Remotely operated fluid connection

Abstract

A fluid connection has a housing affixable to a fluid coupling and a seal bore in the interior. An adapter has a seal on an exterior engageable with the seal bore and a lock engagement surface, the adapter has a maximum outer diameter section. Locking elements are coupled to the housing by respective pivots, and each element has an inner and outer working surface on one side of the pivot and a contact surface on the other side of the pivot. The inner working surface has a taper opposed to the lock engagement surface. The contact surfaces and the maximum outer diameter section are such that the inner working surfaces contact the lock engagement surface. A lock ring is coupled to the housing by an actuator. When the actuator is extended the lock ring exposes the outer working surfaces, and when retracted the lock ring surrounds the outer working surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A remotely operable fluid connection, comprising:
 a fluid connector housing having a coupling at one end affixable to fluid transfer equipment, the fluid connector housing having a seal bore in an interior thereof;   a pressure control adapter having a seal on an exterior thereof engageable with the seal bore, the well pressure control adapter comprising a lock engagement surface, the well pressure control adapter comprising a maximum outer diameter section;   a plurality of locking elements coupled to the fluid connector housing by a respective pivot, each of the plurality of locking elements comprising an inner working surface and an outer working surface on one side of the respective pivot and a contact surface on the other side of the respective pivot, each inner working surface having a taper opposed to a taper of the lock engagement surface, the contact surfaces and the maximum outer diameter section arranged such that the inner working surfaces contact the lock engagement surface;   a lock ring coupled to the fluid connector by at least one actuator longitudinally extensible with respect to the fluid connector housing, whereby when extended the lock ring is positioned to expose the outer working surfaces, and when retracted the lock ring surrounds the outer working surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The connection of  claim 1  further comprising three circumferentially positioned actuators coupled to the well fluid connector housing and the lock ring. 
     
     
         3 . The connection of  claim 1  wherein the at least one actuator comprises a hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The connection of  claim 1  wherein the inner working surfaces cover substantially the entire circumference of the lock engagement surface when the inner working surfaces engage the lock engagement surface. 
     
     
         5 . The connection of  claim 1  further comprising a locking feature on each outer working surface and a corresponding feature on an inner working surface of the lock ring. 
     
     
         6 . The connection of  claim 5  wherein the locking feature comprises a groove and the corresponding feature comprises a ridge. 
     
     
         7 . The connection of  claim 1  wherein the fluid connector housing comprises a feature for connection with a pressure tight fluid connector. 
     
     
         8 . The connection of  claim 7  wherein the pressure tight fluid connector comprises a wellhead. 
     
     
         9 . The connection of  claim 1  wherein the lock engagement surface is arranged to cooperatively engage the inner working surfaces so as to radially expand the locking elements to engage the outer working surfaces with an inner working surface of the lock ring. 
     
     
         10 . The connection of  claim 1  further comprising a biasing element arranged to urge each locking element to a radially open position. 
     
     
         11 . The connection of  claim 10  wherein each biasing element comprises a torsion spring.