The present disclosure is related to a quick connector. More particularly, the present dis closure is related to a coupling element and an assembly for connecting a first conduit to a second conduit. More specifically, the present disclosure is related to a female coupling element for receiving a complementary male coupling element to provide a quick con nector assembly for high pressure conduits connected to the female coupling element and the male coupling element. The invention disclosed herein is particularly, but not exclusively, related to a male coupling element for connection to a mating female cou- pling element, to provide increased safety while at the same time being configured for at least semi-automatic operation. The invention may typically be used for well testing hos es and a connection between a surface test tree, hose and rig piping, suitable on a drilling rig when performing workover, well testing and flowback operations.

Quick couplings or connectors are well known in the art to interconnect a flexible fluid pipe to another flexible or fixed pipe. Quick connectors allow expedient connection and disconnection of such pipes or hoses.

EP 2,048,425 A1 discloses a coupling with prongs in which a male element comprises a peripheral groove and in which a female element includes several prongs, which are resil- iently outwardly deformed in contact with the body of the male element and which re- turn to their position when they arrive across from the groove. This type of coupling does not make it possible to obtain a reliable and secure connection for high-pressure pipes and in a vibrating environment, since the related stresses may cause the unhooking of the prongs and untimely unlocking of the coupling. EP 2,669,560 A1 discloses a connector wherein a female element comprises a ring, for keeping locking balls in a locked position, and a memory element, movable between a distal position, in which it is able to keep the locking balls in the unlocked position, and a proximal position, in which it does not oppose the movement of the balls radially inward. The memory element is a drawer movable in a direction parallel to a coupling axis. The connector is not configured for being remotely operated by means of an actuator.

Publication US 2018180208 A1 discloses a female quick coupling element for use in au tomotive sports. The quick coupling comprises a hollow female body, locking members being radially movable inside a corresponding radial opening of the female body between a locked position and an unlocked position, at least one memory element movable along a movement axis between a distal position, in which it opposes the movement of a lock ing member from the unlocked position to the locked position, and a proximal position, and a locking ring, which is axially movable between a forward position, in which it keeps the locking members in the locked position, and a withdrawn position. Each memory el ement is received in a housing defined in the thickness of the body. Each memory ele ment is, in the distal position, closer to the central axis than the locking members are in the unlocked position, and the movement axis of each memory element is inclined rela tive to the central axis of the female body. The construction of the quick coupling is rela tively complicated and is not configured for being operated by means of an actuator.

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

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

The invention is defined by the independent patent claim. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments of the invention.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a female coupling element for receiving a complementary male coupling element to provide a connector assembly for high pres sure conduits, the female coupling element comprises: a housing having a through bore with a longitudinal axis and a locking member provided with engagement means for engaging a portion of a male coupling element when re ceived within a portion of bore of the female coupling element, the locking member mov able within the housing between a first position and a second position, wherein the lock ing member in the second position is closer to the central axis than in the first position. The female coupling element comprises an actuator configured for being remotely oper ated and having an actuator rod operatively connected to the locking member for moving the locking member to and from the first position and the second position, and the actua tor rod having a movement axis being different from a movement axis of the locking member.

A connector assembly that comprises the female coupling element may be a so-called fullbore connector assembly.

By the term remotely operated is meant operation from a remote location, such as for example a control room on a rig. One effect of having a female coupling provided with a remotely operated actuator, is that locking and releasing of a male coupling element can be executed without an operator being near to the female coupling. This is particularly important in situations where the female receptacle is located out of reach without using for example access technique that should be performed by certified personnel. A further effect of having a female coupling provided with a remotely operated actuator, is that the female coupling element can be connected to and released from a male coupling element without using any handheld tools, thereby saving time and cost, while at the same time increasing safety with respect to falling objects that may occur when a handheld tool is handled by an operator.

The actuator may be secured on an outer surface portion of the housing of the female coupling element. This has the effect that the actuator is easily accessible for in-situ maintenance.

