Pipe coupling system
AssigneeVarco I/P, Inc.
InventorThomas Kilpatrick McLaughlin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tubular coupling system and method; the system and method in at least certain aspects, using a coupling member with an interior protective ring that has at least one inner energizing member which, upon compression, forces the body of the coupling member against an interior wall of the coupling thereby inhibiting corrosive material from contacting the coupling's interior wall or, in the event some corrosive material does enter this area, holding the interior protective ring against the coupling's interior wall so that the corrosive material remains in and does not exit this area, thus inhibiting or preventing a continuous flow of corrosive material.
Claims9
A ring for use in a coupling member, the coupling member having an interior wall, the coupling member being generally cylindrical and having a channel therethrough, the coupling member with two spaced-apart ends, each end threaded for threaded mating with a tubular so that the coupling member is connectable to two tubulars, wherein the two tubulars each have a tapered portion and the ring body has a first end and a second end, the ring comprising:
- a ring body positionable adjacent the interior wall of the coupling member between the two spaced-apart ends of the coupling member and located for contact by the two tubulars coupled together by the coupling member, the ring body being generally cylindrical and having a ring channel therethrough, the ring body having a volume, and
- at least three energizing members spaced axially within the ring body, each of said energizing members having a hardness, at least one of the at least three energizing members which is located axially between the other of the at least three energizing members having a hardness which is greater than the hardness of the other of the at least three energizing members, such that the ring body, upon compression, is movable against the interior wall of the coupling member by action of the at least three energizing member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.