U.S. patent application number 15/030853 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-08 for rotating control device with latch biased toward engagement.
This patent application is currently assigned to Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.. Invention is credited to Owen R. Clark.
Application Number | 20160258239 15/030853 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53199505 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160258239 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Clark; Owen R. |
September 8, 2016 |
Rotating Control Device with Latch Biased Toward Engagement
Abstract
A bearing assembly can be releasably secured relative to an
outer housing of a rotating control device without using fluid
pressure. An example method includes inserting the bearing assembly
into an outer housing to outwardly displace a latch engagement
member. The engagement member is inwardly biased without fluid
pressure, such as with a spring. The assembly is moved to an
operative position in the outer housing, at which the
inwardly-biased engagement member displaces inwardly to engage a
recess on the bearing assembly. Fluid pressure may subsequently be
used once the bearing assembly is latched, to optionally help
maintain the engagement member in the recess or to move the
engagement member out of the recess to unlatch the bearing
assembly.
Inventors: |
Clark; Owen R.; (Carrollton,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC. |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Halliburton Energy Services,
Inc.
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
53199505 |
Appl. No.: |
15/030853 |
Filed: |
November 27, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
November 27, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2013/072245 |
371 Date: |
April 20, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 33/06 20130101;
E21B 33/085 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 33/08 20060101
E21B033/08 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: inserting a bearing and/or seal assembly
into an outer housing of a rotating control device, thereby
outwardly displacing at least one engagement member of a latch;
biasing the at least one engagement member inwardly without using
fluid pressure; and releasably latching the bearing and/or seal
assembly relative to the outer housing of the rotating control
device by moving the bearing and/or seal assembly to an operative
position in the outer housing at which the inwardly-biased
engagement member displaces inwardly to engage a recess on the
assembly.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting and the outwardly
displacing are performed without applying fluid pressure to an
actuator of the latch.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising directly contacting
the engagement member with the bearing and/or seal assembly to urge
the engagement member outwardly during the step of inserting the
bearing and/or seal assembly into the outer housing.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising using fluid pressure
to help urge the at least one engagement member inwardly after
latching the bearing and/or seal assembly relative to the outer
housing of the rotating control device, to maintain the engagement
member in the recess.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a spring to bias
the engagement member inwardly into engagement with the recess.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising using the spring to
longitudinally displace a piston of the latch.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one engagement
member comprises multiple circumferentially distributed engagement
members, and wherein each of the engagement members is interlocked
with circumferentially adjacent ones of the engagement members.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the bearing and/or seal assembly
comprises at least one of the group comprising an annular seal and
a bearing.
9. A rotating control device, comprising: an outer housing; an
assembly having at least one of a bearing and a seal in a passage
extending through the outer housing; and a latch in the outer
housing, the latch including at least one engagement member which
releasably secures the assembly relative to the outer housing, and
which is biased outwardly by the assembly when the assembly is
installed in the outer housing, and wherein the engagement member
is biased toward an engaged position without use of fluid
pressure.
10. The rotating control device of claim 9, wherein the engagement
member displaces both radially and longitudinally toward the
engaged position.
11. The rotating control device of claim 9, wherein the engagement
member engages a recess formed on the assembly, and wherein the
engagement member is positioned between a first inclined face of
the recess and a second inclined face in the outer housing, the
first and second inclined faces opposing each other.
12. The rotating control device of claim 11, wherein the first and
second inclined faces are substantially parallel to each other.
13. The rotating control device of claim 9, wherein the at least
one engagement member comprises multiple circumferentially
distributed engagement members, and wherein each of the engagement
members is interlocked with circumferentially adjacent ones of the
engagement members.
14. The rotating control device of claim 9, wherein the engagement
member is biased toward the engaged position by a biasing device
which exerts a longitudinally directed biasing force on a
piston.