In a preferred embodiment, the movement axis of the actuator rod is parallel to the cen tral axis of the through bore of the female coupling element. This has the effect that the radial dimension of the female coupling element is independent of the movement of the actuator. Thus, the female coupling element may be relatively slender as compared with an actuator rod being inclined or even radial with respect to the central axis of the through bore.

The movement axis of the actuator rod may be perpendicular to a movement axis of the locking member between the first position and the second position.

In one embodiment, the actuator rod is operatively connected to the locking member via a locking member drive element configured to urge the locking member between its first position and the second position upon activation of the actuator, the locking member drive element being secured to the actuator rod and slidably connected to the locking member. In one embodiment, the locking member drive element is slidably connected to the locking member by means of a dovetail joint. A dovetail joint provides a secure and reliable connection of a sliding connection. As an alternative to a dovetail joint, other connections such as for example a T-joint or a J-slot may be conceivable.

The actuator may be hydraulically operated, pneumatically operated or electrically oper ated, or a combination of a fluid operated and electrically operated. An electrically oper ated actuator may be provided for example by means of an onboard servo motor sup plied with power from an onboard battery pack or from a distant power source. A hydraulically or pneumatically operated actuator may be provided with fluid from a dis tant fluid source being in fluid communication with the actuator. Alternatively, a hydrau lically or pneumatically operated actuator may be provided with fluid from an "onboard" fluid source and an onboard electric motor. By the term onboard is meant a device form ing an integrated part of the female coupling element.

The female coupling element may be further provided with a rod securing element mov able between a first position wherein the actuator rod is allowed to retract from the ex tended position, and a second position wherein the actuator rod is prevented from re traction from an extended position. One effect of such a rod securing element is that the actuator can be deactivated when the locking member of the female coupling element has been brought into engagement with an engagement means receiving portion of a male coupling element. A deactivated actuator may be desirable especially if the actuator is hydraulically or pneumatically operated so that a fluid pressure can be bled off after the locking member of the female coupling element has been brought into engagement with the engagement means receiving portion of a male coupling element.

In one embodiment, the rod securing element may be brought from the first position to the second position, and vice versa, in situ manually by an operator. In an alternative em bodiment, the rod securing element may be operated by means of for example a position control actuator operated from a remote location, typically the same location from which the actuator operatively connected to the locking member is operated. A position control actuator may for example be in the form of a piston rod operated by means of a fluid, or in the form of an onboard servomotor. In an embodiment wherein the rod securing ele ment is operated by means of a position control actuator, the rod securing element is advantageously provided with a position sensor configured to issue a signal to the remote location whether the position control element is in the first or second position.

One application of the female coupling element is on a drilling rig wherein the coupling element forms part of a fluid line communicating fluid related to workover and well test operations on a drilling rig. In inter alia such an application, it may be advantageous if the female coupling element is provided with an injection channel for injection of a fluid into the through bore. Such a fluid may for example be an anti-freeze liquid or other contin gency chemicals such as an anti-foaming agent. Preferably, the injection fluid passes a flow meter prior to entering the through bore of the female coupling element. The flow meter may typically be arranged upstream of the injection channel. In one embodiment the flow meter is secured to the housing of the female coupling element, i.e. the flow meter may be an onboard flow meter. Further, the flow meter may be provided with a transmitter for transmitting information of the volume of the injected fluid to a remote location. In one embodiment, the flow meter is in communication with a control system communicating with a valve, such as a solenoid valve for controlling the volume of fluid injected with respect to a predetermined volume.

The injection port may also act as an internal bore pressure data acquisition point at the highest level in the well test or flowback string. In use, the female coupling element is connected to a complementary male coupling ele ment forming a connector assembly. To provide a fluid tight connection between an outer surface of the male coupling element and the portion of the through bore abutting said outer surface, seals are normally required. The seal is typically provided by means of at least two longitudinally spaced apart elastomeric O-rings protruding from grooves in a surface portion of the male coupling element. When inserted into the female coupling element, an annular space is defined between the O-rings, the surface of the male cou pling element, and the trough bore towards which the O-rings abut.

