# US 2020/0398362 A1 · Pipeline system of pipe sections with pre-assembled insulating weld backing rings and method of making same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0398362 A1 - Document ID: US20200398362A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/644,072 - Filed: 2018-09-04 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-04 - Assignees: Imperial Pipe Services, LLC - Applicants: Imperial Pipe Services, LLC - Inventors: Jose Anisio de OLIVEIRA E SILVA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200398362A1 ## CPC - B23K 9/0358: {the backing means being a ring or sleeve} - B23K 9/0282: {for welding tube sections} - B23K 11/163: {Welding of coated materials} - B23K 37/06: for positioning the molten material, e.g. confining it to a desired area - F16L 13/0236: {having an outer ring} - F16L 13/0263: {having an internal coating} - F16L 13/0272: {having an external coating} - F16L 58/1036: {the coating being a preformed pipe (F16L58/1027 takes precedence)} - F16L 58/181: {for non-disconnectable pipe joints} - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A pre-assembled insulated weld backing ring for a tubular section of the pipeline. The weld backing ring includes a metal cylinder and an insulation layer. The metal cylinder has a ring-shaped anterior portion and a ring-shaped raised posterior portion with a step therebetween. The posterior portion has a larger diameter than the anterior portion to define an insulation pocket. The insulation layer is positioned on the external surface of the metal cylinder. The insulation layer is made of an insulated material positioned in the insulation pocket to define a protective barrier to protect the tubular section during welding. The weld backing ring may also include a second metal cylinder positioned on the insulation layer. The weld backing ring may be pre-assembled by applying a tubular metal section material to a sheet of metal and rolling the sheet of metal to form the metal cylinder. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pre-assembled insulated weld backing ring for a pipe section of a pipeline, the pipeline having a passage therethrough for transporting fluids between locations, the pipe section comprising a tubular member having a tubular section at each end, the tubular section weldably connectable to the tubular section of an adjacent pipe section, the weld backing ring comprising: a first metal cylinder having a tubular body positionable in the tubular section and coaxially secured therein, the first metal cylinder having a stepped external surface defining a ring shaped anterior portion and a ring shaped raised posterior portion with a step therebetween, the anterior portion having an anterior face positioned about the end of the tubular section for abutting engagement with the corresponding anterior face of the first metal cylinder of an adjacent tubular member of the pipeline, the posterior portion having a larger diameter than the anterior portion to define an insulation pocket between an external surface of the anterior portion and an internal surface of the tubular section when positioned in the tubular section, the insulation pocket having an open end about an anterior face of the tubular section and a terminal end adjacent the step, an external surface of the raised posterior portion positioned in one of engagement and non-engagement with the internal surface of the tubular section when the first metal cylinder is secured in the tubular section; and an insulation layer positioned on the external surface of the metal cylinder for insertion into the tubular section with the first metal cylinder, the insulation layer having a posterior end positioned against the step of the first metal cylinder, the insulation layer having an anterior end positioned about the end of the tubular section for abutting engagement with the corresponding anterior end of the insulation layer of the adjacent tubular member, the insulation layer comprising a tubular metal section insulating material positioned in the insulation pocket to define a protective barrier between the first metal cylinder and the tubular member when installed in the tubular section whereby the tubular member is protected from heat during welding of the tubular member to the adjacent tubular member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The weld backing ring of claim 1, further comprising a ring liner disposed over the internal surface of the metal cylinder, the ring liner comprising a corrosively and/or erosively resistant material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The weld backing ring of claim 2, wherein the ring liner has a seat along an anterior end thereof, the weld backing ring further comprising a sealing element positioned in the seat of the liner to sealingly engage the sealing element of the adjacent tubular member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The weld backing ring of claim 2, wherein the first metal cylinder has a surface with an anchoring pattern to grippingly engage the ring liner. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The weld backing ring of claim 1, further comprising a second metal cylinder positioned between the insulation layer and the tubular member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The weld backing ring of claim 5, wherein the second metal cylinder is positioned along an external surface of the posterior portion of the first metal cylinder and the external surface of the insulation layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The weld backing ring of claim 5, wherein a posterior end of the first metal cylinder and a posterior end of the second metal cylinder are integral, and wherein the integral posterior end of the first metal cylinder and the posterior end of the second metal cylinder have perforations therethrough. ### Claim 8 (canceled) ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The weld backing ring of claim 1, wherein an external surface of the posterior portion of the first metal cylinder and the external surface of the insulation layer are positionable along the internal surface of the tubular section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The weld backing ring of claim 1, wherein the tubular metal section insulating material comprises a temperature resistant material with a tubular metal section conductivity between 0.1 and 1.6 W/(m° K) at 650° C. and a melting point between 900° C. and 1,800° C. