US 11,156,312 B1 · Tensile capacity electrofusion pipeline systems and methods

Abstract

Techniques for implementing a pipeline system that includes a pipe segment and a pipe fitting. The pipe segment includes tubing, which includes an inner barrier layer that defines a pipe bore, a reinforcement layer implemented around the inner barrier layer to define a fluid conduit, and an outer barrier layer implemented around the reinforcement layer, and a tensile clip secured to the tubing such that clip legs of the tensile clip are secured around the reinforcement layer. The pipe fitting includes electrofusion material implemented to define a fitting bore and a tubing cavity in which the tubing is to be secured and a tensile hook partially embedded within the electrofusion material such that a hook bend extends into the tubing cavity, in which the hook bend matingly interlock with a loop end of the tensile clip to facilitate transferring tensile force between the reinforcement layer and the pipe fitting.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A pipeline system comprising:

a pipe segment that comprises:
tubing, wherein the tubing comprises an inner barrier layer that defines a pipe bore, a reinforcement layer implemented around the inner barrier layer to define a fluid conduit within the tubing, and an outer barrier layer implemented around the reinforcement layer;
and
a tensile clip secured to the tubing such that clip legs of the tensile clip are secured around the reinforcement layer of the tubing;
and
a pipe fitting that comprises:
electrofusion material implemented to define a fitting bore and a tubing cavity in which the tubing of the pipe segment is to be secured;
and
a tensile hook partially embedded within the electrofusion material such that a hook bend of the tensile hook extends into the tubing cavity, wherein the hook bend of the tensile hook is configured to matingly interlock with a loop end of the tensile clip that is secured to the tubing of the pipe segment to facilitate transferring tensile force between the reinforcement layer of the tubing and the pipe fitting.

6 more elements

A method of implementing a pipeline system comprising:

securing a tensile clip to tubing of a pipe segment that comprises a reinforcement layer implemented between an inner barrier layer of the tubing and an outer barrier layer of the tubing at least in part by:
inserting clip legs of the tensile clip into corresponding clip openings in the tubing of the pipe segment;
and
circumferentially compressing the tubing of the pipe segment around the clip legs of the tensile clip to enable the clip legs of the tensile clip to grab onto the reinforcement layer in the tubing of the pipe segment;
inserting the tensile clip and the tubing of the pipe segment into a tubing cavity of a pipe fitting that is defined by electrofusion material of the pipe fitting, wherein the pipe fitting comprises a tensile hook that extends out from the electrofusion material into the tubing cavity;
and
rotating the pipe fitting relative to the pipe segment such that the tensile hook of the pipe fitting matingly interlocks with the tensile clip that is secured to the tubing of the pipe segment to facilitate transferring tensile force between the pipe segment and the pipe fitting using non-electrofusion material.

4 more elements

An electrofusion pipe fitting comprising:

a tubing cavity in which tubing of a pipe segment is to be secured, wherein the tubing cavity is defined using electrofusion material;
and
a tensile hook, wherein the tensile hook comprises:
a hook shaft that is at least partially embedded within the electrofusion material of the electrofusion pipe fitting;
and
a hook bend that extends out from the hook shaft within the tubing cavity of the electrofusion pipe fitting, wherein the hook bend is configured to matingly interlock with a loop end of a tensile clip that is secured around one or more reinforcement layers of the tubing of the pipe segment to facilitate transferring tensile force between the electrofusion pipe fitting and the pipe segment via the tensile clip that is secured to the tubing of the pipe segment and the tensile hook of the electrofusion pipe fitting.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tensile capacity electrofusion pipeline systems and methods

Life of this patent

Tensile capacity electrofusion pipeline systems and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20