To monitor the integrity of such a seal, the female coupling element may be provided with at least one seal integrity monitoring channel for communicating any leakage to wards a portion of the through bore, said portion being defined by annular seals arranged mutually distant on a surface of a fully inserted male coupling element. The seal integrity channel may be in fluid communication with a monitoring apparatus, typically a pressure indicator for monitoring a change, typically increase, in fluid pressure in the channel. Any change in pressure may indicate a loss of integrity of at least one of the at least two annu lar seals. As an alternative to, or additionally to a pressure indicator, the monitoring appa ratus may be a fluid detecting apparatus, such as a flow meter. The monitoring apparatus may be provided with a transmitter for sending an alarm signal to a remote location if an abnormal situation is detected. Alternatively, or additionally the monitoring apparatus may be configured for issuing an audible and/or a visible signal.

As an alternative to a monitoring apparatus, an outer end portion of the seal integrity channel may be provided with a pop-out plug configured for being urged out of the end portion if the pressure in the seal integrity channel exceeds a predetermined level.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a coupling assembly comprising the female coupling element according to the first aspect of the invention, and a mating cou pling element having an outer portion provided with seals for sealing against a surface portion of the through bore of the female coupling element, the male coupling element provided with a through bore, an outer portion of the male coupling element provided with an engagement means receiving portion for mating with the engagement means of the female coupling element when the portion of the male coupling element is inserted in the bore of the female coupling element and the locking member (7) of the female cou pling element is in the second position.

In one embodiment the engagement means receiving portion of the male coupling ele ment and the female coupling element engagement means may be provided by means of a feather-and-tongue joint when engaged. Preferably, the engagement means receiving portion of the male coupling element comprises at least one annular groove. An annular groove has the effect that the engagement between the female coupling element and the male coupling element may be achieved irrespective of any angular position of the male coupling element with respect to a common central axis of coupling assembly. Therefore, no guides or similar devices are required for rotating the male coupling element into a predetermined position prior to or when being moved into the female coupling element. In an alternative embodiment, the engagement means may for example be provided by means of complementary serrated surfaces on the engagement means receiving portion of the male coupling element and the female coupling element engagement. For the same reason as for the feather-and-tongue joint, the serrated surface of engagement means receiving portion of the male coupling element is preferably annular.

In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for providing a connector assembly comprising the female coupling element connector according to the first aspect of the invention, and a mating male connector having an outer portion provided with seals for sealing against a surface portion of the through bore of the female coupling ele ment, the male connector provided with a through bore, an outer portion of the male coupling element provided with an engagement means receiving portion for mating with the engagement means of the locking member of the female coupling element. The method comprises the steps of:

a) inserting a portion of the male coupling element into the bore of the female coupling element;

b) activating the actuator of the female coupling element to urge the engagement means thereof to the second position so that the engagement means of the female coupling el ement fully engages the engagement means receiving portion of the male coupling ele- ment.

The method may comprise a further step c) of activating a rod securing element movable between a first position wherein the actuator rod is allowed to retract from the extended position, to a second position wherein the actuator rod is prevented from retraction from an extended position, thereby preventing movement of the engagement means of the female coupling element from the second position to the first position. Thus, a risk of un intentional disconnection of the male coupling element from the female coupling ele ment is at least substantially reduced.

In the following is described an example of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the ac- companying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a partial cut through a female coupling element according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows the female coupling element after a complementary male coupling element has been inserted into a through bore of the female coupling ele- ment, but prior to axially securing the elements with respect to each other;

Fig. 3 shows the elements after being axially secured to each other; and Fig. 4 shows the same as fig. 3, but after a rod securing element has been acti vated.

Positional indications refer to the position shown in the figures. In the figures, same or corresponding elements are indicated by same reference numer als. For clarity reasons, some elements are in some of the figures shown without refer ence numerals.

A person skilled in the art will understand that the figures are just principle drawings. The relative proportions of individual elements may also be distorted. In the figures reference numeral 1 denotes female coupling element according to the in vention. The female coupling element 1 is configured for receiving a complementary male coupling element 32 to provide a so-called quick connector assembly for high pressure conduits. The conduits are not shown in the figures, but are connected to the conduits in a way known per se.

