US3193308A

US3193308A - Tubing hanger assembly

Info

Publication number: US3193308A
Application number: US834843A
Authority: US
Inventors: William L Todd
Original assignee: OIL CENTER TOOL CO
Current assignee: OIL CENTER TOOL CO
Priority date: 1959-08-19
Filing date: 1959-08-19
Publication date: 1965-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1982-07-06

Description

y 6, 1965 w. L. TODD 3,193,30

' TUBING HANGER ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F'IE 1 ea 59 INVENTOR WILL'AM L. TODD ATTORNEY July 6, 1965 w. L. TODD TUBING HANGER ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1959 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,193,308 TUBWG HANGER ASSEMBLY William L. Todd, Houston, Tex., assignor to Oil Center Tool Company, Houston, Tern, a corporation of Texas Filed Aug. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 834,843 17 Claims. (Cl. 28518) This invention pertains to well completion equipment, and more particularly relates to a tubing hanger assembly for use in an underwater well installation.

Conventional well head installations are equipped with casing heads having radially disposed threaded lugs which project therefrom, and which are screwed inwardly to lock the tubing hanger within the casing head. These locking lugs must be manipulated every time the tubing hanger is inserted into or removed from the casing head for any purpose. Consequently if such a structure is used in an underwater well installation, the services of a diver are required to manipulate the locking lugs.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved tubing hanger assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tubing hanger assembly which automatically looks itself within a casing head and which can subsequently be released therefrom within requiring any operations at the exterior of the casing head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a' tubing hanger assembly adapted to be released from the casing head within which it is installed by operations performed at a point remote from said casing head.

Another object is to provide a tubing hanger assembly which is capable of being released from a casing head beneath Water by operations performed above the water surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tubing hanger which can be released by hydraulic pressure applied through the Christmas tree.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tubing hanger which is adapted to be locked within or released from a casing head beneath Water by physical manipulation of the tubing hanger through the use of a suitable tool releasably attached thereto and which extends to the water surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tubing hanger assembly capable of being installed or removed from a casing head beneath water without requiring the services of a diver.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of the tubing hanger assembly of the present invention taken on a diametric plane.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a half vertical section similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates the tubing hanger installed within a casing head.

FIG. 5 is a half vertical section similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates another embodiment of the tubing hanger assembly.

The tubing hanger assembly (FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4) of the invention comprises a tubular tubing hanger support member 12 the outer diameter of which is such that it is adapted to be slidably received within the bore 14 of a casing head 16 (FIG. 4). The lower portion 18 of the hanger support member 12 is formed with a reduced outside diameter (FIGS. 1 and 4), and a sleeve 20 is slidably received thereon. The lower portion of the sleeve 20 is counterbored to provide an annular space 22 between the outer surface of the lower portion 18 of the hanger support member 12 and the inner surface of the sleeve 20.

An annular packing element 24 is interposed between the upper end of the sleeve 20 and the downwardly facing shoulder 26 on the hanger support member 12 formed by the reduction in outside diameter of the lower portion 18 thereof. A plurality of vertical bores 28 (FIGS. 1 and 4) are formed in the upper portion of the hanger support member 12 on equally angularly spaced radii thereof. The bores 28 are each counterbored as indicated at 30. Cap screws 32 extend through the bores 28 with their heads received in the counterbores 3d. The cap screws 32 project through suitable bores 34 in the packing element 24 and are threaded into suitably tapped openings 36 in the upper end of the sleeve 20 to retain the hanger support member 12, the packing element 24 and the sleeve 20 in the proper assembled relation with each other.

