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US 2021/0199232 A1Published application
Pipe end protector
AssigneeTenaris Connections Limited
InventorsPablo EGGER, Raul Ernesto AGENO, Gastón MAZZAFERRO, Lucas GIRALDO, Jose CARELLA, Carlos PIACENTINI, Claudio Javier PEREZ
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pipe end protector for protecting pipe threads provided on a pipe end of a pipe component for exploration and production of a hydrocarbon well, said pipe end protector comprising a main body and an annular flexible lip seal, wherein the main body is made from a first polymeric material having a first elastic modulus, and the lip seal is made from a second polymeric material having a second elastic modulus which is lower than the first elastic modulus.
Claims21
A pipe end protector for protecting pipe threads provided on a pipe end of a pipe component for exploration and production of a hydrocarbon well, said pipe end protector comprising:
- a main body having a longitudinal axis, at least one support portion having an at least partly radially extending annular seal support surface, and a tubular portion provided with protector threads configured to cooperate with the pipe threads of the pipe end, and
- an annular flexible lip seal provided on the seal support surface, wherein
- the main body is made from a first polymeric material having a first elastic modulus,
- the lip seal is made from a second polymeric material having a second elastic modulus which is lower than the first elastic modulus, and
- the lip seal comprises an annular lip base portion which extends radially along at least a portion of the seal support surface and is attached to the seal support surface by over moulding.
2 more elements
An assembly comprising:
- a pipe component for exploration and production of a hydrocarbon well, which pipe component has a pipe end provided with pipe threads;
- and
- a pipe end protector comprising:
- a main body having a longitudinal axis, at least one support portion having an at least partly radially extending annular seal support surface, and a tubular portion provided with protector threads configured to cooperate with the pipe threads of the pipe end, and
- an annular flexible lip seal provided on the seal support surface, wherein
- the main body is made from a first polymeric material having a first elastic modulus,
- the lip seal is made from a second polymeric material having a second elastic modulus which is lower than the first elastic modulus, and
- the lip seal comprises an annular lip base portion which extends radially along at least a portion of the seal support surface and is attached to the seal support surface by over moulding;
- wherein
- the lip seal is an axial lip seal,
- the axial lip seal comprises an annular support base portion which extends radially along at least part of the seal support surface and is attached to the seal support surface by over moulding,
- the annular support base portion comprises an annular base contact surface configured to, in use, contact an annular lip contact surface of the lip seal,
- the lip base portion and the support base portion are radially spaced from each other, and
- the lip seal and the support base portion are axially spaced from each other;
- and
- wherein the pipe threads and the protector threads are screwed in each other and the pipe end is located in its final make-up position in which the lip of the axial lip seal is pushed in contact with the support base portion by an axial force Fa applied by the pipe end.
13 more elements
An assembly comprising:
- a pipe component for exploration and production of a hydrocarbon well, which pipe component has a pipe end provided with pipe threads;
- and
- a pipe end protector comprising:
- a main body having a longitudinal axis, at least one support portion having an at least partly radially extending annular seal support surface, and a tubular portion provided with protector threads configured to cooperate with the pipe threads of the pipe end, and
- an annular flexible lip seal provided on the seal support surface, wherein
- the main body is made from a first polymeric material having a first elastic modulus,
- the lip seal is made from a second polymeric material having a second elastic modulus which is lower than the first elastic modulus, and
- the lip seal comprises an annular lip base portion which extends radially along at least part of the seal support surface and is attached to the seal support surface by over moulding;
- wherein
- the lip seal is a radial lip seal, and
- a free rim is located closer to the longitudinal axis than the lip base portion and directed towards the longitudinal axis;
- and
- wherein the pipe threads and the protector threads are screwed in each other and the pipe end is located in its final make-up position in which the free rim of the radial lip seal is pushed radially outwards by a radial force Fr applied by the pipe end.
10 more elements
A method of producing a pipe end protector for protecting pipe threads provided on a pipe end of a pipe component for exploration and production of a hydrocarbon well, said method comprising:
- injecting a first polymeric material in a main mould configured to form a main body having a first elastic modulus, a longitudinal axis, at least one support portion having an at least party radially extending annular seal support surface, and a tubular portion,
- after removing the main body from the main mould, placing an lip seal mould over the seal support surface, and
- injecting a second polymeric material in the lip seal mould which is configured to form an annular flexible lip seal having a second elastic modulus being lower than the first elastic modulus and comprising an annular lip base portion which extends radially along at least part of the seal support surface and is attached to the seal support surface by over moulding.
An assembly comprising:
- a pipe component for exploration and production of a hydrocarbon well, said pipe component including a pipe end provided with pipe threads;
- and
- a pipe end protector comprising:
- a main body having a longitudinal axis, at least one support portion having an at least partly radially extending annular seal support surface, and a tubular portion provided with protector threads configured to cooperate with the pipe threads of the pipe end, and
- an annular flexible lip seal provided on the seal support surface, wherein
- the main body is made from a first polymeric material having a first elastic modulus,
- the lip seal is made from a second polymeric material having a second elastic modulus which is lower than the first elastic modulus, and
- the lip seal comprises an annular lip base portion which extends radially along at least part of the seal support surface and is attached to the seal support surface by over moulding;
- wherein
- the lip seal is a radial lip seal, and
- a free rim is located closer to the longitudinal axis than the lip base portion and directed towards the longitudinal axis;
- wherein the free rim is directing towards the longitudinal axis under a rim angle γ of between, and including, 80 and 100 degrees, preferably between, and including, 85 and 95 degrees, more preferably 90 degrees, relative to the longitudinal axis, and
- the lip seal comprises an intermediate lip section located between a foot and the free rim and extending under an intermediate angle δ of between, and including, 8 and 28 degrees, preferably between, and including, 13 and 23 degrees, more preferably 18 degrees, relative to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- wherein the pipe threads and the protector threads are screwed in each other and the pipe end is located in its final make-up position in which the free rim of the radial lip seal is pushed radially outwards by a radial force Fr applied by the pipe end.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.