15. A method of releasably latching a bearing assembly relative to
an outer housing of a rotating control device, the method
comprising: applying fluid pressure to an actuator of a latch of
the rotating control device; then positioning the bearing assembly
in the outer housing at an operative position; and then reducing
the fluid pressure, thereby allowing a biasing device to displace
at least one engagement member of the latch into engagement with a
profile formed on the bearing assembly.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the applying fluid pressure
further comprises compressing the biasing device.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the fluid pressure reducing
further comprises allowing the biasing device to elongate.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising, after the fluid
pressure reducing, applying fluid pressure to the actuator, thereby
maintaining the engagement member engaged with the profile.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the fluid pressure reducing
further comprises the biasing device longitudinally displacing a
piston of the latch.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one engagement
member comprises multiple circumferentially distributed engagement
members, and wherein each of the engagement members is interlocked
with circumferentially adjacent ones of the engagement members.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and
operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and,
in one example described below, more particularly provides a
rotating control device with a latch that is biased toward
engagement.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A rotating control device (RCD, also known as a rotating
head, rotating blowout preventer and rotating diverter) is used to
seal off an annulus about a rotatable tubular (such as, part of a
drill string or other tubular string) at or near the earth's
surface. For this purpose, the rotating control device includes an
annular seal, which may rotate with the tubular. If the annular
seal does rotate, bearings can be used to allow the seal to rotate
relative to an outer housing of the rotating control device.
[0003] It is beneficial to be able to releasably latch the seal
and/or bearings relative to the outer housing, so that the seal
and/or bearings can be conveniently installed and removed when
desired. Thus, it will be appreciated that improvements are
continually needed in the arts of constructing and operating
latches for rotating control devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a representative cross-sectional view of a well
system and associated method which can embody principles of this
disclosure, the well system including a seal and bearing assembly
latched into a rotating control device outer housing.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a representative cross-sectional view of the well
system and method of FIG. 1, with the seal and bearing assembly
positioned, but not latched, in the outer housing.
[0006] FIG. 3 is an enlarged scale representative cross-sectional
view of the latch shown in a latched configuration.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a representative cross-sectional view of a portion
of the latch, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.
[0008] FIG. 5 is a representative perspective view of a portion of
the rotating control device with an upper section of the outer
housing removed, and the latch shown in the latched
configuration.
[0009] FIG. 6 is a representative perspective view of the portion
of the rotating control device with the upper section of the outer
housing removed, and the latch shown in an unlatched
configuration.
[0010] FIG. 7 is a representative perspective view of a portion of
another example of the rotating control device with an upper
section of the outer housing removed, and the latch shown in the
latched configuration.
[0011] FIG. 8 is a representative perspective view of the portion
of the rotating control device with the upper section of the outer
housing removed, and the latch shown in the unlatched
configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] FIG. 1 is a representative cross-sectional view of a well
system 10 and associated method which can embody principles of this
disclosure. However, it should be clearly understood that the
system 10 and method are merely one example of an application of
the principles of this disclosure in practice, and a wide variety
of other examples are possible. Therefore, the scope of this
disclosure is not limited at all to the details of the system 10
and method described herein and/or depicted in the drawings.
[0013] In the FIG. 1 example, a rotating control device (RCD) 12 is
connected above a blowout preventer (BOP) stack 14, so that a flow
passage 16 of the blowout preventer stack and a wellhead below (not
shown) extends longitudinally through the RCD. However, in other
examples, the RCD 12 could be connected as part of a riser string,
and so it should be understood that the RCD is not necessarily
connected to or between any particular well tools or
components.
[0014] The BOP stack 14 can be connected to various types of
structures (for example, a tensioner ring of a riser string, a
wellhead or a lower marine riser package (LMRP)), so that the
passage 16 is in communication with a wellbore (not shown).
However, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to use of the
RCD 12 with any particular type of drilling rig, or to any
particular arrangement or configuration of components or well tools
above or below the RCD.