The sleeve 20 is provided adjacent its upper end with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 40 (FIGS. 1 and 2) extending radially therethrough. A locking lug 42 is slidably received within each of the apertures 40. Each of the locking lugs 42 is provided at its inner end with laterally extending flanges 44 (FIG. 2) adapted to abut the inner surface of the sleeve 29 to limit outward radial movement of the lugs. Shear pins 45 normally retain each of the locking lugs in its retracted position. An annular lug actuating member 46 (FIGS. 1 and 4) is slidably disposed in the annular space 22 between the sleeve 20 and the lower portion 18 of the hanger support member 12 beneath the lugs 42. The lug actuator 46 is provided with an upwardly facing, downwardly and outwardly sloping cam surface 48. A plurality of cylindrical, downwardly facing spring guide lugs 50 are formed on the lower end of the lug actuator 46, each of which is received within the upper end of a coil spring 52. The lower ends of the coil springs 52 are received over similar, upwardly projecting spring guide lugs 54 formed on the upper surface of an annular spring compressing member 56 slidably mounted in the lower portion of the annular space 22 with its lower end projecting below the lower ends of the hanger support member 12 and the sleeve 20. Shear pins 58 normally retain the spring compressing member 56 in this position. A plurality of tapered recesses 57 are formed in the inner surface of the member 56 and a slip member 59 is mounted in each recess. A spring 61 is mounted beneath each slip 59 and urges the slip upwardly into engagement with the outer surface of the lower portion 18 of the body support member 12 to prevent upward movement thereof relative to the member 56.

The bore through the hanger support member 12 is broken into

several sections

68, 62, 64, 66 and 63, respectively, of progressively smaller diameters as it progresses from the top of the member 12 toward the bottom. The upper end 62 of the bore of the support member 12 is upwardly flared and the several bore sections are connected to each other by upwardly facing, downwardly tapered sections 79, '72, 74 and 76, respectively.

A seal carrier 86, having an outer diameter adapted to be slidably received within the bore section 66 of the hanger support member 12, and a downwardly facing, tapered surface 82 adjacent its lower end, is mounted in said bore section 66 with the surface 32 resting on the upwardly facing, downwardly tapered surface 76. A plurality of radially projecting lugs 84 are fixed to the seal carrier and are received within suitable ]-slots 86 provided in the wall of the bore section 66 of the hanger support member 12 to lock the seal carrier 8d therein. A plurality of similar J-slots 88 are formed in the inner wall of the seal carrier 80 to permit connection therewith of an installing and removing tool (not shown). The upper end of the seal carrier 89 is downwardly tapered as illustrated at 90 to form a continuation of the surface 74 in the bore of the hanger supportmember 12 when the seal carrier 80 is installed therein. A stripper type seal 92 is fixed to the seal carrier 30 and is adapted to engage the outer surface of .a tubular member projecting therethrough in the manner described hereinbelow. i

A tubular hanger element 1% is adapted to be slidably received within the hanger support member 12. The hanger element 106 is provided with threads 1191 in the wall of its bore at the upper end thereof, and with downwardly facing beveled surfaces 192 and 1114 on its exterior adapted to rest on the upwardly facing beveled surfaces It! and 72, respectively, in the hanger support member 12. The lower portion of the hanger element 1% is cut back as indicated at 1136, and an annular packing element 1% is mounted thereon and retained by a gland nut 110. The

support member 12 by a plurality of radially

movable locking lugs

120, 120a, 1201) and 1211c, respectively, (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) adapted to project outwardly from the hanger element 169 into a suitable annular groove'122 formed in thewall of the bore section 62 of the support member 12. Since all of these lugs are the same, only the'lug'120 and the cylinder within which it operates need be describe-d herein.

The locking lug 120 is in the form of a piston having an enlarged piston head 123 slidably received within a cylinder 124 formed in the hanger element 101). A cylindrical sleeve 126 surrounds the outer, smaller diameter portion of the lug 1211 insliding engagement therewith and is threaded into the outer end of the cylinder 124. Suitable O-

ring seals

125 and 127 are provided to prevent leakage between the piston head 123 and the cylinder 124, and between the lug 120 and the sleeve 126, respectively. A compression spring 128, mounted in a smaller diameter bore 130 at the inner end of and coaxial with the cylinder 124, bears against the inner end of the lug 120 and urges the lug outwardly. A vent passageway 132 com nects the inner end of the cylinder 124 with the space above the hanger element 100.

