Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling is pressure balanced to reduce forces tending to urge the coupling members apart during coupling or uncoupling. A seal retainer having an L-shaped fluid passage is used to provide fluid communication between the radial fluid passage in the male member and the longitudinal fluid passage in the female member of the coupling. The seal retainer holds one or more radial seals in the female member upon disengagement of the male coupling member.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling having a radial pressure-energized seal with a dovetail interfit is disclosed. The seal has a pair of flexible sealing surfaces for sealing with the male and female coupling members, and a cavity therebetween that is exposed to fluid pressure in the coupling. The outer circumference of the seal has a dovetail interfit between inclined shoulders in the female member bore and on a seal retainer that holds the seal in the bore.

Abstract: A hydraulic coupling for use in undersea drilling and production operations is disclosed, having a male member with radially extending projections or fins configured to be received in a female member having corresponding grooves in its receiving chamber. Relative rotation of the members urges the male member inwardly and preferably compresses axially a metal seal between the leading face of the male member and an internal shoulder. This preloads the seal before the coupling is pressured up with hydraulic fluid. The rotation of the male member may be done manually or by remote actuation.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling having a metal seal with a Y-shaped cross section that provides a face type seal between the male and female coupling members is disclosed. The inner circumference of the Y-shaped seal remains engaged with the face of the male member even when there is partial separation of the members, without any pre-loading devices. If the male member is partially removed from the female member bore, a face-type seal is maintained with the face of the male member and a sliding radial seal is maintained with the receiving chamber wall. The seal slides with the male member as it is partially withdrawn from the female member receiving chamber.

Abstract: A pressure balanced hydraulic coupling for use in undersea drilling and production operations is shown. The coupling has radial passages connecting between the male and female members such that fluid pressure is not exerted against the face of either member during coupling or uncoupling. The female member has a split body with a first part and a second part, each having a longitudinal passage and a radial fluid passage. A radial seal is positioned on the junction between the first and second parts of the female member body to facilitate removal and replacement of the radial seal when the split body is disassembled. The male member may be inserted through the first and second parts of the female coupling member, thereby establishing fluid communication between the coupling members in a direction transverse to the coupling member bores.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for male and female coupling members for use in undersea production and drilling applications is disclosed. At least one pin extends radially from the female member. The pin enters an L-shaped slot in a guide sleeve extending longitudinally from the male member. A lock bar moveable between a locked and unlocked position holds the pin in the L-shaped slot.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling is disclosed having a male member with a tapered, frusta-conical surface and a female member with a tapered, frusta-conical bore. Before radial seals engage the frusta-conical surfaces, trapped seawater is expelled or displaced from the bore through the space between the coupling members, thereby preventing seawater from entering hydraulic lines.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling having an extended probe section is disclosed. The male member of the coupling houses a valve spring having a larger diameter than the diameter of the valve body. The valve spring is configured to close the valve to prevent ingress of sea water or leakage of hydraulic fluid from the system. One or more seals engage the extended probe section.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling has a male member with a stepped outer body that may be inserted into a female member having a bore which has retained therein three seals and a three part seal retaining member. Two of the seals engage different diameters of the male member, prior to opening of the valves in the male and female members.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling having a ring-shaped metal seal that is held in place between the female member body and a sleeve-shaped seal retainer is disclosed. The annular metal seal includes a lip or leg section which is clamped in place between the female member body and the seal retainer. A hollow portion of the seal extends radially inwardly from the lip portion of the seal and is expansible to form a fluid tight seal against the body of the male member. The hollow portion of the metal seal is preferably cylindrical in cross-section and is sufficiently flexible in response to fluid pressure to form a fluid tight seal between the female member, male member, and seal retainer.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for male and female coupling members for use in undersea production and drilling applications is disclosed. At least one pin extends radially from the female member. Each pin enters a slot in a guide sleeve extending longitudinally from the male member. The guide sleeve also contains a spring and spring plate. The female member is inserted into the guide sleeve, compressing the spring, and the pin enters the first longitudinal portion of the slot. The female member may be rotated with respect to the male member when the pin is in the circumferential portion of the slot. The pin then may enter the second or third longitudinal portion of the slot. When the pin is in the second portion of the slot, the female member is "parked" or secured to the male member while coupling member valves remain closed, and when the pin is in the third portion of the slot, the valves are open.