In the embodiments shown, the female coupling element 1 is configured for connection to a fixed pipe structure, while the male coupling element 32 is configured for connection to a flexible hose.

Turning first to fig. 1, the female coupling element 1 comprises a housing 3 having a through bore 5 having a longitudinal axis L. In the embodiment shown, the through bore 5 has a funnel-shaped first end portion 6 for facilitating guiding a male coupling element 32 (see figures 2-4) into the through bore 5, and a second end portion 6' provided with a flange 10. The flange 10 may typically be connected to an end portion of a rigid pipeline (not shown). The through bore 5 is further provided with shoulders 5' (two shown) for abutting against complementary shoulders 39 of the male coupling element 32 so that the shoulders 5', 39 form an axial position end stop for the male coupling element 32 within the through bore 5.

A locking member 7, here in the form of a locking wedge 7, is radially movable in an aper ture 8 through a wall portion of the housing 3 between a first position and a second posi tion, wherein the locking wedge 7 in the second position is closer to the central axis L than in the first position.

The female coupling element 1 is further provided with an actuator 11 comprising a cylin der 12 and a piston 120 axially movable within the cylinder 12. An actuator rod 13 has a first end portion fixedly connected to the piston 120, and a second end portion extending in the embodiment shown, beyond a lower portion of the cylinder 12. The second end portion of the actuator rod 13 is operatively connected to the locking wedge 7 via a lock ing member drive element 15, here shown as a locking wedge drive element 15. In the embodiment shown, the second end portion of the actuator rod 13 is threadedly con nected to a top portion of the locking wedge drive element 15. The locking wedge 7 is provided with a slanted portion slidably connected to a mating slanted portion of the locking wedge drive element 15 by means of a dovetail joint 17. In the embodiment shown, the cylinder 12 of the actuator 11 is provided with a first fluid communication channel 122 arranged in a lower portion of a housing of the cylinder 12, and a second fluid communication channel 124 in an upper portion of the cylinder hous ing so that the piston 120 can be moved within the cylinder 12 to and from a first position wherein the actuator rod IB is in a retracted position as shown in figures 1 and 2, and a second position wherein the actuator rod 13 is in an extended position with respect to the cylinder 12 as shown in figures 3 and 4. The first fluid communication channel 122 and second fluid communication channel 124 is in fluid communication with a fluid source (not shown). In the embodiment shown, the fluid source may be remote from the female coupling element 1. In another embodiment (not shown), the fluid source may be a fluid vessel attached to or forming part of a portion of the female coupling element 1. In this latter embodiment, the female coupling element 1 is preferably provided with a fluid drive motor for driving the fluid into/out of the cylinder 12, or the fluid vessel is a pres sure vessel provided with control valves for controlling fluid flow into/out of the cylinder as will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art.

Independently of communicating fluid from a remote location, or a locally arranged, "onboard" fluid vessel using a fluid drive motor or control valves, the fluid flow into/out of the cylinder 12 is controlled from a remote location, thereby remotely controlling the actuator 11.

In the embodiment shown, the cylinder 12 is further provided with a biasing means 19, here in the form of a spiral spring 19, arranged between a top face of the piston 120 and an inner, top face of the cylinder housing. The spring 19 is configured to urge the piston 120, and thus the actuator rod 13 towards an extended position wherein the locking wedge 7 is urged towards the center axis of the through bore 5, i.e. to the second posi tion. This configuration is advantageous with respect to a safety point of view in that it provides a fail-safe mode if the fluid system communicating with the cylinder 12 should fail; the locking wedge 7 will as a default be in the second position, i.e. the position being closest to the central axis L of the through bore 5. Thus, to retrieve the locking wedge 7 towards the first, retrieved position, a fluid force exceeding a spring force exerted by the spring 19 must be communicated into a fluid chamber being on the opposite side of a chamber housing the spring 19. In the embodiment shown, said chamber is below the piston 120.

From the above, it should be understood that the fluid controlling a position of the actua tor rod 13 may be a liquid or a gas, i.e. the actuator 11 may be hydraulically or pneumati cally operated.