The bore 140 through the tubular hanger element 160 is counterbored at its upper end as indicated at 142. Each of the cylinders 124 is connected by a passageway 144 with the counterbored portion 142 of the bore 161). A sleeve valve 146 slidably received in the counterbore 142 normally seals the inner ends of the passageways 144. The sleeve valve 146 is provided with a plurality of suitable O-ring seals 148 which are positioned at opposite sides of the passageways 144 when the sleeve valve' 146 is at its lowest position within the counterbore 142, as shown in FIG. 1. A shear pin 149 normally retains the sleeve 146 in its lowermost position.

A tubular sub 150 (FIGS. 1 and 4) is threaded into the lower end of the bore 140 of the hanger element 100, and

a is adapted to project downwardly therefrom through the stripper seal element 92. The lower end of the sub 150 is threadedly connected to the upper end of a tubing string 152. The bore 154 through the sub 150 is provided with an annular locking groove 156 adapted to receive in locking engagement a back pressure valve (not shown) which may be of the type illustrated in US. Patent No. 2,856,003 which issued to J. V. Fredd on October 14, 1958, and is entitled Well Tools. A similar locking groove 158 is provided in the bore 160 through the sleeve valve 146 to receive another back pressure valve (not shown) of similar type.

In order to install the hanger assembly 111, the hanger support member 12, with its locking mechanism attached thereto, is lowered into the casing head 16 (FIG. 4) until the lower end of the spring compressing member 56 con-' tacts the upper end of a previously installed hanger or an upwardly facing abutment surface 170 provided in the casing head 16. Further downward movement of the support member 12 causes the shear pin 58 to break, and the continued downward movementof the support member 12 relative to the spring compressing member 56 compresses the springs 52. When the locking lugs 42 reach the elevation of an annular locking groove 172 provided in the easing head 16 (FIG. 4), the lug actuator 46 is moved upwardly by the springs '52 to break the shear pins 45 and force the lugs 42 outwardly, into the groove 172. The lug actuator 46 subsequently moves in back of the lugs 42 to lock the same in their outer positions. The hanger support member 12 is now firmly locked in place within the casing head 16. The weight of the hanger support member 12, and the elements to be supported thereby, causes the member 12 to move downwardly within the sleeve 20, thus energizing the packing element 24 into tight engagement with the inner wall of the casing head 167 A suitable installing'tool (not shown) is now engaged in the J-slots 88 in the seal carrier and the carrier is lowered until the lugs 84 there-0n are received and locked Within the J-slots 86 inthe support member 12. The. installing tool is then disengaged from the J-slots 88 and the tool removed. V V

The tubing string .152 is then lowered through the stripper seal 92. which maintains wiping engagement with the tubing string to prevent fluid from flowing upward along the latter. The sub 1501 is connected to the upper end of the tubing string 152, the hanger .element ltlti is connected to the upper end of the sub 150 and a suitable installing mandrel (not shown) is screwed into the threads 101 at the upper end of the hanger element 100. The hanger element 101 with the sub 150 and the tubing string 152 suspended therefrom is then lowered by means of the installing mandrel until'the downwardly facing support surfaces 102 and 194 thereon are resting on the upwardly facing support surfaces 70 and 72 in thehanger support member 12. At this elevation of the hanger element 100,

the locking lugs12 0 will be opposed to the locking groove 122 in thehanger support member 12, and will be forced outwardly into said groove by the springs 128. The complete tubing hanger assembly 10 is now firmly locked in place within the casing head 16 and the installing mandrel can be unscrewedfrom the thread 101 and removed.

