Richard A Herman

6554324, Apr 29, 2003

Oct 31, 2000

09/704215

Richard J. Herman - Houston TX

Cooper Cameron Corporation - Houston TX

F16L 2106

285322, 2851239, 28512311, 285900, 285920

A connector for connecting a first tubular member to a second tubular member is disclosed, for example for connecting a riser to a wellhead in a subsea oilfield location. The second tubular member has a seating surface and comprises an engagable locking profile. The connector comprises a housing for securing the connector to the end portion of the first tubular member, the housing comprising a seating surface for contacting the seating surface of the second tubular member. A locking assembly is provided having a locking portion engagable with the locking profile of the second tubular member, the locking assembly movable between an unlocked position, in which the locking portion of the locking assembly is not in engagement with the locking profile of the second tubular member, to a locked position, in which the locking portion of the locking assembly is engaged with the locking portion of the second tubular member and in which the seating surface of the housing is in contact with the seating surface of the second tubular member. The connector further includes a first actuator, operable to move the locking assembly from the unlocked position to the locked position, and a second actuator, operable after operation of the first actuator to apply an axial tensile load to the locking assembly, thereby urging the seating surface of the housing against the seating surface of the second tubular member. A method of connecting a first tubular member to a second tubular member is also disclosed.

61060240, Aug 22, 2000

Jun 4, 1998

9/090868

Richard J. Herman - Houston TX
Micheal D. Floyd - Conroe TX

Cooper Cameron Corporation - Houston TX

F16L 3500

285 18

A joint design particularly useful in subsea risers is disclosed. The joint is preferably of a pin and box design where one of the components is held in a stressed condition as the joint is made up and locked together. A portion of the applied stress is then removed, leaving a preload in the assembled joint. A hydraulically operated tool is used to apply the stress while at the same time supporting the riser string. The joint can seal with resilient seals or metal-to-metal contact, or both. The locking device can be of a variety of types including but not limited to breech lock, threads, or lock rings. The pin and box may be made of different materials that have different yield strengths and moduli of elasticity.

44338597, Feb 28, 1984

Jul 16, 1981

6/284008

Gary R. Driver - Houston TX
Richard J. Herman - Houston TX

NL Industries, Inc. - New York NY

F16L 3708

285 34

A wellhead connector comprises a tubular main body movably mounting a set of circumferentially spaced members for radial extension and retraction. An actuator on the main body is operatively associated with the members to radially extend them. Levers are interengaged between the main body and the members, when the latter are extended, and are operative to at least partially retract the members.