All The Claims

1. An apparatus for retaining a wellbore member, the apparatus comprising:
a wellhead housing, the wellhead housing having a bore with an axis and an annular lock groove on an inner diameter surface of the bore;
a wellbore member concentrically located within the bore of the wellhead housing, the wellbore member having a shoulder and a seal pocket above the shoulder, the seal pocket defining an annulus between the wellbore member and the wellhead housing;
an annular lock ring positioned in the annulus, the annular lock ring having an outer diameter profile for engaging the lock groove and being radially expandable from an unset position to a set position, the set position preventing upward axial movement of the wellbore member relative to the wellhead housing, the lock ring having an inward and upward facing tapered surface and a cylindrical surface extending downward from the tapered surface;
an energizing ring positioned in the annulus above the lock ring, the energizing ring being axially movable from an upper position to a lower position, the energizing ring having an outward and downward facing lower tapered surface that engages the tapered surface of the lock ring to push the lock ring outward to the set position as the energizing ring moves downward; and
a cylindrical surface on the energizing ring extending upward from the lower tapered surface and engaging the cylindrical surface on the lock ring when the lock ring is in the set position, wherein while the energizing ring is in the set position, the energizing ring can move a predetermined axial distance relative to the lock ring without permitting any radial movement of the annular lock ring.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower tapered surface of the energizing ring is spaced below the tapered surface of the lock ring while the lock ring is in the set position.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower tapered surface of the energizing ring is free of engagement with the lock ring while the lock ring is in the set position.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the energizing ring further comprises:
an upper tapered surface extending downward and outward and extending upward from the cylindrical surface on the energizing ring, the upper tapered surface engaging the tapered surface on the lock ring while the lock ring is in the set position.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the upper and lower tapered surfaces incline at a same angle relative to the axis.
6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the cylindrical surface on the energizing ring has an axial length that is less than an axial length of each of the upper and lower tapered surfaces.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical surface on the energizing ring is positioned so that a lower end of the cylindrical surface on the energizing ring will contact an upper end of the cylindrical surface on the lock ring when the lock ring has fully engaged the lock groove.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower tapered surface of the energizing ring slides against the tapered surface of the lock ring while the energizing ring is moving downward until the lock ring engages the lock groove, at which point the cylindrical surface of the energizing ring contacts the cylindrical surface of the lock ring, and continued downward movement of the energizing ring causes the cylindrical surface of the energizing ring to slide downwardly on the cylindrical surface of the lock ring.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an annular seal located above the energizing ring, wherein downward movement of the annular seal, relative to the wellhead housing, causes the energizing ring to move downward relative to the lock ring.
10. An apparatus for retaining a wellbore member, the apparatus comprising:
a wellhead housing, the wellhead housing having a bore with an axis and an annular lock groove on an inner diameter surface of the bore;
a wellbore member concentrically located within the bore of the wellhead housing, the wellbore member having a shoulder and a seal pocket above the shoulder, the seal pocket defining an annulus between the wellbore member and the wellhead housing;
an annular lock ring positioned in the annulus, the annular lock ring having an outer diameter profile for engaging the lock groove and being radially expandable from an unset position to a set position, the set position preventing upward axial movement of the wellbore member relative to the wellhead housing, the lock ring having an inward and upward facing tapered surface and a cylindrical surface extending downward from the tapered surface;
an energizing ring positioned in the annulus above the lock ring, the energizing ring being axially movable from an upper position to a lower position, the energizing ring having an outward and downward facing lower tapered surface that engages the tapered surface of the lock ring to push the lock ring outward to the set position as the energizing ring moves downward;
a cylindrical surface on the energizing ring extending upward from the lower tapered surface and engaging the cylindrical surface on the lock ring when the lock ring is in the set position, wherein while the energizing ring is in the set position, the energizing ring can move a predetermined axial distance relative to the lock ring without permitting any radial movement of the annular lock ring and the lower tapered surface of the energizing ring is free of engagement with the lock ring while the lock ring is in the set position; and
wherein the lower tapered surface of the energizing ring slides against the tapered surface of the lock ring while the energizing ring is moving downward until the lock ring engages the lock groove, at which point the cylindrical surface of the energizing ring contacts the cylindrical surface of the lock ring, and continued downward movement of the energizing ring causes the cylindrical surface of the energizing ring to slide downwardly on the cylindrical surface of the lock ring.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the lower tapered surface of the energizing ring is spaced below the tapered surface of the lock ring while the lock ring is in the set position.