If it is desired for any reason to raise the tubing string 152, a tubular mandrel (not shown) is screwed into the thread 101, a back pressure valve (not shown) is lowered therethrough and installed in the locking groove 156 in the sub 150, and a pump-through type back pressure valve (not shown) is similarly installed in the locking groove 158 in the sleeve valve 146. The upper back pressure valve is then picked up in a well known manner to open the sleeve valve 146, and pressure fluid is then pumped through the mandrel into the space between the valves. The pressure fluid then flows through the passageways 144 into the cylinders 124 between the piston heads 123 on the locking lugs and the sleeves 126 thus causing the lugs 120 to be moved inwardly against the action of the springs 128 and out of locking engagement with the locking groove 122. The hanger element 100, with the sub and tubing string 152 attached thereto, can now be moved upwardly'away from the remainder of the well head assembly. Reinstallation of the tubing string 152, and the hanger element 100 for support thereof, is effected in the same manner as the original installation described above.

From the foregoing description it may be seen that the structure described provides means whereby a tubing string can be installed through, supported from, and removed from a casing head at the desire of the well operator without requiring the performance of any operations at the exterior of the casing head. As set forth above, this type of mechanism is particularly advantageous in underwater installations, since all of the necessary operations for installation or removal can be performed above the water surface thus eliminating the need for the services of a diver.

The embodiment dis-closed in FIG. is essentially the same as that disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 4 and the same reference numerals with the letter a appended thereto are used to denote the elements which are the same. The diiierence in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 is that the fluid actuated locking lugs 12!) have been replaced by a plurality of locking pins 189 fixed to the hanger element 106a and adapted to be received and locked within suitable I-slots 182 formed in the wall of the bore section $251 of the support member 12a.

Installation and removal of this modification are the same as described above with the exception that a suitable tool (not shown) is engaged with the upper end of the hanger element 160a, in any manner well known in the art, and locking engagement or disengagement between the element 108a and the support member 12:; is effected through physical manipulation of the member 100a.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it should be noted that various changes may be made therein, without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

I claim:

1. A tubing hanger assembly comprising a tubular tubing hanger support member having an annular groove in the wall of its bore, an upwardly facing support surface within said hanger support member, a tubular tubing hanger adapted to fit within the bore of said hanger support member, a support surface on said tubing hanger adapted to engage the upwardly facing support surface in said hanger support member, a plurality of cylinders in said tubing hanger with their axes extending radially there of, a plurality of locking lugs adapted to be projected outwardly into said annular groove, each of said lugs having a piston head slidable within one of said cylinders, spring means normally urging said lugs outwardly, said tubing hanger having passageways connecting said cylinders with the bore through the tubing hanger for conducting fluid under pressure from the bore to the cylinders to retract said locking lugs, and a remotely operable valve in the bore of said tubing hanger for normally blocking off said passageways from the pressure of fluid in said bore.

2. A tubing hanger assembly comprising a tubular tubing hanger support member having an annular groove in the wall of its bore, a tubular tubing hanger adapted to fit within the bore of said hanger support member, a plurality of cylinders formed in said tubing hanger with their axes radially disposed, a plurality of locking lugs adapted to be projected outwardly into said annular groove, each of said lugs having a piston head slidably received within one of said cyinders, spring means for normally urging said lugs outwardly, said tubing hanger having passageways therein connecting said cylinders with the bore of the tubing hanger for introducing pressurized fluid from the bore into the cylinders to retract the locking lugs and a sleeve valve slidably mounted in said bore for movement to and from a position covering the ends of said passageways, the internal diameter of said sleeve valve being at least as large as the bore in said tubing hanger.

3. The tubing hanger assembly of claim 2, wherein said tubing hanger is formed with an upwardly facing shoulder engaging the lower end of said sleeve valve.

