Pipe connector
AssigneePoulton Technologies Limited
InventorsKonrad Goess-Saurau, Rodney Coplestone
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for connecting two pipes in fluid communication includes a connector body having opposing open ends, with each open end configured for receiving a free end of a pipe, and a mechanical interlock arrangement for preventing or limiting axial movement of the connector body relative to a free end of a pipe when the free end of the pipe is received in an open end of the connector body. A mechanical seal arrangement provides a metal-to-metal seal between a pipe inserted into one of the open ends and the connector body.
Claims20
A connector comprising:
- a connector body having an open end configured for receiving a free end of a pipe;
- and
- a metal-to-metal seal arrangement for location within the connector body;
- wherein the metal-to-metal seal arrangement comprises:
- a first metallic element configured to fit around an annular surface of a pipe at a free end of said pipe;
- and
- an annular metallic seal surface provided inside the connector body;
- wherein the metal-to-metal seal arrangement is provided for creating a first annular metal-to-metal seal between the first metallic element and said annular surface of the pipe, and for creating a second annular metal-to-metal seal between the first metallic element and the annular metallic seal surface, under energisation of the first metallic element;
- and
- wherein the connector body comprises a coupling arrangement configured for coupling the connector body to the pipe, in order to prevent or limit axial movement of the connector body relative to the pipe when the first metallic element is under metal-to-metal seal conditions with said annular surface of the pipe and the annular metallic seal surface.
A method of connecting a pipe to a connector, the method comprising:
- providing a pipe having a free end;
- locating a first metallic element around an annular surface of the pipe at the free end of the pipe;
- providing a connector body having an open end configured for receiving the free end of the pipe, the connector body comprising a coupling arrangement configured for coupling the connector body to the pipe, in order to prevent or limit axial movement of the connector body relative to the pipe;
- providing an annular metallic seal surface inside the connector body;
- locating the free end of the pipe and the first metallic element within the connector body;
- coupling the connector body to the pipe via the coupling arrangement to prevent or limit axial movement of the connector body relative to the pipe;
- and
- creating a first annular metal-to-metal seal between the first metallic element and the annular surface of the pipe, and creating a second annular metal-to-metal seal between the first metallic element and the annular metallic seal surface, under energisation of the first metallic element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.