12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the energizing ring further comprises:
an upper tapered surface extending downward and outward and extending upward from the cylindrical surface on the energizing ring, the upper tapered surface engaging the tapered surface on the lock ring while the lock ring is in the set position.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the upper and lower tapered surfaces incline at a same angle relative to the axis.
14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the cylindrical surface on the energizing ring has an axial length that is less than an axial length of each of the upper and lower tapered surfaces.
15. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an annular seal located above the energizing ring, wherein downward movement of the annular seal, relative to the wellhead housing, causes the energizing ring to move downward relative to the lock ring.
16. A method for securing a wellbore member in a bore of a wellhead housing, the method comprising:
(a) providing an annular lock groove on an inner diameter surface of the bore of the wellhead housing;
(b) positioning the wellbore member concentrically within the bore of the wellhead housing, the wellbore member and the wellhead housing defining an annulus therebetween;
(c) positioning an annular lock ring in the annulus, the lock ring having an inward and upward facing tapered surface and a cylindrical surface extending downward from the tapered surface;
(d) positioning an energizing ring positioned in the annulus above the lock ring, the energizing ring having an outward and downward facing lower tapered surface and a cylindrical surface extending upward from the lower tapered surface; and
(e) moving the energizing ring downward so that the downward facing lower tapered surface pushes the lock ring outward to engage the lock groove until the downward facing lower tapered surface is below the upward facing tapered surface of the lock ring and at least a portion of the cylindrical surface of the energizing ring engages the cylindrical surface of the annular lock ring.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the energizing ring comprises an upper tapered surface facing downward and outward and extending upward from the cylindrical surface on the energizing ring, and wherein step (e) further comprises engaging the tapered surface on the lock ring with the upper tapered surface of the energizing ring while the lock ring is in the set position.
18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of, after step (e), moving the energizing ring a predetermined axial distance, relative to the lock ring, without causing the lock ring to disengage the lock groove.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein step (e) further comprises the step of sliding the cylindrical surface of the energizing ring downward within the cylindrical surface of the lock ring.
20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of providing an annular seal above the energizing ring in the annulus, and wherein downward movement of the annular seal causes the energizing ring to move downward.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An optical connector to which an optical fiber cord including an optical fiber ribbon and a sheath is attached, the optical fiber ribbon containing a plurality of optical fibers, and the sheath covering the optical fiber ribbon, comprising:
a ferrule member holding a plurality of embedded fibers respectively to be fusion-spliced to the plurality of optical fibers;
a fusion splice protection sleeve for protecting the fusion-spliced portion of the optical fibers and the embedded fibers;
a housing for accommodating the ferrule member and the fusion splice protection sleeve, the housing having a male screw part around an outer circumference, and having, at a rear end, a recess for receiving a torn portion of the sheath; and
a fixing member for fixing the sheath to the housing by clamping the sheath between the housing and the fixing member, the fixing member having a female screw part around an inner circumference so as to engage with the male screw part of the housing, and being attached to the rear portion of the housing.
2. An optical connector according to claim 1, wherein
the splice protection sleeve has a reinforcing metal plate extending in the longitudinal direction of the splice protection sleeve.
3. An optical connector according to claim 1, wherein
the ferrule member has a ferrule body and a spacer, the ferrule body having a pair of guiding holes for inserting a guide pin, the spacer being arranged at the rear side of the ferrule body and having one pair of projections respectively to be inserted into each guiding hole.
4. An optical connector according to claim 1, wherein
the cross-section of the rear end portion of the housing is an ellipse expanding in a width direction of the optical fiber ribbon, and the recess is provided on a side having a smaller curvature of the ellipse.