4. The tubing hanger of claim 3, wherein said sleeve valve is connected to said tubing hanger with a shear pin.

5. A well head assembly comprising, a casing head having a vertical bore therethrough and an annular lug receiving groove formed in the Wall of said vertical bore, a tubular hanger support member slidably received within said vertical bore, a plurality of locking lugs associated with said hanger support member, wedging means urging said locking lugs outwardly of said support member whereby when said lugs are in registration with said groove said lugs move outwardly into said annular groove in the wall or" said vertical bore, means releasably mounted on said support member and engaging said wedging means and being engageable with said casing head for forcing said wedging means between said lugs and said support member after said lugs move into said groove, said hanger support member having a vertical bore therethrough, a tubing hanger adapted to be fixed to the upper end of a tubing string, said tubing hanger being slidably received within the bore through said hanger support member, and matching support surfaces formed in said hanger support member and on said tubing hanger for supporting said tubing hanger Within the bore through said support member.

6. A well head assembly comprising, a casing head having a vertical bore therethrough and an annular groove in the wall of said vertical bore, a tubular hanger support member slidably received within said vertical bore, a sleeve slidably mounted on said hanger support member, means for limiting axial movement of the Sleeve with respect to the support member, a plurality of apertures extending radially through said sleeve, locking lugs slidably mounted in said apertures, means for moving said locking lugs outwardly into said annular groove in the casing head, said hanger support member having a vertical bore therethrough, a tubing hanger receivable within the bore of said support member and adapted to be fixed to the upper end of a tubing string, matching support surfaces formed in said hanger support member and on said tubing hanger for supporting said tubing hanger within the bore through said support member, a plurality of locking lugs mounted on said tubing hanger, and lug receiving means formed in the wall of said bore through said support member into which said lugs on the tubing hanger project to eifect locking engagement between said tubing hanger and said hanger support member.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said lug receiving means is a groove in said support member and wherein said hanger includes cylinders slidably receiving said hanger locking lugs for axial movement thereof in their respective cylinders upon application of fluid pressure in said cylinders said locking lugs being projectable into said grooves to effect said locking engagement between the hanger and the support member.

8. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said lug receiving means is a plurality of I-slots in said support member, each I-slot including an upper portion extending lengthwise of said support member and a lower portion extending angularly of its respective upper portion, said locking lugs on said tubing hanger being received in said slots so that when said lugs are in the upper portions of the slots, the tubing hanger can be received into or removed from said support member and so that when said lugs are in said lower portions of said slots, said hanger can be locked in said support member against axial movement relative thereto.

9. A well head assembly comprising, a casing head having a vertical bore therethrough and an annular groove in the wall of said vertical bore, a tubular hanger support member slidably received within said vertical bore, the lower portion of said hanger support member having a reduced external diameter, a sleeve slidably mounted on the reduced diameter portion of said hanger support member, means for limiting axial movement of the sleeve with respect to the support member, a plurality of apertures extending radially of said sleeve, locking lugs slidably mounted in said apertures, means for moving said locking lugs outwardly into said annular groove to secure the support member to the casing head, said hanger support member having a vertical bore therethrough, a tubing hanger adapted to be fixed to the upper end of a tubing string, said tubing hanger being slidably received within the bore through said hanger support member, matching support surfaces formed in said hanger support member and on said tubing hanger for supporting said tubing hanger within the bore through said support member, a plurality of locking lugs mounted on said tubing hanger, and lug receiving means formed in the wall of said bore through said support member into which said lugs on the tubing hanger project toeffect locking engagement between said tubing hanger and said hanger support member.