As an alternative to a hydraulically or pneumatically operated actuator 11 as shown, the position of the actuator rod 13 may be operated electrically by means of an electro mo tor, or an electromagnet both of which are controlled from a remote location.

It should be noted that in an embodiment wherein the actuator comprises the biasing means 19 as shown in the figures, it is conceivable that the second fluid communication channel 124 in the upper portion of the cylinder housing, may be superfluous. This pre supposes that a biasing force from the biasing means 19, here in the form of a spring, is capable of urging the piston 120, and thus the actuator rod 13 towards an extended posi tion wherein the locking wedge 7 is urged towards the center axis of the through bore 5, i.e. to the second position. However, communicating pressurized fluid via the second fluid communication channel 124 into the chamber that houses the biasing means 19, adds a force onto the piston 120 and therefore represents a further safety aspect with regards to unintentional release of any male coupling element 32 inserted into the portion of the female coupling element 1.

When inserting the male coupling element 32 into the bore of the female coupling ele ment 1, the actuator is activated to bring the locking wedges 7 to a retracted position with respect to the bore 5, i.e. to the first position. This is done by activating the actuator so that the piston 120, and thus the piston rod 13, the locking wedge drive element 15 is moved upwards. When the locking wedge drive element 15 is moved upwards, the dove tail joint 17 urges the locking wedge to the first position as shown in fig. 2, thereby allow ing inserting the male coupling element 32 into the bore 5 of the female coupling element 1.

To axially secure a male coupling element 32, as shown in figures 2-4, with respect to the female coupling element 1, the locking wedge 7 is provided with engagement means 9, here in the form of two axially spaced apart lips 9'. The lips 9' are configured to mate with complementary grooves 38' provided in a receiving portion 38 of the male coupling ele ment 32 when shoulders 39 of the male coupling element 32 abut against the shoulders 5' of the through bore 5 of the female coupling element 1. Thus, in the embodiment shown, the male coupling element 32 is in the position of use prevented from axial movement with respect to the female coupling element 1 by means of a feather-and- tongue joint. However, the engagement means 9 of the female coupling element 1 may alternatively be provided for example by means of a serrated end portion mating with a serrated surface portion of the male coupling element 32.

In the embodiment shown, the female coupling element 1 comprises three (only two shown) sets of actuators 11 and locking wedges 7 mutually spaced apart by an angle of 120° with respect to the housing 3. The right actuator 11 and locking wedge 7 are shown in cross-section for illustrative purpose. More than one actuator 11 and locking wedge 7 is preferred with respect to a safety point of view, if one of the actuators 11 or locking wedges 7 should fail.

To further enhance a safety aspect of the invention, the female coupling element 1 is in the embodiment shown provided with a rod securing element 20, here in the form of an annular disc 20 slidable in an annular groove 25 in an outer surface of the housing 1. A surface of the annular disc 20 facing the central axis L of the through bore 5 has a con stant diameter. An outwardly facing surface being opposite the surface facing the central axis L, is provided with mutually spaced apart protrusions so that portions of the annular disc 20 has portions with two different diameters; first diameter portions 22 that do not extend outside an outer surface of the housing 3 at the actuator 11, and second diameter portions 24 that protrude outside the outer surface of the housing 3. The first diameter portions are thus indents or recesses with respect to the second surface portions 24. The purpose of the second diameter portions 24 is to abut against a top face 15' of the locking wedge drive element 15 when the male coupling element 32 has been fully inserted into the bore 5 of the female coupling element 1. Thus, when the annular disc 20 is slid to a first position shown in figures 2 and 3, the locking wedge drive element 15 is allowed to move upwards and downwards, while the locking wedge drive element 15 is prevented from upwards movement when the annular disc 20 is slid to a second position as shown in fig. 4. The annular disc 20 is typically installed in the annular groove 25 by means of two halves that are secured to each other, for example by means of a weld or mechanical fas tening means such as for example recessed screws that penetrates into overlapping por tions of the two halves.

