Universal thread protector

A universal thread protector for protecting external threads of a pin end of a pipe, the pipe having a box end, the universal thread protector comprising:

• a cap having an open end and a closed end, said open end having an interior adapted to accommodate either of the pin end or the box end of the pipe;
• an actuating taper formed in said interior of said cap adjacent the open end of said cap;
• a seal element positioned against said actuating taper in said interior of said cap;
• three bolts threadedly received in said closed end of said cap, said three bolts being in spaced radial relation to the pipe and each having a first end extending outwardly of said closed end of said cap and a second end located adjacent to said seal element, said three bolts movable so as to apply a force to said seal element so as to cause a deformation of said seal element between said cap and the pipe;
• and
• a ring member positioned between said seal element and said second end of said three bolts, said ring member being open at opposite ends thereof such that the pipe has an end extending outwardly of said ring member, said three bolts applying a force directly onto said ring member such that said ring member deforms said seal element against said actuating taper.

A method of protecting an externally threaded end of a pipe, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a ring member against a rubber seal element disposed adjacent an inwardly extending actuating taper formed at an open end of a cap, the cap having a closed end opposite the open end of the cap;
• inserting the externally threaded end of the pipe into the open end the cap and through the ring member;
• positioning the externally threaded end of the pipe against said closed end of said cap such that the threaded end of the pipe is entirely within the cap between the open end and closed end of the cap;
• and
• deforming a rubber seal element by threading at least one bolt through the closed end of the cap such that an end of the bolt bears against the ring member so as to compress the rubber seal element against the actuating taper so as to create a seal between said cap and the externally threaded end of the pipe, the at least one bolt being in spaced radial relation to the pipe.