Abstract: A seal retaining system for retaining a seal ring in a pipe coupling, wherein a plurality of seal ring retainers are connected to a flange around the periphery of a seal seat and wherein the retainers can be moved from an open position in which a seal ring can be placed on or removed from the seal seat to a closed position in which the seal ring is retained in position on the seal seat. In one embodiment, each retainer comprises a rotatable cam having a lip which extends generally around the circumference of the cam, but is truncated on one side. When the truncated portion faces the seal seat, the seal ring can be installed or removed. When the truncated portion faces away from the seal seat, the seal ring is held in position on the seal seat. The cams may be attached with bolts that can be sheared off if the cams are frozen in position.

Abstract: A connector for coupling pipe sections which may be either aligned or misaligned axially, the connector having a male fitting, a female fitting which mates with the male fitting and a retaining means which can be connected to the female fitting to hold the male fitting in place against the female fitting. In one embodiment, the retaining means comprises a hammer nut which has a retaining surface. The retaining surface of the hammer nut contacts a rear surface of a first one of the flanges for urging this flange forward. The hammer nut has threads which are complementary to a set of threads on the second flange. When the hammer nut is threaded onto the second flange, the first and second flanges are pulled together. The retaining surface of the hammer nut and the rear surface of the first flange have complementary spherical shapes so that the hammer nut can rotate and swivel with respect to the flange.

Abstract: A seal retaining system for retaining a seal ring in a pipe coupling, wherein a plurality of seal ring retainers are connected to a flange around the periphery of a seal seat and wherein the retainers can be moved from an open position in which a seal ring can be placed on or removed from the seal seat to a closed position in which the seal ring is retained in position on the seal seat. In one embodiment, each retainer comprises a rotatable cam having a lip which extends generally around the circumference of the cam, but is truncated on one side. When the truncated portion faces the seal seat, the seal ring can be installed or removed. When the truncated portion faces away from the seal seat, the seal ring is held in position on the seal seat. The cams may be attached with bolts that can be sheared off if the cams are frozen in position.

Abstract: A coupling for two pipe sections having integral buoyancy cans, wherein the coupling includes two coupling flanges, each having an inner flange portion configured to couple the pipe stems of the pipe sections and an outer flange portion configured to brace or secure the buoyancy cans of the pipe sections against each other and thereby stabilize the pipe sections. In one embodiment, the inner and outer flange portions of each coupling flange are connected by a plurality of connecting plates. Each coupling flange also includes a plurality of reinforcing plates between the inner and outer flange portions. Each of the inner flange portions is configured as a female box flange. In one embodiment, a pin flange is positioned between the inner flange portions in the assembled coupling to form pin-and-box connections with the inner flange portions. The outer flange portions are bolted together to secure the coupling.

Abstract: A removable connector for use between angled, immovable high pressure lines is disclosed. One embodiment of the connector utilizes a tubular elbow portion having a mating flange on each end and an adapter which mates with one of the elbow flanges. The remaining elbow flange mates with a flange at the end of one of the high pressure lines and the free end of the adapter mates with a flange at the end of the other high pressure line. The mating flange surfaces are frusto-conical in shape and corresponding frusto-conical seal rings are placed between the mating surfaces. The elbow and adapter are adapted to have their respective ends placed at the pipe flanges and their bodies rotated toward each other until their opposite ends mate with each other. The flanges are then bolted together and tightened to ensure sealing engagement and bring the elbow and adapter into alignment with the pipes.