US 11,454,340 B2Granted

Non-metallic high pressure high temperature high chemical compatibility flange isolation gasket

OwnerMarc Rowley, Sigfrid Ruzinventors

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Abstract

A non-metallic flange isolation gasket kit sealing flanged pipeline connections and flanged vessel connections while providing electrical isolation protection between flanges suited for high-pressure and high-temperature cathodic protection applications is presented. The invention protects flange faces from media induced corrosion and mitigates flange rotation induced fatigue and failures. The invention comprises of a retainer, a seal, and a seal pre-load structural ring. The seal pre-load structural ring is inserted into the seal, and seal outer diameter surface is joined to the retainer inner diameter surface. A second embodiment comprises of a composite gasket blank, comprising of a retainer and a seal, and a seal pre-load structural ring. The seal outer diameter surface and the retainer inner diameter surface are joined by thermal fusion bonding. The invention may further comprise one or more gasket seating stress stabilizers and/or a centering ring. Tapered retainer upper and lower surfaces decrease flange rotation.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A flange isolation gasket kit for sealing flanged pipeline connections, comprising:

(a) a retainer, comprising:
(i) a tapered upper surface;
(ii) a tapered lower surface;
(iii) a retainer outer diameter surface;
(iv) a retainer inner diameter surface;
(v) a retainer thickness;
and
(vi) a central bore;
(vii) where the retainer thickness tapers from the retainer inner diameter surface towards the retainer outer diameter surface,
(b) a seal, comprising:
(i) pores;
(ii) a seal outer diameter surface;
(iii) a seal inner diameter surface, comprising:
(1) an upper facing surface;
(2) a lower facing surface;
and
(3) a seal pre-load cavity;
(4) where the seal pre-load cavity forms an indentation within the seal inner diameter surface concentric to the seal central axis,
(iv) a seal upper surface;
(v) a seal lower surface;
and
(vi) a seal thickness;
(c) a seal pre-load structural ring,
(i) where the seal pre-load structural ring is made out of materials with elastic properties,
(ii) where the seal pre-load structural ring is inserted within the seal pre-load cavity,
(d) where the retainer inner diameter surface is joined to the seal outer diameter surface,
(e) wherein the retainer is made from either cured filament wound material or cured convolute wrapped pre-preg material;
(f) wherein the cured filament wound material comprises resin and composite fiber filaments;
(g) wherein the cured convolute wrapped pre-preg material comprises resin and composite fabric matrix;
(h) where the pores within the seal outer diameter surface of the seal contain the resin from the retainer.

27 more elements

An improved flange isolation gasket kit for sealing flanged pipeline connections, comprising:

(a) a composite gasket blank, comprising:
(i) a retainer, comprising,
(1) a tapered upper surface;
(2) a tapered lower surface;
(3) a retainer outer diameter surface;
(4) a retainer inner diameter surface;
(5) a retainer thickness;
and
(6) a central bore;
(7) where the retainer thickness tapers from the retainer inner diameter surface towards the retainer outer diameter surface,
(ii) a seal, comprising,
(1) pores;
(2) a seal outer diameter surface;
(3) a seal inner diameter surface, comprising:
(a) an upper facing surface;
(b) a lower facing surface;
and
(c) a seal pre-load cavity;
(d) where the seal pre-load cavity forms an indentation within the seal inner diameter surface concentric to the seal central axis,
(4) a seal upper surface;
(5) a seal lower surface;
and
(6) a seal thickness;
(b) a seal pre-load structural ring;
(i) where the seal pre-load structural ring is made out of materials with elastic properties,
(ii) where the seal pre-load structural ring is inserted within the seal pre-load cavity,
(c) where the retainer inner diameter surface is joined to the seal outer diameter surface,
(d) wherein the retainer is made from one or more layers of cured filament wound material and one or more layers of cured convolute wrapped pre-preg material;
(e) wherein the cured filament wound material comprises resin and composite fiber filaments;
(f) wherein the cured convolute wrapped pre-preg material comprises resin and composite fabric matrix.

27 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/932,555Filed 17 Jul 2020 · continuation
Priority: 25 Aug 2016
Published: US 2020/0347969 A15 Nov 2020
Granted: 27 Sep 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

F16L 23/22
The sealing means being rings: made exclusively of a material other than metal
B29C 70/32
Shaping by lay-up, i.e. applying fibres, tape or broadsheet on a mould, former or core; Shaping by spray-up, i.e. spraying of fibres on a mould,…:…
B29C 70/545
Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations , e.g. feeding or storage of prepregs or SMC after impregnation or during ageing:…
B29C 70/683
Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations: pretreatment of the preformed part, e.g. insert

Family

Application62/379,383Us provisional application · filed 25 Aug 2016
Application15/685,480Parent of this continuation · filed 24 Aug 2017
US 2020/0347969 A1Pre-grant publication · published 5 Nov 2020
US 10,738,921 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2018/0058616 A1Published application
US 11,454,340 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.