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US 2014/0151438 A1Published application
Apparatus to join tubulars using friction stir joining
OwnerRodney Dale Fleck, Bonnie Powell +6inventors
InventorsRodney Dale Fleck, Bonnie Powell, Paul T. Higgins, Rod W. Shampine, Russell J. Steel, Scott M. Packer, Edward K. Leugemors, Timothy M. Lesko
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Abstract
A system and method for repairing and/or joining together multiple lengths of tubulars using friction stir joining, and a system for manipulating the tubular so that friction stir joining may be performed while the tubular is on a reel and/or at a field site.
Claims43
A system comprising:
- a fixture machine to hold and align a first end of a first tubular and a second end of a second tubular;
- a mandrel disposed inside the first and second tubular to provide a reactive force during friction stir joining;
- and
- a friction stir joining machine for performing friction stir joining of the first and second ends of the first and second tubulars.
1 more element
A method for performing friction stir joining of tubular, and comprising:
- 1) clamping two ends of a tubular in a fixture machine;
- 2) inserting a mandrel in the tubular along a joint formed by the two ends of the tubular;
- 3) aligning the two ends of the tubular;
- and
- 4) friction stir joining the two ends of the tubular along the joint using a friction stir joining tool.
2 more elements
A method for repairing a non-compliant tubular comprising:
- 1) removing a portion of the tubular to form at least a first end of a first tubular;
- 2) aligning the first end of the first tubular with a second end of a second tubular;
- 3) disposing a mandrel within the first and second tubular along the first and second ends;
- and
- 4) performing friction stir joining of the first and second ends to form a FSJ joint.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.