Cartridge hydraulic coupler and method of use

Abstract

A male and female set of hydraulic coupler cartridges mate such that one part of the coupler can be left in place, e.g. the female coupler, with the other portion of the coupler, e.g. the male coupler, being removably connected or disconnected. Valves within each cartridge comprise an actuator and springs within each cartridge urge the valves into a closed, sealing position. When the cartridges mate, spring and/or fluid pressure within the cartridges operates to either allow or disallow fluid flow. Once the cartridges are mated, their respective springs are partially compressed and movement of one of the valves operates to compress one spring and correspondingly decompress the other. The cartridges can therefore be mated and unmated, e.g. subsea, while fluid flow is prevented through them during the mating and unmating.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of replacing a portion of a coupling cartridge in a mateable coupling assembly subsea, comprising:
 a. decoupling a male coupling member from a female coupling member to which the male coupling member is coupled, the male coupling member comprising a replaceable male cartridge selectively inserted into a male coupling member housing and the female coupling member comprising a replaceable female cartridge selectively inserted into a female coupling member housing;   b. using a first spring disposed within the female cartridge and in contact with a first poppet valve disposed at least partially within the female cartridge to urge the first poppet valve into a sealed position by forcing a sealing face of the first poppet valve against a first seal disposed within an inner annulus of the female cartridge, thereby forming an occlusive seal as the male coupling member and female coupling member are decoupled;   c. if fluid pressure exists within the inner annulus of the female cartridge, allowing the fluid pressure in the female cartridge to aid the first spring;   d. using a second spring disposed at least partially within the male cartridge and in contact with a second poppet valve disposed at least partially within the male cartridge to urge the second poppet valve into a sealed position by forcing a sealing face of the second poppet valve against a second seal disposed within an inner annulus of the male cartridge, thereby forming an occlusive seal as the male member and female member are decoupled;   e. if fluid pressure exists within the inner annulus of the male cartridge, allowing the fluid pressure in the male cartridge to aid the second spring;   f. removing either the male cartridge from the male member or the female cartridge from the female member;   g. replacing the removed cartridge; and   h. recoupling the male and female coupling members.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. after the male cartridge member is decoupled from the female coupling member, coupling a second male coupling member to the female coupling member, the second male coupling member comprising a second male cartridge, by longitudinally aligning a probe portion of the second male cartridge within a first inner bore of the female coupling cartridge until a first actuator, operatively in communication with the first poppet valve and disposed at least partially within the female member, and a second actuator, operatively in communication with the second poppet valve and disposed at least partially within the second male cartridge, are slideably engaged along a substantially common longitudinal axis of the probe and the first inner bore, the female coupling inner bore forming a substantially common annulus with a male coupling inner bore when the female and second male coupling members are mated; and   b. allowing fluid flow through the second male coupling cartridge and the female coupling cartridge when fluid pressure within the coupled second male coupling cartridge and female coupling cartridge is sufficient to urge the first actuator against the second actuator, thereby overcoming a force exerted by a first spring disposed within the female inner annulus against the first poppet valve and a force exerted by a second spring disposed within the male inner annulus against the second poppet valve.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second male coupling cartridge is a different male coupling cartridge than the first male coupling cartridge. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the female housing selectively receives the female cartridge, the female housing being attached to a subsea structure, the female housing remaining attached to the subsea structure while the female cartridge is removed and replaced. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the male housing selectively receives the male cartridge, the male housing being attached to a subsea structure, the male housing remaining attached to the subsea structure while the male cartridge is removed and replaced.