[0015] The RCD 12 in this embodiment includes a seal and bearing
assembly 30 (alternatively referred to as the "assembly" with
respect to this embodiment). In particular, the assembly 30 in this
embodiment includes both an annular seal component for sealing with
an inserted tubular member and a bearing component for facilitating
rotation of the annular seal with respect to the RCD 12. In another
embodiment, the seal component and bearing component could be
separable, such that either or both of the seal component and
bearing component could be separately secured to a housing of an
RCD according to the principles disclosed herein. In yet another
embodiment, the bearing component could be omitted, such that only
a seal assembly could be releasably secured to the housing of the
RCD. The RCD 12 in this embodiment further includes a latch 24 for
releasably securing the seal and bearing assembly 30 in an outer
housing 26 of the RCD. In FIG. 1, it can be seen that the latch 24
includes multiple circumferentially distributed engagement members
28 positioned in the outer housing 26. In other examples, a single
circumferentially continuous engagement member could be used. Thus,
the scope of this disclosure is not limited to use of any
particular number or configuration of engagement member(s).
[0016] The engagement members 28 of FIG. 1 are in a radially
inwardly disposed latched position. In this position, the latch 24
secures the seal and bearing assembly 30 in the RCD 12. An annular
seal 32 of the assembly 30 can sealingly engage an exterior of a
tubular 34 (such as a drill pipe) inserted in the passage 16, and
the latch 24 can resist dislodging of the assembly from the outer
housing 26 due, for example, to increased pressure in the passage
below the seal.
[0017] The assembly 30 includes bearings 36, which permit the seal
32 to rotate relative to the outer housing 26. In this manner, the
seal 32 can rotate with the tubular 34 while sealing off an annular
space 38 formed radially between the tubular and the outer housing
26.
[0018] In the FIG. 1 example, the latch 24 releasably secures both
the seal 32 and the bearings 36 against removal from the RCD 12.
However, in other examples, the latch 24 could releasably secure
only the seal 32, or only the bearings 36 (e.g., if the seal is
separately removable from the outer housing 26). Thus, the scope of
this disclosure is not limited to use of any particular type of
seal and bearing assembly, or to use of an assembly which includes
both seals and bearings.
[0019] In other examples, an assembly latched into the outer
housing 26 could comprise a protective sleeve (not shown) for
protecting seal bores, shoulders and other structures in the outer
housing 26. Thus, it is not necessary for an assembly latched into
the outer housing 26 to include an annular seal and/or a
bearing.
[0020] One seal 32 is depicted in FIG. 1, and the seal is
illustrated as being of the type known to those skilled in the art
as a "passive" seal. However, in other examples, multiple seals
could be used, and some or all of the seals could be "active"
seals. The seal 32 is not necessarily positioned within the outer
housing 26. Thus, it will be appreciated that the scope of this
disclosure is not limited to use of any particular number, position
or type(s) of annular seal(s).
[0021] As described more fully below, the latch engagement members
28 can be displaced radially relative to the outer housing 26
between a position in which removal of the seal and bearing
assembly 30 from the RCD 12 is prevented (as in FIG. 1), and a
position in which the seal and bearing assembly can be inserted
into, or removed from, the outer housing 26 (as in FIG. 2).
[0022] FIG. 2 is an enlarged scale representative cross-sectional
view of the rotating control device 12, with the seal and bearing
assembly 30 positioned (but not latched) therein. Note that seals
40 carried on the seal and bearing assembly 30 are sealingly
engaged in bores of the housing 26. The seals 40 seal radially
between the housing 26 and the seal and bearing assembly 30.
[0023] The seals 40 longitudinally straddle the engagement members
28. In this manner, well fluids and debris are effectively isolated
from the engagement member 28 while the seal and bearing assembly
30 is positioned in the housing 26, thereby preventing such well
fluids and debris from hindering displacement of the engagement
member.
