Support guide rods to facilitate connecting and disconnecting

The FastClamp connector features simple support guide rods to permanently attach the clamp halves to one of the mating hubs. The guide rods, two for each clamp half, are threaded into the outside diameter (OD) of the hub. These rods support the weight of the clamp halves and allow them to be pushed together or pulled apart to close or open the connection. The clamp segments can be locked in the open position by installing a cotter pin in the bolts. The rods also provide a positive stop, which prevents the clamp halves from falling off.

The clamp assembly is installed on the upper clamp hub attached to the BOP, spool, or tree and is then lowered into place. The cotter pin locking the clamp halves open is removed, and the segments are pushed into place and made up.

This design is easy to manipulate without special equipment. On the prototype test of a 13 5/8-in, 10,000-psi clamp, one person repeatedly pushed and pulled the clamp halves on the guide rods with minimal effort.

No requirement for large torque wrenches

Because the clamp segment alignment with the hub is maintained by the guide rods and the number of connection bolts is increased, the force needed to make up the bolts is much less. The torque required for the prototype test was approximately 900 ft.lbf per bolt instead of the 7,000 ft.lbf required for the conventional clamp, eliminating the need for large torque wrenches.

All these design features result in a connector that is easy and quick to install. The time taken during the prototype test to make up the connection was approximately 15 minutes with two workers.