US 11,814,911 B2
Passive tubular connection guide
Christopher J. Saunders, Conroe, TX (US); and Neil West, Norco, CA (US)
Assigned to NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/305,299.
Prior Publication US 2023/0003090 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 19/24 (2006.01); E21B 19/16 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 19/24 (2013.01) [E21B 19/16 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A guide mechanism, comprising:
a first jaw and a second jaw pivotably coupled to the first jaw, the first and second jaws forming a guide having a bottom pocket adapted for seating arrangement of the guide on a box end of a first tubular and a top funnel configured for laterally guiding a pin end of a second tubular into the box end;
a linkage system secured to the first and second jaws and adapted to control pivoting motion of the jaws, wherein the linkage system includes a pair of main links pivotally coupled to one another at a central location outside the first and second jaw; and
a bias mechanism coupled to the linkage system and configured to impart a biasing force on the first jaw and the second jaw via the linkage system, the biasing force adapted to resist opening of the jaws such that opening of the jaws occurs when a lateral force is applied to the guide mechanism that overcomes the biasing force.