In the embodiment shown, the annular disc 20 is provided with a handle 26 protruding from one of the second diameter portions 24 so that the handle 26 may be gripped by an operator to slide the annular disc 20 to a desired position. In such an embodiment, the female coupling element 1 is semi-automatic in that one manual operation is required. However, in an alternative embodiment, the annular disc 20 is operated by means of a position control actuator (not shown) operated from a remote location, typically the same location from which the actuator 11 operatively connected to the locking wedge 7, is operated. A position control actuator may for example comprise a piston rod operated by means of a fluid, or in the form of an "onboard" servomotor. In an embodiment wherein the rod securing element or annular disc 20 is operated by means of a position control actuator, the annular disc 20 is advantageously provided with a position sensor configured to issue a signal to the remote location whether the annular disc 20 is in the first, unlocking position, or in the second, locking position.

When the invention is used for example on drilling rigs when performing workover and well testing operations, it may be desired to inject fluids. Such fluids may for example, but not exclusively, be anti-freeze liquids, anti-foaming agents or any other additives that will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art.

To allow injections of such fluids via the female coupling element 1, the housing 3 is pro vided with a fluid injection channel 40 configured for communicating an injection fluid into the through bore 5 of the female coupling element 1. To facilitate injection of the fluid, the injections fluid channel 40 has an outlet 42 being spaced apart from the portion of the through bore 5 configured for receiving the male coupling element 32. A flow me ter 44 is arranged upstream of the injection channel 40 the measure a volume of the in- jected fluid. Further, the flow meter 44 is provided with a transmitter for transmitting information regarding the volume of the injected fluid off to a remote location, as dis cussed above. In fig. 4, a flow of injection fluid through the flow meter 44 is illustrated by arrow F.

As shown in figures 2-4, the male coupling element 32 is provided with annular seals 34. The annular seals 34 (three shown in the figures but denoted with reference number in fig. 2 only) are axially spaced apart and secured in annular grooves arranged in surface portions of the male coupling element 32. In a position of use, the annular seals 34, a sur face portion of the male coupling element 32, and surface portions of the through bore 5 of the female coupling element 1 against which the annular seals 34 abut, defines annular spaces 35, 35', see fig. 2. To monitor the integrity of at least neighbouring seals 34, the housing 3 is provided with a seal integrity monitor channel 50, see fig. 1. In the embodi ment shown, the housing 3 is provided with two separate seal integrity monitoring chan nels 50. Each seal integrity monitoring channel 50 is in fluid communication with only one annular space 35, i.e. a first, upper seal integrity monitoring channel 50 is in fluid com munication with a first annular space 35, and a second, lower seal integrity channel 50 is in fluid communication with a second annular space 35'. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the two seal integrity monitoring channels 50 merge at an outlet portion into one channel.

Independently of one or more seal integrity monitoring channels 50, a leakage monitoring apparatus (not shown) is in fluid communication with the outlet of the seal integrity mon itoring channel 50 as discussed above.

As shown in figures 2 and 3, the handle 26 of the annular disc 20 is in the first position wherein the locking wedge drive element 15 is allowed to pass the annular disc 20. In fig. 3, the locking wedge drive element 15 has been urged downwards by means of the actua tor and passed the locking wedge drive element 15 but is allowed to move upwards. However, in fig. 4, the annular disc 20 is rotated an angle with respect to the central axis L by means of the handle 26 so that the 15' of the locking wedge drive element 15 abuts against the second diameter portions 24 of the annular disc 20, thereby preventing up- wards movement of the wedge drive element 15. In this position, the actuator 11 may be deactivated.

From the disclosure herein, it should be clear that the female coupling element repre sents advantages with respect to coupling elements known hitherto in that it is remotely operated without the use of any handheld tool, while at the same time the female cou pling element has a simple, reliable and safe construction configured for substantially in- situ maintenance. Further, embodiments of the female coupling element allows injection of any fluid via the female coupling element, wherein a volume of injected fluid may be monitored and controlled from a remote location. In one embodiment, the female cou- pling element is configured for monitoring seal integrity of a coupling assembly compris ing the female coupling element, wherein, in one embodiment the integrity of the seals may be monitored from a remote location.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embod- iments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any ref erence signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.