Protector for threaded connections
OwnerLester W. Toelkeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved pipe coupling protector including a thread protector with sleeve is disclosed. Moreover, a method of installation is also set forth. When manufactured, the sleeve is sized to fit over the threads on the exterior of a pipe end and has a surrounding end shoulder with a transverse cap. An undercut defines the cap for removal by puncturing action to enable the sleeve to move up the threads. At the time of installation, the pipe is threaded to a coupling. A lubricant or sealant is applied to the threads. The coupling and the sleeve of the present disclosure completely cover over the threads and they are sealed against atmospheric intrusion and capillary fluid flow along threads and at the coupling face by the sleeve with an underlying layer of sealant or lubricant.
Claims15
Apparatus for protecting a pipe, the apparatus comprising a thread protector having an elongate sleeve of deformable non-metallic plastic material sized to fit about the exterior and over all of the threads of a male threaded pipe end, said sleeve terminating at an end located circumferential shoulder thereabout, a peripheral face on said shoulder for abutting a pipe coupling threadedly engaged with the male threads on the end of the pipe, and wherein said sleeve is of sufficient length so that said sleeve extends beyond the pipe threads on the pipe when the pipe is threaded to a pipe coupling and wherein said sleeve, relative to the pipe threads, has an interference fit therewith, and also including an encircling end located sealant receiving space beneath said sleeve and adjacent to said circumferential shoulder such that said apparatus protects the male pipe threads before and after installation.
A method of protecting a pipe having male threads on the end thereof comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a sleeve out of a non-metallic pliable polymer to avoid dissimilar metal contact against the pipe by the sleeve;
- (b) positioning a sleeve over the end of the pipe, said sleeve having a sufficient length to cover a selected length of pipe and all the threads thereon and wherein the sleeve terminates at an end cap, the end cap closing over the end of the pipe;
- (c) subsequently removing the end cap to expose an opening in the sleeve of sufficient diameter to enable the sleeve to slide along the pipe and to permit the pipe to extend through the opening;
- (d) threading the pipe to a coupling having an end located shoulder outside of the threads on the pipe wherein the shoulder abuts against the sleeve;
- and
- (e) upon completing the threaded connection between the pipe and coupling, positioning the sleeve against the end of the coupling so that the sleeve and coupling together cover over all the threads on the exterior of the pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.