Pipes and tubular conduits – Repairing – Patches
Patent
1996-06-24
1999-07-06
Brinson, Patrick
Pipes and tubular conduits
Repairing
Patches
138158, 138157, 264 36, F16L 5516
Patent
active
059186399
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a device for repairing damages or providing branchings on pipes, especially in existing underwater pipes installations, comprising a cylindrical metal muff which is longitudinally divided to form a pair of metal muff members which are dimensioned to be placed around and clamped to the topical pipe by a clamping means, a sealing means being provided between the muff and the surface of the pipe.
Repair of damages on existing underwater pipe installations, for example in the offshore industry, may become very expensive. At larger depths welding is of little current interest since one can not use divers for making good possible faults arising when using automatic welding machines. Today, if a deep-water pipe installation is subjected to crack formation or other minor damages, one will have to remove parts of the pipe and install a jointing means. Known jointing means are complicated, time-consuming and expensive to have installed.
Further, within the offshore industry, there is an expressed wish to be able to make branchings on existing pipe installations without having to interrupt the operation ("hot tapping"). Secondarily, it is wanted that such operations be executed with the shortest possible operational loss on the pipes.
It is an object of the invention to provide a device enabling substantial savings in case of repairs of damages on existing underwater pipe systems, in that damages can be repaired without replacing parts of the pipe system.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which also enables a quick and cost-efficient provision of branchings on existing pipe installations without interruption of the operation, and without weakening the pipe installation.
For the achievement of the above-mentioned objects there is provided a device of the introductorily stated type which, according to the invention, is characterized in that at least one of the muff members is composed of a strong outer layer and a less strong inner layer which are joined so as to form an intermediate closed volume, said muff member being provided with a means for supplying a hydraulic pressure medium to said volume, so that the volume when pressurized expands by movement of the inner layer, and the inner layer and the sealing means thereby are pressed to sealing engagement with the adjacent surface of the pipe.
In the device according to the invention, said at least one muff member with its outer and inner layers consists of metal, and the sealing device consists of metal ribs projecting from and forming closed loops on the surface of the inner layer, for the provision of a metal-to-metal seal between the muff member and the topical pipe.
The device according to the invention when used as a pipe repairing system, may give substantial savings, one being able to repair damages without replacing parts of the pipe system. Further, one may make branchings on existing pipe installations without having to interrupt the operation (hot tapping), and without weakening the pipe installation. In offshore applications one can, as compared to existing alternatives, nearly irrespective of water depth carry out hot tapping very quickly and cost-efficiently by using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for carrying out the branching operation.
When the hydraulic pressure medium is pressed in between the outer and inner layer of the muff members when the device is assembled on a pipe, there is established a strong pressure pressing the outer layer radially outwards and the inner layer inwards against the pipe. The hydraulic sealing pressure preferably may be permanently maintained in that a hardening liquid is used as the hydraulic pressure medium.
The sealing action is enhanced in that the inner layer 30 is provided with outwardly projecting, seal-forming ribs, as mentioned above. The pressurization of the hydraulic pressure medium thereby will entail that the material of the ribs reaches the yield point and "melts" together with the surface of the pipe already at a moderate pressure, so that a gas-tight
REFERENCES:
patent: 3480043 (1969-11-01), Proudfoot et al.
patent: 3496963 (1970-02-01), Bardgette et al.
Knutsen Hans
Ottestad Nils T.
Brinson Patrick
Power Diaphragm Technology A/S
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