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The weld backing ring of claim 10, wherein the tubular metal section insulated material comprises at least one of ceramic fiber, fiberglass, rock wool, ceramic fiber tape, ceramic fiber paper, silica tape, high temperature resistant resins, lithium silicate, sodium silicate, potassium silicate refractory binders. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The weld backing ring of claim 1, further comprising spacers positioned about a posterior face of the first metal cylinder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The weld backing ring of claim 1, further comprising a bonding material between at least two of: the first metal cylinder, the insulation layer, a liner sealing element, a second metal cylinder, and the tubular section. ### Claim 14 A pipe section of a pipeline, the pipeline having a passage therethrough for transporting fluids between locations, the pipe section comprising: a tubular member having a tubular section at each end, the tubular section weldably connectable to the tubular section of an adjacent pipe section; a first metal cylinder having a tubular body positionable in the tubular section and coaxially secured therein, the first metal cylinder having a stepped external surface defining a ring shaped anterior portion and a ring shaped raised posterior portion with a step therebetween, the anterior portion having an anterior face positioned about the end of the tubular section for abutting engagement with the corresponding anterior face of the first metal cylinder of an adjacent tubular member of the pipeline, the posterior portion having a larger diameter than the anterior portion to define an insulation pocket between an external surface of the anterior portion and an internal surface of the tubular section when positioned in the tubular section, the insulation pocket having an open end about an anterior face of the tubular section and a terminal end adjacent the step, an external surface of the raised posterior portion positioned in one of engagement and non-engagement with the internal surface of the tubular section when the first metal cylinder is secured in the tubular section; and an insulation layer positioned on the external surface of the metal cylinder for insertion into the tubular section with the first metal cylinder, the insulation layer having a posterior end positioned against the step of the first metal cylinder, the insulation layer having an anterior end positioned about the end of the tubular section for abutting engagement with the corresponding anterior end of the insulation layer of the adjacent tubular member, the insulation layer comprising a tubular metal section insulating material positioned in the insulation pocket to define a protective barrier between the first metal cylinder and the tubular member when installed in the tubular section whereby the tubular member is protected from heat during welding of the tubular member to the adjacent tubular member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The pipe section of claim 14, wherein the pipe section has a constant inner and outer diameter, with a bevel at the each end of the pipe section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The pipe section of claim 14, wherein the insulation layer is present in one of at least 50%, 80%, 95%, and 100% of an axial length of the anterior portion of the first metal cylinder. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The pipe section of claim 14, wherein the first metal cylinder has a first thickness at the posterior end, wherein the first metal cylinder and the insulation layer have a second thickness at an anterior end, the first thickness is greater than the second thickness. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The pipe section of claim 17, wherein the second thickness is from about 30% to 100% of the first thickness. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The pipe section of claim 17, wherein the first metal cylinder has an axial length, the first thickness extends along a first portion of the axial length and the second thickness extend along a second portion of the axial length, the second portion occupying a greater portion of the axial than the first portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The pipe section of claim 14, further comprising a second metal cylinder positioned between the insulation layer and the internal surface of the tubular section and wherein the second metal cylinder has an anterior end portion substantially flush with the anterior end portion of the first metal cylinder. ### Claim 21 (canceled) ### Claim 22 A method of welding adjacent pipe sections of a pipeline, the pipeline for transporting fluids between locations, the method comprising: pre-assembling a weld backing ring by: providing a sheet of metal; applying an insulation layer onto an external surface of the sheet of metal; and rolling the sheet of metal into a first metal cylinder; insulating a tubular section of each of the adjacent pipe sections from welding heat by: inserting the pre-assembled weld backing ring into an end of the tubular sections of each of the adjacent pipe sections; positioning an anterior end of each of the first metal cylinders flush with the end of the tubular sections of each of the adjacent pipe sections; and securing the pre-assembled weld backing rings to an internal surface of the tubular section of each of the adjacent pipe sections; positioning the ends of each of the adjacent pipe sections together with the anterior ends of the pre-assembled weld backing ring of each of the adjacent pipe sections in contact; and forming a weld between the adjacent pipe sections by applying the welding heat to each of the adjacent pipes sections. ### Claim at position 23 -28. (canceled)