US Patent 7614453 Stress distributing wellhead connector

In accordance with certain embodiments, the present invention provides a connector for attaching to a multi-toothed profile on a wellhead features a tooth profile that staggers loading preferably starting at a loading surface furthest from the connector body sitting on the wellhead and moving toward the connector body. The staggered loading more evenly distributes stresses on the matching loading surfaces as compared to the result of using a tooth profile on the connector that nearly exactly matches the profile on the wellhead. The joint can then take advantage of an increased preload and exhibit improved stress characteristics when operating at high loading conditions.