US 8,985,636 B2Granted

Pressure isolation system for flexible pipe joints

AssigneeOil States Industries, Inc.

InventorsDanton Gutierrez-Lemini, Todd M. Pottorff, George W. Peppel, James G. Patrick, Carl C. Spicer, Jesner H. Pereira, Gregory P. Cruse

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A flexible pipe joint has two annular elastomeric flex elements stacked in a co-axial fashion at an inner radius from a common center of rotation, and at least one elastomeric flex element disposed at an outer radius from the common center of rotation. The flex elements at the inner radius are coupled mechanically in series between the extension pipe and the housing of the flexible pipe joint, and the flex element at the outer radius is coupled mechanically in parallel with the series combination of the inner flex elements. The inner flex elements isolate the flex element at the outer radius from transport fluid, and the flex element at the outer radius reduces the axial compression of the inner flex elements. Thus, the inner flex elements may have a reduced radius and a different composition to handle a higher loading of heat and pressure.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A flexible pipe joint comprising:

a housing;
an attachment flange mounted at a first end of the housing;
a support ring mounted at a second end of the housing;
an inner pipe attached to the attachment flange;
an extension pipe extending from the second end of the housing;
a first inner liner disposed in and welded to the inner pipe;
a second inner liner disposed in and welded to the extension pipe;
a centering ring;
a first annular elastomeric flex element disposed in the housing and mounted between the first inner liner and the centering ring;
a second annular elastomeric flex element disposed in the housing and mounted between the second inner liner and the centering ring;
and
a third annular elastomeric flex element disposed in the housing and mounted between the extension pipe and the support ring;
wherein the first, second, and third flex elements have a common center of rotation, the first and second flex elements are stacked in a coaxial fashion on opposite sides of the common center of rotation, the first and second flex elements are disposed from the common center of rotation by a common inner radius, and the third flex element is disposed from the common center of rotation by an outer radius greater than the inner radius;
and
which further includes a fourth annular elastomeric flex element disposed at the outer radius from the common center of rotation, wherein the fourth flex element is stacked in the housing in a coaxial fashion with respect to the third flex element, and the fourth flex element is joined mechanically in parallel with the third flex element.

12 more elements

A flexible pipe joint comprising:

a housing;
an attachment flange mounted at a first end of the housing;
a support ring mounted at a second end of the housing;
an inner pipe attached to the attachment flange;
an extension pipe extending from the second end of the housing;
a first inner liner disposed in the inner pipe;
a second inner liner disposed in the extension pipe;
a centering ring;
a first annular elastomeric flex element disposed in the housing and mounted between the first inner liner and the centering ring;
a second annular elastomeric flex element disposed in the housing and mounted between the second inner liner and the centering ring;
and
a third annular elastomeric flex element disposed in the housing and mounted between the extension pipe and the support ring;
wherein the first, second, and third flex elements have a common center of rotation, the first and second flex elements are stacked in a coaxial fashion on opposite sides of the common center of rotation, the first and second flex elements are disposed from the common center of rotation by a common inner radius, and the third flex element is disposed from the common center of rotation by an outer radius greater than the inner radius;
and
which further includes a fourth annular elastomeric flex element disposed at the outer radius from the common center of rotation, wherein the fourth flex element is stacked in the housing in a coaxial fashion with respect to the third flex element, and the fourth flex element is joined mechanically in parallel with the third flex element.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/218,402Filed 25 Aug 2011 · division
Priority: 25 Feb 2008
Published: US 2012/0032434 A19 Feb 2012
Granted: 24 Mar 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

F16L 27/103
Comprising a flexible connection only: in which a flexible element, e.g. a rubber-metal laminate, which undergoes constraints consisting of shear…
E21B 17/085
Casing joints: riser connections
F16L
Pipes
E21B
Earth or rock drilling

Family

Application12/036,738Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 25 Feb 2008
Application12/196,230Parent of this division · filed 21 Aug 2008
US 2012/0032434 A1Pre-grant publication · published 9 Feb 2012
US 8,038,177 B2Parent of this division
US 8,016,324 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application12/196,230Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2009/0212557 A1Published application
US 2009/0212558 A1Published application
US 8,985,636 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.