[0024] FIG. 3 is an enlarged scale representative cross-sectional
view of the latch 24 shown in a latched configuration. In this
view, it may be seen that the engagement member 28 is displaced
radially inward into engagement with a recess 42, thereby securing
the seal and bearing assembly 30 in the outer housing 26. In this
embodiment, the recess 42 comprises a continuous annular recess
profile on the seal and bearing assembly 30, which fully encircles
the seal and bearing assembly, thereby securing the seal and
bearing assembly in the outer housing 26 at any relative rotational
position between the seal/bearing assembly and the outer housing.
Alternatively, a recess could be provided at a particular
circumferential position on the assembly 30, without fully
encircling the assembly 30. For example, a plurality of
circumferentially spaced recesses could be provided on the assembly
30, each for receiving a respective one of a plurality of
engagement members when the engagement members are rotationally
aligned with the respective recesses. If the bearings 36 are not
used (e.g., if the seal 32 does not rotate), then the recess 42
could be formed on a housing or mandrel that supports the seal.
[0025] A piston 44 of the latch 24 is displaced upwardly, in order
to displace the engagement member 28 radially inward. In other
examples, the piston 44 could be displaced downwardly to displace
the engagement member 28 inward. Thus, the scope of this disclosure
is not limited to any particular configuration or direction of
displacement of any components of the latch 24.
[0026] In the FIG. 3 example, the piston 44 can be biased upwardly
and downwardly in response to pressure differentials applied to the
piston via ports 46, 48 formed in the outer housing 26. To bias the
piston 44 upwardly, so that the engagement member 28 is biased
inwardly and the assembly 30 remains secured in the outer housing
26, increased pressure can be applied to the port 46. To displace
the piston 44 downwardly, so that the engagement member 28 is
displaced outwardly and the assembly 30 is not secured in the outer
housing 26, increased pressure can be applied to the port 48.
[0027] A biasing device 20 (such as, a coiled spring, wave springs
or Bellville washers) continually biases the piston 44 upward so
that, unless increased pressure is applied to the port 48, a net
upward biasing force is applied to the piston. In this manner, the
piston 44 maintains the engagement member 28 in its inwardly
displaced, latched position, unless increased pressure is applied
to the port 48. In FIG. 2, sufficient pressure has been applied to
the port 48 to overcome the biasing force exerted by the biasing
device 20 and downwardly displace the piston 44.
[0028] When the piston 44 displaces upward (due to the biasing
force exerted by the biasing device 20), rollers 22 carried on a
rod 18 connected to the piston and received in a lateral slot 82 in
the engagement member 28 urge the engagement member 28 to displace
longitudinally upward and radially inward along an inclined face 80
formed in an upper section 26a of the outer housing 26 to the
latched position of FIG. 3. When the piston 44 displaces downward
(due to increased pressure applied to the port 48), the rollers 22
urge the engagement member 28 to displace longitudinally downward
and radially outward to the unlatched position (see FIG. 2).
[0029] As a contingency measure, or if pressure is not available
for applying to the port 48, the piston 44 can be displaced
downward by threading a threaded member 60 (such as, an internally
threaded nut) onto a lower end of the piston. Threaded engagement
between the piston and the threaded member 60 will cause the piston
to be biased downward by rotation of the threaded member. Note that
it is not necessary for the member 60 to be internally threaded. In
other examples, the threaded member 60 could be externally threaded
and the piston 44 could be internally threaded, or the piston could
be otherwise manually displaced to its downward unlatched
position.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a representative cross-sectional view of a portion
of the latch 24, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3. In this view, the
manner in which the rollers 22 are carried on the rod 18, and the
manner in which the rollers engage the lateral slot 82 can be more
clearly seen. The rollers 22 provide a relatively low friction
means for the engagement member 28 to displace radially relative to
the rod 18 as the piston 44 (see FIG. 3) displaces.
[0031] Referring again to FIG. 3, note that the inclined face 80 is
substantially parallel to an inclined face 84 of the recess 42 on
the assembly 30. When the assembly 30 is biased upward (for
example, due to increased pressure applied in the annular space 38
when the seal 32 seals against the tubular 34 (see FIG. 1)), the
engagement member 28 is compressed between the inclined faces 80,
84. Because of the unique configuration of the engagement member 28
and the inclined faces 80, 84, the upward biasing of the assembly
30 does not result in any net outward biasing of the engagement
member.
