Method and a coupler for joining two steel pipes
AssigneeGene W. Arant, as Trustee
InventorAlfredo Levario
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for coupling together the ends of two steel pipe sections, each of which contains a permeable inner liner, in which not only are the pipe ends held in abutting engagement, but gas contained within the liner of one pipe section is effectively channeled into the liner of the other pipe section.
Claims14
In a pipeline having a plurality of longitudinal pipe sections, a joint mechanism coupling two such sections, comprising:
- pipe sections having outwardly flanged end portions;
- means holding outer end surfaces of the pipe sections in abutting and sealing relationship, the flanged end portions then also providing an annular space to receive a coupling ring;
- a coupling ring disposed within the annular space and having an inner diameter conforming to an inner diameter of the pipe sections, the coupling ring also having longitudinally tapered outer end surface portions;
- each pipe section also containing a cylindrical lining member covering an inner wall surface of the pipe section;
- end portions of respective liners extending into the annular space in contact with respective tapered outer surfaces of the coupling ring, the liner ends not being in physical contact with each other;
- and
- the annular space permitting fluid or gas that may be moving within the liner of one pipe section to flow around an outer circumference of the coupling ring and into the liner of the other pipe section when the pipe sections are coupled in abutting and sealing relationship.
In a pipeline having a plurality of longitudinal pipe sections, a joint mechanism coupling two such sections, comprising:
- each pipe section containing a lining member that covers an inner wall surface of the pipe section, both the pipe sections and their associated liners having outwardly flanged end portions;
- the flanged end portions of the pipe sections and liners also providing an annular space to receive a coupling ring;
- a coupling ring disposed within the annular space, and having longitudinally tapered outer end surface portions that supportingly engage flared end portions of the liners, the liner ends not being in physical contact with each other;
- means holding outer end surfaces of the pipe sections in abutting and sealing relationship;
- and
- the annular space permitting fluid or gas that may be moving within the liner of one pipe section to flow around the outer circumference of the coupling ring and into an liner of the other pipe section when the pipe sections are coupled in abutting and sealing relationship.
A method of joining and securely sealing together ends of two steel pipe sections that contain gas-permeable interior liners, comprising the steps of:
- forming the end portions of both the pipe sections and their associated liners into an outwardly flared configuration so as to provide an annular space for receiving a coupling ring between joined ends of two such pipe sections;
- selecting a coupling ring having an interior circumferential surface conforming to an interior space of the pipe sections, having longitudinally sloped outer end surfaces to receive the flared end portions of the liners, and having a radially protruding circumferential shoulder intermediate its two ends;
- placing the coupling ring within the annular space so that its radially protruding circumferential shoulder provides longitudinal separation between the ends of the liners while its sloped end surfaces engage and receive the flared end portions of the liners;
- and
- leaving coupling the pipe sections in abutting and sealing relationship, a radial space about the coupling ring to allow fluid or gas flowing longitudinally within the liner of one of the pipe sections to flow about the circumferential shoulder of the coupling ring and hence into the liner of the other pipe section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.