5. A method of attaching an optical fiber cord to an optical connector, the optical fiber cord having a sheath and an optical fiber ribbon containing a plurality of optical fibers, the method comprising steps of:
exposing the optical fiber ribbon at an end portion of the optical fiber cord by tearing the sheath;
attaching a splice protection sleeve to the optical fiber cord;
fusion-splicing the plurality of optical fibers respectively with embedded fibers held in a ferrule member;
protecting the fusion spliced portion of the optical fibers and the embedded fibers by the splice protection sleeve;
putting the ferrule member and the splice protection sleeve into a housing;
putting a torn portion of the sheath onto a recess existing at a rear end part of the housing; and
fixing the sheath to the housing by attaching a fixing member to the rear portion of the housing so as to clamp the sheath.
6. An optical connector according to claim 2, wherein
the ferrule member has a ferrule body and a spacer, the ferrule body having a pair of guiding holes for inserting a guide pin, the spacer being arranged at the rear side of the ferrule body and having one pair of projections respectively to be inserted into each guiding hole.

1. A connecting arrangement for connecting at least two body components of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a pressure distributor provided with a first passage opening, the pressure distributor configured to supportingly bear against a surface portion of a first body component with the first passage opening overlapping with a second passage opening of the first body component, and
an elastic clamping element on a first side of the pressure distributor facing away from the first body component on a first side of the body component, the elastic clamping element having a third passage opening generally aligned with the first passage opening and the second passage opening; and
a pulling device including
a headpiece positioned at least partially within the third passage opening of the elastic clamping element on the first side of the first body component, and
a pulling element extending through the first passage opening, the second passage opening, and the third passage opening from a second side of the first body component to engage the headpiece such that a pulling force on the pulling element is transmitted to the first body component via the headpiece, the elastic clamping element, and the pressure distributor.
2. The connecting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the clamping element comprises a thermoplastic.
3. The connecting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the clamping element comprises a urethane.
4. The connecting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the clamping element comprises a shore-D hardness of approximately 60 to approximately 110.
5. The connecting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the pressure distributor on the first side facing away from the body component comprises a spherical cap-shaped receptacle that is configured to receive the clamping element.
6. The connecting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the clamping element comprises a spherical cap-shaped outside formed correspondingly with the receptacle of the pressure distributor.
7. The connecting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the headpiece of the pulling device is a radially expanded flange-like headpiece that is self-supporting on an opening rim of the passage opening of the clamping element, the headpiece defining internal threads that engage with external threads on the pulling element.
8. The connecting arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the opening rim is formed as a depression receiving the headpiece in a surface-flush manner.
9. The connecting arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the headpiece and the opening rim comprise an anti-rotation structure each corresponding to one another.
10. The connecting arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the anti-rotation structure of the headpiece and the opening rim is formed by a first serrated structure portion on the headpiece and a second serrated structure portion on the opening rim that engages the first serrated structure portion.
11. The connecting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the clamping element comprises a polyamide.
12. The connecting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the clamping element comprises a polystyrene.
13. The connecting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the clamping element comprises a polypropylene.
14. The connecting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the pressure distributor includes a second side facing toward the body component, and wherein the pressure distributor further includes marginal flange portions extending from the second side to engage the body component and a plurality of support webs extending from the second side to engage the body component between the marginal flange portions.
15. A motor or vehicle body, comprising:
a first body component;
a second body component;
a connecting arrangement configured to connect the first body component and the second body component, the connecting arrangement comprising:
a pressure distributor provided with a first passage opening, the pressure distributor configured to supportingly bear against a surface portion of the first body component with the first passage opening overlapping with a second passage opening of the body component, and
an elastic clamping element on an outside of the pressure distributor facing away from the first body component on a first side of the body component, the elastic clamping element having a third passage opening generally aligned with the first passage opening and the second passage opening;
a pulling device including
a headpiece positioned at least partially within the third passage opening of the elastic clamping element on the first side of the first body component, and
a pulling element extending through the first passage opening, the second passage opening, and the third passage opening from a second side of the first body component to engage the headpiece such that a pulling force on the pulling element is transmitted to the first body component via the headpiece, the elastic clamping element, and the pressure distributor.
16. The motor vehicle body according to claim 15, wherein the first body component comprises a fiber-reinforced plastic or is formed from such at least in regions.
17. The motor vehicle body according to claim 15, wherein the first body component comprises a carbon fiber material.
18. The motor vehicle body according to claim 15, wherein the first body component is formed from a fiber-reinforced plastic at least in regions.