10. A well head assembly comprising, a casing head having a vertical bore therethrough and an annular groove formed in the wall of said vertical bore, a tubular hanger support member slidably received within said vertical bore, the lower portion of said hanger support member having a reduced external diameter, a sleeve slidably mounted on said lower portion of the hanger support member, means for limiting axial movement of the sleeve with respect to the support member, a sealing member interposed between said sleeve and the upper portion of said hanger support member and adapted to be energized into sealing engagement with the wall of said vertical bore by downward movement of said support member relative to said sleeve, a plurality of apertures extending radially through said sleeve, a' locking lug slidably mounted in each of said apertures, means for moving said locking lugs outwardly into said annular groove to fasten the hanger support member within the casing head, said hanger support member having a vertical bore therethrough, a tubing hanger adapted to be fixed to the upper end of a tubing string, said tubing hanger being receivable within the bore through said hanger support member, matching support surfaces in said hanger support member and on said tubing hanger for supporting said tubing hanger within the bore through said support member, a plurality of locking lugs mounted on said tubing hanger, and lug receiving means formed in the wall of said bore through said support member into which said lugs on the tubing hanger project to eifect locking engagement between said tubing hanger and said hanger support member.

11. In a tubing hanger assembly, a tubular tubing hanger support member having a lower portion of smaller external diameter than its upper portion, a sleeve slidably mounted on the lower portion ofsaid support member, means for limiting axial movement of the sleeve with respect to the support member, an annular packing element surrounding said lower portion of said support member between the upper portion thereof and said sleeve, said sleeve having a plurality of radially disposed apertures therein, a plurality of lugs mounted one in each of said apertures for radial movement with respect to said sleeve, and an annular lug actuating cam in engagement with the inner ends of said lugs and slidably mounted on the lower portion of said support member for longitudinal movement with respect to said support member and said sleeve and effective when so moved to project said lugs outwardly. 7

12. In 'a tubing hanger assembly, a tubular tubing hanger support member having a lower portion of smaller external diameter than its upper portion, a sleeve slidably mounted on the lower portion of said member, means for limiting axial movement of the sleeve with respect to the support member, the lower end of the bore through said sleeve being counterbored to provide an annular space between said sleeve and said support member, said sleeve having a plurality of radially disposed apertures therein, a plurality of lugs mounted one in each of said apertures for radial movement with respect to said sleeve, and an annular lug actuating cam in engagement with the'inner ends of said lugs and mounted in said annular space for longitudinal movement with respect to said hanger support member and said sleeve and efiective when so moved to project'said lugs outwardly.

13. In a tubing hanger assembly, a tubular tubing hanger support member having a lower portion of smaller external diameter than its upper portion, a sleeve slidably mounted on the lower portion of said member, means for limiting axial movement of the sleeve with respect to the support member, the lower end of the bore through said sleeve being counterbored to provide an annular space between said sleeve and said support member, said sleeve having a plurality'of radially disposed apertures therein, a plurality of lugs mounted one in each of said apertures for radial movement with respect to said sleeve, an annular lug actuating cam mounted in said annular space for longitudinal movement with respect to said hanger support member and said sleeve, spring means abutting the lower end of said lug actuating cam, and an annular spring compressing member slidably mounted on the lower portion of said support member and abutting the lower end of said spring means, the lower ends of said spring compressing member projecting downwardly beneath the lower ends of said hanger support member and said sleeve.

14. In a tubing hanger assembly, a tubular tubing hanger support member having a lower portion of smaller external diameter than its upper portion, a sleeve slidably mounted on the lower portion of said member, means for limiting axial movement of the sleeve with respect to the support member, an annular packing element surrounding said lower portion of said support member between the upper portion thereof and said sleeve, the lower end of the bore through said sleeve being counterbored to provide an annular space between said sleeve and said support member, said sleeve having a plurality of radially disposed apertures therein, a plurality of lugs mounted one in each of said apertures for radial movement with respect to said sleeve, an annular lug actuating cam mounted in said annular space for longitudinal movement with respect to said hanger support member and said sleeve, spring means a butting the lower end of said lug actuating cam, an annular spring compressing member abutting the lower end of said spring means and projecting downwardly beneath the lower ends of said hanger support member and said sleeve, and a shear pin for normally retaining said spring compressing member in this position.