[0032] Thus, it is not necessary to maintain increased pressure at
the port 46 in order to maintain the engagement member 28 engaged
in the recess 42, whether or not the assembly is biased upward,
such as, by increased pressure in the annular space 38. The biasing
force exerted by the biasing device 20 is sufficient to keep the
engagement member 28 from displacing longitudinally downward and
radially outward due to the force of gravity acting on the
engagement member when there is no upwardly biasing force applied
to the assembly 30.
[0033] However, it should be understood that it is not necessary
for the inclined faces 80, 84 to be parallel to each other.
Materials, surface finishes and resulting coefficients of friction
for the inclined faces 80, 84 and the engagement member 28 can be
selected, and appropriate angles of inclination can be selected, so
that, even if the inclined faces are not parallel, the engagement
member will not displace radially outward, no matter how much
upwardly biasing force is applied to the assembly 30.
[0034] In this example, the biasing device 20 and the piston 44 are
components of an actuator 86 of the latch 24. The actuator 86 also
includes the ports 46, 48 and a sleeve 88 in which the piston 44 is
sealingly and reciprocably received.
[0035] In examples described herein, there is one actuator 86 for
each engagement member 28. However, in other examples, a single
actuator 86 could be used to displace multiple engagement members
28, or multiple actuators could be used to displace a single
engagement member. Thus, the scope of this disclosure is not
limited to any particular configuration, arrangement or number of
actuators 86 relative to engagement members 28.
[0036] Note that, when the piston 44 displaces upwardly, the
rollers 22 contact an upper side 82a of the slot 82 to thereby
positively displace the engagement member 28 radially inward (and
longitudinally upward). Furthermore, when the piston 44 displaces
downwardly, the rollers 22 contact a lower side 82b of the slot 82
to thereby positively displace the engagement member 28 radially
outward (and longitudinally downward). Thus, a possibility of the
engagement member 28 sticking or jamming in its latched or
unlatched positions is significantly reduced, since the engagement
member is positively displaced from one position to the other.
[0037] Before the assembly 30 is installed in the outer housing 26,
the engagement members 28 are in their radially inward latched
positions, due to the biasing force exerted by the biasing device
20 maintaining the piston 44 in its upper position. When the
assembly 30 is inserted downwardly into the housing 26, a lower
inclined shoulder 90 formed on the assembly will eventually contact
an upper inclined face 92 on the engagement member 28. Further
downward displacement of the assembly 30 will cause the shoulder 90
to urge the engagement member 28 radially outward, and the assembly
can then be displaced further downward to its operative
position.
[0038] When the engagement member 28 is laterally aligned with the
recess 42, the engagement member can displace radially inward into
engagement with the recess, due to the biasing force exerted by the
biasing device 20. Thus, the assembly 30 can be securely latched
into the housing 26, without applying any pressure to the actuator
86.
[0039] In some instances, increased pressure could be applied to
the port 46 after the assembly 30 has been latched into the housing
26, in order to ensure that the engagement members 28 are fully
engaged with the recess 42. Furthermore, in some examples,
increased pressure could be applied to the port 48 prior to
inserting the assembly 30 into the housing 26, in order to radially
outwardly displace the engagement members 28, so that they do not
contact the assembly as it is being installed into the housing. In
these examples, the increased pressure applied to the port 48 would
be relieved after the assembly 30 is in its operative position with
the engagement members 28 aligned with the recess 42. When the
increased pressure is relieved, the biasing device 20 will displace
the piston 44 upward and, thus, cause the engagement members 28 to
displace radially inward into engagement with the recess 42,
thereby securely latching the assembly 30 into the housing 26.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a representative perspective view of a portion of
the rotating control device 12 with an upper section 26a of the
outer housing 26 removed, and the latch 24 shown in the latched
configuration. In this view, it may be seen that circumferentially
extending plates 94 are secured to lower sides of the engagement
members 28. The plates 94 overlap plates secured to engagement
members 28 on opposite circumferential sides of each engagement
member.