19. The motor vehicle body according to claim 15, wherein the first body component is formed from a carbon fiber material in at least regions.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A process for the manufacturing of a cycloether derivative comprising
(i) stereoselective cyclodehydration in water of 1,4- or 1,5-diols comprising at least one chiral tertiary alcohol functional group with retention of the initial chirality, andor
(ii) cyclodehydration in water of 1,4- or 1,5-diols, said diols being non-miscible with andor non-soluble in water,

into corresponding cycloether derivatives, said process comprising:
bringing a reaction mixture of (i) water and 1,4- or 1,5-diols comprising at least one chiral tertiary alcohol functional group with retention of the initial chirality andor (ii) water and 1,4- or 1,5-diols, said diols being non-miscible with andor non-soluble in water to high temperature water (HTW) conditions andor mixing a reaction mixture of (i) water and 1,4- or 1,5-diols comprising at least one chiral tertiary alcohol functional group with retention of the initial chirality andor (ii) water and 1,4- or 1,5-diols, said diols being non-miscible with andor non-soluble in water with a solid catalyst.
2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the cycloether derivative is of general formula (IIa) or (IIb)
wherein:
R1 and R2 are the same or different and are selected from optionally substituted groups selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, and an heterocyclic group, or R1 and R2 form a substituted or unsubstituted ring with R3 or R4, or form together a substituted or unsubstituted ring,
R3 and R4 are the same or different and are an hydrogen atom or selected from optionally substituted groups selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, and an heterocyclic group, or R3 and R4 form a substituted or unsubstituted ring with R1 or R2 andor with R5 or R6, or form together a substituted or unsubstituted ring,
R5 and R6 are the same or different and are an hydrogen atom or selected from optionally substituted groups selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, and an heterocyclic group, or R5 and R6 form a substituted or unsubstituted ring with R3 or R4 andor with R7 or R8 when applicable, or form together a substituted or unsubstituted ring,
R7 and R8 are the same or different and are an hydrogen atom or selected from optionally substituted groups selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, and an heterocyclic group, or R7 and R8 form a substituted or unsubstituted ring with R5 or R6 andor with R9 or R10 when applicable, or form together a substituted or unsubstituted ring, and
R9 and R10 are the same or different and are an hydrogen atom or selected from optionally substituted groups selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, and an heterocyclic group, or R9 and R10 form a substituted or unsubstituted ring with R7 or R8, or form together a substituted or unsubstituted ring; and
the process comprises cyclodehydration of respectively a 1,4- or 1,5-diol of general formula (Ia) or (Ib)
wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9 and R10 are as described above.
3. The process according to claim 2, wherein R1 and R2 are different, the corresponding alcohol functional group being a chiral tertiary alcohol functional group.
4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the solid catalyst is a montmorillonite.
5. A device for implementing a process according to claim 1, comprising a pressured vessel which may be packed with a solid catalyst, the pressured vessel being preferably associated with a heating device capable of heating the walls of the vessel.
6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the 1,4-diol is ambradiol and wherein the cycloether derivative isambrafuran, preferably (\u2212)-ambrafuran.
7. The process according to claim 6, further comprising a preliminary step of biological conversion of sclareol into ambradiol.
8. The process according to claim 7, wherein ambradiol is purified using supercritical extraction.
9. The process according to claim 6, further comprising a preliminary step of biological conversion of sclareol into sclareolide.
10. The process according to claim 9, wherein sclareolide is purified using supercritical extraction.
11. The process according to claim 6, wherein the process is continuous or semi-continuous.
12. The process according to claim 7, wherein in the step of biological conversion, sclareol is contacted with a microorganism capable of converting it into sclareolide or ambradiol, said microorganism being in an aqueous nutrient medium.
13. The process according to claim 12, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Cryptococcus albidus saito, skinner var. albidus, ATCC 20918 and Cryptococcus albidus, ATCC 20921, and is capable to convert sclareol into sclareolide.
14. The process according to claim 12, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Hyphozyma roseoniger (CBS214.83 and ATCC 20624) and is capable to convert sclareol into ambradiol.