At least one of the locking lugs 24 is provided with a stop 28 to ensure that the nut 10 stops in the correct position. In an alternative embodiment as shown in figure 3B, at least one of the bulbs 20 may be provided with a stop 28' to ensure that the nut 10 stops in the correct position. The stop 28, 28' of either the bulb 20 or the locking lug 24 ensures that the nut 10, when rotated around the centre axis 26, stops in the correct position and is not rotated too much when either the locking lug 24 hits the stop 28' of the bulb 20 or the bulb 20 hits the stop 28 of the locking lug 24.

A locking body 30, here in the form of a locking mandrel, which is arranged to be inserted into the connector 1 when the connector 1 is correctly connected, prevents the connector 1 from unintentionally coming loose. At the same time, the locking body 30, when fitted, will show that the nut 10 is in its locking position of application. The locking body 30 may be placed in a hole 31 in the end face 11 of the nut 10, in a hole 32 in one of the bulbs 20 and in a hole 32' in the locking lug 24. The locking body 30 may project above the end face 11 of the nut 10. If the nut 10 is not in its locking position, the locking body 30 will not be positioned in the hole 32 of the bulb 20. The locking body 30 will then project further above the end face 11 of the nut 10 than when the nut 10 is in its locking position. The locking body 30 thereby shows whether the nut 10 is in its locking position or not.

In the exemplary embodiment, four bulbs 20 and four complementarily fitting locking lugs 24 are arranged. This has the effect of it being sufficient to rotate the nut 10 by about forty-five degrees to bring the nut 10 between a disengaged position of use and a locking position of use. The invention is not restricted to four bulbs 20 and four complementarily fitting locking lugs 24 as the invention will work with at least two bulbs 20 and two complementarily fitting locking lugs 24. The number of bulbs 20 may be three, or more than four, for example five, six, seven, eight or more than eight. Correspondingly, the number of complementary locking lugs 24 may be three, or more than four, for example five, six, seven, eight or more than eight, respectively.

The connector 1 may be provided with a metal seal 34, see figure 4. In the embodiment shown, the connector 1 is formed with two seals 14, 34. In figure 1 they consist of two seals 14, whereas in figure 4 they consist of one seal 14 and the metal seal 34.

P26923PC00DEpno A channel 36 extending from the outside of the second connector part 8 has its mouth between the seals 14, see figure 1, or the seal 14 and the metal seal 34, see figure 4. The channel 36 can be pressurized to test the seals 14, 34 before use. In a manner known per se, the channel 36 may be formed with valves not shown, for example for bleeding off pressure.

When a metal gasket 34 is used, it may be necessary to form the locking lugs 24 with a bevel 38 to be able to pull the nut 10 in over the second connector part 8 with a greater force. Tightening the nut 10 may be carried out with a tool in a manner known per se. In an alternative embodiment, the bulbs 20 may be formed with a bevel 38'.

In the exemplary embodiment, the first connector part 6 is shown as a male connector and the second connector part 8 is shown as a female connector. The person skilled in the art will understand that the invention is not limited to this solution as the shoulder 18 may be on a female connector and the bulbs 20 may be on a male connector.

It is noted that all the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate the invention, but do not limit it, and persons skilled in the art will be able to form many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the attached claims. In the claims, reference numerals in brackets are not to be considered as restrictive. The use of the verb "to comprise" and its various forms does not exclude the presence of elements or steps which are not mentioned in the claims. The indefinite article "a" or "an" before an element does not exclude the presence of more such elements.

The fact that some features are mentioned in dependent claims which are different from each other is not indicative of a combination of these features not being usable with advantage.

P26923PC00DEprio