[0041] The plates 94 urge the engagement members 28 to displace
radially inward and outward (and longitudinally upward and
downward) together as a unit. The plates 94 could also be provided
with circumferentially extending interlocking grooves or other
profiles, so that the engagement members 28 are constrained to
displace together.
[0042] In some examples, the plates 94 could be integrally formed
with the engagement members 28, or differently shaped structures
could be used to interlock the engagement members. Thus, the scope
of this disclosure is not limited to any particular configuration
of the plates 94 and/or engagement members 28 and, indeed, use of
the plates is not necessary at all.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a representative perspective view of the portion
of the rotating control device 12 with the upper section 26a of the
outer housing 26 removed, and the latch 24 shown in an unlatched
configuration. Note that the rod 18 and rollers 22 have displaced
downward, and the engagement members 28 and plates 94 have
displaced downward and radially outward, relative to their FIG. 5
latched positions.
[0044] Comparing the latched and unlatched configurations of FIGS.
5 & 6, it can be seen how the overlapping structures of the
engagement members 28 and plates 94 act to ensure that these
components displace together. This feature can be beneficial, for
example, if one of the actuators 86 fails to function properly, in
which case adjacent actuators can be used to displace the
engagement member 28 corresponding to the improperly functioning
actuator.
[0045] FIG. 7 is a representative perspective view of a portion of
another example of the rotating control device 12 with the upper
section 26a of the outer housing 26 removed, and the latch 24 shown
in the latched configuration. FIG. 8 is a representative
perspective view of the portion of the rotating control device 12
with the upper section 26a of the outer housing 26 removed, and the
latch 24 shown in the unlatched configuration.
[0046] In this example, the engagement members 28 and plates 94 do
not overlap each other. Instead, each engagement member 28 is
independently displaced by its associated actuator 86.
[0047] It may now be fully appreciated that the above disclosure
provides significant advances to the art of constructing and
operating rotating control devices. In examples described above,
the assembly 30 can be conveniently and reliably latched into and
unlatched from the outer housing 26. In some examples, the assembly
30 can be latched into the housing 26, without a necessity of
applying pressure to the latch 24.
[0048] The above disclosure provides to the art a method of
releasably latching an assembly 30 relative to an outer housing 26
of a rotating control device 12. In one example, the method can
comprise: inserting the assembly 30 into the outer housing 26,
thereby outwardly displacing at least one engagement member 28 of a
latch 24; and positioning the assembly 30 in the outer housing 26
at an operative position, thereby allowing the engagement member 28
to displace inward and engage a recess 42 on the assembly 30.
[0049] The inserting and the outwardly displacing steps may be
performed without applying pressure to an actuator 86 of the latch
24.
[0050] The inserting step can include the assembly 30 contacting
the engagement member 28 and pushing the engagement member 28
outward.
[0051] The method may include applying pressure to an actuator 86
of the latch 24 (such as, to port 46) after the positioning step,
thereby maintaining the engagement member 28 engaged with the
recess 42.
[0052] The positioning step can include a biasing device 20 of the
latch 24 elongating and thereby causing the engagement member 28 to
displace inward into engagement with the recess 42. The elongating
step may include the biasing device 20 longitudinally displacing a
piston 44 of the latch 24.
[0053] Multiple circumferentially distributed engagement members 28
may be provided, and each of the engagement members 28 may be
interlocked with circumferentially adjacent ones of the engagement
members 28 (for example, using separate or integrally formed plates
94).
[0054] The assembly 30 can include an annular seal 32 and/or a
bearing 36. In other examples, the assembly could comprise a
protective sleeve (not shown) for protecting seal bores, shoulders
and other structures in the outer housing 26. Thus, it is not
necessary for the assembly to include an annular seal and/or a
bearing.