15. In a tubing hanger assembly, a tubular tubing hangers support member, a sleeve slidably mounted on said support member in circumscribing circumferentially spaced relation to said support member, means for limiting axial movement of said sleeve with respect to said support member, said support member and sleeve having opposed annular surfaces movable toward and away from each other upon sliding movement of said sleeve relative to said support member, an annular packing element circumscribing said support member and being positioned between said surfaces of said support member and said sleeve, said sleeve having a plurality of radially disposed apertures therein, a plurality of lugs individually mounted in said apertures for radial movement with respecttto said sleeve, and means engageable with said lugs for projecting said lugs radially outwardly in said apertures.

16. In a tubing hanger assembly, a tubing hanger sup port member, a sleeve mounted on said support member in circumscribing spaced relation thereto, said sleeve having a radially disposed aperture therein, a lug mounted in said aperture for radial movement with respect to said sleeve and having an inner end facing said support member, and a lug actuating cam in engagement with the inner end of said lug and being mounted in the space between said sleeve and said support member for longitudinal movement with respect to said support member and said sleeve and efiective when so moved to project said lug outwardly in said aperture. 7

17. In a tubing hanger assembly, a tubing hanger sup- 7 port member, a sleeve mounted on said member in circumscribing spaced relation to said member, said sleeve having a plurality of radially disposed apertures therein, a plurality of lugs mounted one in each of said apertures for radial movement with respect to said sleeve, an annular lug actuating cam mounted between said sleeve and said support member and being longitudinally movable with respect to said support member and said sleeve, said cam having an upper end adjacent to said lugs and an opposite lower end, spring means between said support member and said sleeve and abutting the lower end of said earn, and an annular spring compressing member slidably mounted between said support member and said sleeve and engaging said spring means, said spring means being held under compression between said cam and said compressing member and urging the upper end of said cam against said lugs whereby upon longitudinal movement of said cam toward said lugs, said cam moves said lugs outwardly in their respective apertures.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,188,001 6/16 May 166--212 Rasmussen 16683 Simmons.

Barker 285141 Neuhaus 285-142 Block 285-141 Otis 166-86 OLeary 166-212 X Penick 285146 Meddiek 166-433 Sorensen 166-428 Jones et a1. 16675 Jones 16682 Johnson 16688 Burns et a1. Reed.

Canner 28518 CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN BENDETT, Examiner.

Claims

1. A TUBING HANGER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A TUBULAR TUBING HANGER SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE IN THE WALL OF ITS BORE, AN UPWARDLY FACING SUPPORT SURFACE WITHIN SAID HANGER SUPPORT MEMBER, A TUBULAR TUBING HANGER ADAPTED TO FIT WITHIN THE BORE OF SAID HANGER SUPPORT MEMBER, A SUPPORT SURFACE ON SAID TUBING HANGER ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE UPWARDLY FACING SUPPORT SURFACE IN SAID HANGER SUPPORT MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF CYLINDERS IN SAID TUBING HANGER WITH THEIR AXES EXTENDING RADIALLY THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF LOCKING LUGS ADAPTED TO BE PROJECTED OUTWARDLY INTO SAID ANNULAR GROOVE, EACH OF SAID LUGS HAVING A PISTON HEAD SLIDABLE WITHIN ONE OF SAID CYLINDERS, SPRING MEANS NORMALLY URGING SAID LUGS OUTWARDLY, SAID TUBING HANGER HAVING PASSAGEWAYS CONNECTING SAID CYLINDERS WITH THE BORE THROUGH THE TUBING HANGER FOR CONDUCTING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE BORE TO THE CYLINDERS TO RETRACT SAID LOCKING LUGS, AND A REMOTELY OPERABLE VALVE IN THE BORE OF SAID TUBING HANGER FOR NORMALLY BLOCKING OFF SAID PASSAGEWAYS FROM THE PRESSURE OF FLUID IN SAID BORE.