Pipe, pipe connection and pipeline system

A pipe connection assembly comprising:

• a first pipe section and a second pipe section, each of the first pipe section and the second pipe section including:
• a metal tube having a length, an inner surface defining an inner diameter, an outer surface with an outer diameter, a wall thickness defined by the distance between the inner surface and the outer surface and a belled end with a larger inner diameter than the inner diameter through an adjacent portion of the metal tube and a larger outer diameter than the outer diameter;
• a pipe mandrel for mechanically engaging the first pipe section to the second pipe section, the pipe mandrel formed as a cylindrical tube and including a first tubular end configured to mechanically engage the first pipe section and a second tubular end configured to mechanically engage the second pipe section, the pipe mandrel being sized to be positionable within the belled ends of the first pipe section and the second pipe section, the pipe mandrel including teeth radially outwardly extending therefrom and having an inside diameter substantially equal to or greater than the inner diameter;
• a press ring having an inside diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the metal tube and the press ring configured to be installed encircling the belled end radially outwardly of the pipe mandrel and to deform and hold the belled end radially inwardly into engagement with the teeth;
• and
• a stop ring encircling the mandrel and positioned between the belled ends.

A method for joining a first pipe section to a second pipe section, each of the first pipe section and the second pipe section including:

• a metal tube having a length, an inner surface defining an inner diameter, an outer surface with an outer diameter, a wall thickness defined by the distance between the inner surface and the outer surface and a belled end with a larger inner diameter than the inner diameter through an adjacent portion of the metal tube and a larger outer diameter than the outer diameter;
• the method comprising:
• inserting a pipe mandrel into the belled end of the first pipe section and into the belled end of the second pipe section;
• installing a press ring to encircle the belled end of the first pipe section, the press ring having an inner diameter smaller than a diameter across the outer surface of the belled end and installing the press ring includes deforming the metal tubular wall of the first pipe section radially inwardly into mechanical engagement with teeth on an outer diameter of the pipe mandrel;
• and
• leaving the press ring in place encircling the wall of the first pipe section to hold the wall in mechanical engagement with the pipe mandrel, wherein the method further comprises one or more of:
• a) inserting the pipe mandrel includes urging an annular elastomeric seal on an end of the pipe mandrel into sealing engagement against the inner diameter of the belled end;
• and
• b) positioning a stop ring around the pipe mandrel prior to inserting such that the stop ring resides between the belled ends and stopping advancement of the press ring during installing by abutting against the stop ring.

A pipe connection comprising:

• a first pipe having a length, an inner surface defining an inner diameter, an outer surface with an outer diameter, and a wall thickness defined by the distance between the inner surface and the outer surface;
• a second pipe having a cylindrical wall with a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical inner bore;
• a pipe mandrel mechanically engaging the first pipe to the second pipe, the pipe mandrel formed as a cylindrical tube with outwardly extending teeth and including a first tubular end mechanically engaged within the inner diameter and a second tubular end mechanically engaged within the cylindrical inner bore;
• a first press ring having an inside diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the first pipe, the press ring encircling the first pipe radially outwardly of the pipe mandrel and deforming the first pipe radially inwardly into engagement with the teeth on the first tubular end;
• a second press ring having a diameter smaller than the cylindrical outer surface of the second pipe, the second press ring encircling the second pipe radially outwardly of the pipe mandrel and deforming the second pipe radially inwardly into engagement with the teeth on the second tubular end;
• and
• at least one of:
• a) an elastomeric seal in an annular gland at each end of the mandrel;
• and
• b) a stop ring encircling the mandrel and positioned between the belled ends.