[0055] A rotating control device 12 is also provided to the art by
the above disclosure. In one example, the rotating control device
12 can include an outer housing 26, at least one assembly 30 in a
passage 16 extending through the outer housing 26, and a latch 24
in the outer housing 26, the latch 24 including at least one
engagement member 28 which releasably secures the assembly 30
relative to the outer housing 26. The engagement member 28 is
biased toward an engaged position by a biasing device 20 which
exerts a longitudinally directed biasing force on a piston 44.
[0056] The engagement member 28 may displace both radially and
longitudinally in response to longitudinal displacement of the
piston 44.
[0057] The engagement member 28 may engage a recess 42 formed on
the assembly 30. The engagement member 28 can be positioned between
a first inclined face 84 of the recess 42 and a second inclined
face 80 in the outer housing 26.
[0058] The first and second inclined faces 84, 80 may oppose each
other. The first and second inclined faces 84, 80 can be
substantially parallel to each other.
[0059] Another method of releasably latching an assembly 30
relative to an outer housing 26 of a rotating control device 12 is
described above. In this example, the method can comprise: applying
pressure to an actuator 86 of a latch 24 of the rotating control
device 12; then positioning the assembly 30 in the outer housing 26
at an operative position; and then reducing the pressure, thereby
allowing a biasing device 20 to displace at least one engagement
member 28 of the latch 24 into engagement with a recess 42 formed
on the assembly 30.
[0060] The applying pressure step can include compressing the
biasing device 20. The pressure reducing step can include allowing
the biasing device 20 to elongate.
[0061] The method may include, after the pressure reducing step,
applying pressure to the actuator 86 (such as, to port 46), thereby
maintaining the engagement member 28 engaged with the recess
42.
[0062] The pressure reducing step may include the biasing device 20
longitudinally displacing a piston 44 of the latch 24.
[0063] The piston 44 can be displaced to its unlatched position
manually, such as, by threaded engagement between the piston and a
threaded member 60.
[0064] Although various examples have been described above, with
each example having certain features, it should be understood that
it is not necessary for a particular feature of one example to be
used exclusively with that example. Instead, any of the features
described above and/or depicted in the drawings can be combined
with any of the examples, in addition to or in substitution for any
of the other features of those examples. One example's features are
not mutually exclusive to another example's features. Instead, the
scope of this disclosure encompasses any combination of any of the
features.
[0065] Although each example described above includes a certain
combination of features, it should be understood that it is not
necessary for all features of an example to be used. Instead, any
of the features described above can be used, without any other
particular feature or features also being used.
[0066] It should be understood that the various embodiments
described herein may be utilized in various orientations, such as
inclined, inverted, horizontal, vertical, etc., and in various
configurations, without departing from the principles of this
disclosure. The embodiments are described merely as examples of
useful applications of the principles of the disclosure, which is
not limited to any specific details of these embodiments.
[0067] In the above description of the representative examples,
directional terms (such as "above," "below," "upper," "lower,"
etc.) are used for convenience in referring to the accompanying
drawings. However, it should be clearly understood that the scope
of this disclosure is not limited to any particular directions
described herein.
[0068] The terms "including," "includes," "comprising,"
"comprises," and similar terms are used in a non-limiting sense in
this specification. For example, if a system, method, apparatus,
device, etc., is described as "including" a certain feature or
element, the system, method, apparatus, device, etc., can include
that feature or element, and can also include other features or
elements. Similarly, the term "comprises" is considered to mean
"comprises, but is not limited to."
[0069] Of course, a person skilled in the art would, upon a careful
consideration of the above description of representative
embodiments of the disclosure, readily appreciate that many
modifications, additions, substitutions, deletions, and other
changes may be made to the specific embodiments, and such changes
are contemplated by the principles of this disclosure. For example,
structures disclosed as being separately formed can, in other
examples, be integrally formed and vice versa. Accordingly, the
foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as being
given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope
of the invention being limited solely by the appended claims and
their equivalents.
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