Abstract: An apparatus for locking together male and female coupling members for use in undersea production and drilling applications is disclosed. A lock pin engages a circumferential groove around the body of the female coupling member. The lock pin may be released to allow partial separation of the male and female coupling members while the valves of each coupling member are closed, allowing the coupling members to remain connected subsea while the flow of hydraulic fluid is shut off.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling having a male member with a stepped outer body is inserted into a female member having a bore with stepped internal cylindrical surface. The step in the male member defines first and second external cylindrical surfaces which are slidably received in the female member bore and in a sleeve member before the seals, which are retained by the sleeve member, engage the male member. Thus, the male member is more accurately positioned and guided into the seals, insuring greater seal reliability and longer seal life. The stepped surfaces also help prevent implosion of the seals due to sea pressure when the end of the male member comes out of the seals.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling having a poppet valve movable between an open and a closed position is disclosed. The poppet valve operates without substantial fluid pressure exerted axially against the face of the poppet valve. When the poppet valve is opened, radial passages are interconnected through an annular cavity between the poppet valve body and the valve bore.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling have a pair of hollow metal seals which are pressure energized to seal between the male and female members of the coupling. One of the hollow metal seals is configured to expand radially while the second hollow metal seal is compressible along the longitudinal axis of the coupling. These seals provide a fluid tight sealing arrangement upon pressurization of the coupling, without the need for external pre-load devices.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling with a hollow metal o-ring seal for sealing between the male and female members is disclosed. The hollow metal o-ring seal is held captive between an internal shoulder and a retainer insertable into the internal bore of the female member. The retainer may be slidable to compress the metal o-ring seal axially. The metal o-ring seal also may be pressure-energized to expand the seal cavity in response to fluid pressure in the coupling.

Abstract: A coupling having a seal member with an annular flexible metal seal surface for sealing with a male member or probe. The metal seal surface is integral with the seal member and extends into the bore of the female member. The metal seal surface is urged radially inwardly against the male member in response to internal fluid pressure in the coupling.

Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling having a pair of flexible, pressure-energized seals is disclosed. The seals are configured to seal radially between the male and female members of the coupling so that hydraulic fluid does not leak from the annular space between the receiving chamber and outer surface of the male member. The coupling is pressure-balanced for fluid communication through mating radial passages and the annular space between the members.

Abstract: A pressure-balanced hydraulic coupling for use in undersea drilling and production operations, the coupling having radial passageways communicating between the male and female members such that substantial fluid pressure is not exerted against the face of either member during coupling or uncoupling or during the coupled state. Check valves in both the male and female members are opened when the male member probe is fully inserted into the receiving chamber of the female member. Mutually opposed valve actuators contact one another to effectuate the simultaneous opening of each check valve, and allow fluid to flow through a valve port and then radially through matching fluid passageways in the male and female members. The radial passageways of the male and female members match up at their longitudinal surfaces so that fluid pressure between the male and female members is in a substantially radial direction and is not exerted at the face of either member.

Abstract: A pressure-balanced hydraulic coupling for use in undersea drilling and production operations, the coupling having radial passageways communicating between the male and female members such that substantial fluid pressure is not exerted against the face of either member during coupling or uncoupling or during the coupled state. Check valves in both the male and female members are opened when the male member probe is fully inserted into the receiving chamber of the female member. Mutually opposed valve actuators contact one another to effectuate the simultaneous opening of each check valve, and allow fluid to flow through a valve port and then radially through matching fluid passageways in the male and female members. The radial passageways of the male and female members match up at their longitudinal surfaces so that fluid pressure between the male and female members is in a substantially radial direction and is not exerted at the face of either member.