Back to results
US 12,492,762 B2Granted
Connector and method for connecting composite pipelines
AssigneePurapipe USA, Inc.
InventorArvid Ophaug
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flange unit for use in connecting composite pipelines and a method of said flange unit installation. The flange unit comprising: a connector flange, an elongate tubular member extending from the connector flange, the elongate tubular member comprising at least two locking apertures, at least two locking studs, and a second tubular part configured to surround the elongate tubular member, wherein the second tubular part is configured to slide axially with respect to the elongate tubular member by a predetermined distance, to force the at least two locking studs into the at least two locking apertures, and radially inwards, to create a clamping force between the flange unit and a pipeline that the flange unit is to be installed upon.
Claims13
A connector for connecting composite pipelines comprising:
- a flange unit including:
- a connector flange;
- an elongate tubular member extending from the connector flange, the elongate tubular member comprising at least two locking apertures;
- at least two locking studs;
- and
- a second tubular part configured to surround the elongate tubular member;
- wherein the second tubular part is configured to slide axially with respect to the elongate tubular member by a predetermined distance, to force the at least two locking studs into the at least two locking apertures, and radially inwards, to create a clamping force between the flange unit and a pipeline that the flange unit is to be installed upon;
- wherein the at least two locking studs comprises a series of several rows of locking bearings, and the at least two locking apertures comprises a series of several rows of locking apertures, wherein the series of locking bearings are configured to sit in the series of locking apertures, and the second tubular part is slidable over the series of locking bearings to force the series of locking bearings into the series of locking apertures, and radially inwards, to create the clamping force;
- wherein the series of locking bearings are spherical, and the series of locking apertures are circular and complementary to the series of locking bearings;
- wherein the series of locking bearings are progressively larger from a first end of the flange unit to a second end of the flange unit, the second end of the flange unit closer to the connector flange than the first end of the flange unit;
- and
- wherein the second tubular part comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the second part of the second tubular part is angled with respect to an external surface of the elongate member to accommodate the increasing size of the locking bearings when the flange unit is in a first unlocked position;
- and
- an outer pipe support tube;
- and
- an inner pipe support tube.
13 more elements
A kit of part comprising:
- a connector including:
- a flange unit including:
- a connector flange;
- an elongate tubular member extending from the connector flange, the elongate tubular member comprising at least two locking apertures;
- at least two locking studs;
- and
- a second tubular part configured to surround the elongate tubular member;
- wherein the second tubular part is configured to slide axially with respect to the elongate tubular member by a predetermined distance, to force the at least two locking studs into the at least two locking apertures, and radially inwards, to create a clamping force between the flange unit and a pipeline that the flange unit is to be installed upon;
- an outer pipe support tube;
- and
- an inner pipe support tube;
- and
- an installation apparatus including:
- an outer-pipe layer remover;
- and
- a flange unit attachment device.
13 more elements
A flange unit for use in connecting composite pipelines comprising:
- a connector flange;
- an elongate tubular member extending from the connector flange, the elongate tubular member comprising at least two locking apertures and a cable aperture for feeding through an exposed cable portion of a pipeline to be connected;
- at least two locking studs;
- and
- a second tubular part configured to surround the elongate tubular member;
- wherein the second tubular part is configured to slide axially with respect to the elongate tubular member by a predetermined distance, to force the at least two locking studs into the at least two locking apertures, and radially inwards, to create a clamping force between the flange unit and a pipeline that the flange unit is to be installed upon,
- wherein the at least two locking studs comprises a series of several rows of locking bearings, and the at least two locking apertures comprises a series of several rows of locking apertures, wherein the series of locking bearings are configured to sit in the series of locking apertures, and the second tubular part is slidable over the series of locking bearings to force the series of locking bearings into the series of locking apertures, and radially inwards, to create the clamping force;
- wherein the series of locking bearings are spherical, and the series of locking apertures are circular and complementary to the series of locking bearings;
- wherein the series of locking bearings are progressively larger from a first end of the flange unit to a second end of the flange unit, the second end of the flange unit closer to the connector flange than the first end of the flange unit;
- and
- wherein the second tubular part comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the second part of the second tubular part is angled with respect to an external surface of the elongate member to accommodate the increasing size of the locking bearings when the flange unit is in a first unlocked position.
8 more elements
A flange unit for use in connecting composite pipelines comprising:
- a connector flange;
- an elongate tubular member extending from the connector flange, the elongate tubular member comprising at least two locking apertures, a tapered section proximate to the connector flange and a non-tapered section, wherein the tapered section is configured to contiguously surround an inner part of a composite pipe, and the non-tapered section is configured to contiguously surround an outer part of the composite pipe;
- at least two locking studs;
- and
- a second tubular part configured to surround the elongate tubular member;
- wherein the second tubular part is configured to slide axially with respect to the elongate tubular member by a predetermined distance, to force the at least two locking studs into the at least two locking apertures, and radially inwards, to create a clamping force between the flange unit and a pipeline that the flange unit is to be installed upon,
- wherein the at least two locking studs comprises a series of several rows of locking bearings, and the at least two locking apertures comprises a series of several rows of locking apertures, wherein the series of locking bearings are configured to sit in the series of locking apertures, and the second tubular part is slidable over the series of locking bearings to force the series of locking bearings into the series of locking apertures, and radially inwards, to create the clamping force;
- wherein the series of locking bearings are spherical, and the series of locking apertures are circular and complementary to the series of locking bearings;
- wherein the series of locking bearings are progressively larger from a first end of the flange unit to a second end of the flange unit, the second end of the flange unit closer to the connector flange than the first end of the flange unit;
- and
- wherein the second tubular part comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the second part of the second tubular part is angled with respect to an external surface of the elongate member to accommodate the increasing size of the locking bearings when the flange unit is in a first unlocked position.
8 more elements
A flange unit for use in connecting composite pipelines comprising:
- a connector flange including at least one bolt aperture for accommodating a bolt to connect the connector flange to an interface flange;
- an elongate tubular member extending from the connector flange, the elongate tubular member comprising at least two locking apertures;
- at least two locking studs;
- and
- a second tubular part configured to surround the elongate tubular member;
- wherein the second tubular part is configured to slide axially with respect to the elongate tubular member by a predetermined distance, to force the at least two locking studs into the at least two locking apertures, and radially inwards, to create a clamping force between the flange unit and a pipeline that the flange unit is to be installed upon,
- wherein the at least two locking studs comprises a series of several rows of locking bearings, and the at least two locking apertures comprises a series of several rows of locking apertures, wherein the series of locking bearings are configured to sit in the series of locking apertures, and the second tubular part is slidable over the series of locking bearings to force the series of locking bearings into the series of locking apertures, and radially inwards, to create the clamping force;
- wherein the series of locking bearings are spherical, and the series of locking apertures are circular and complementary to the series of locking bearings;
- wherein the series of locking bearings are progressively larger from a first end of the flange unit to a second end of the flange unit, the second end of the flange unit closer to the connector flange than the first end of the flange unit;
- and
- wherein the second tubular part comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the second part of the second tubular part is angled with respect to an external surface of the elongate member to accommodate the increasing size of the locking bearings when the flange unit is in a first unlocked position.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.