Pipe joints or couplings – With assembly means or feature – Guide and support
Patent
1997-04-21
1999-12-07
Arola, Dave W.
Pipe joints or couplings
With assembly means or feature
Guide and support
285 55, 285119, 2851241, 28514819, 285330, F16L 3500
Patent
active
059970456
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a pipe joint for joining the ends of two pipes for hydraulic or electrical signal or energy transfer. The pipes have one or more longitudinal bores and/or lines or conduits in their walls. The joint comprises a pipe union having internal threads with one section threaded to the left and another section threaded to the right, corresponding respectively to external threads on the pipe end sections.
In production of oil and/or gas from a reservoir in a geological formation it is desirable to transfer signals concerning production and equipment parameters, or it may be desirable to transmit electrical or hydraulic energy to equipment being used in the reservoir, e.g. for controlling or operation of valves or the like. Often it may be desirable to supply a fluid to the reservoir, e.g. a tracer, a packing fluid or a solution/cleaning agent.
Previously it has been attempted to arrange lines in the walls of a production pipe in an oil/gas well, to transfer signals, energy or a liquid as mentioned above. A production pipe of this type consists of several pipe sections interconnected by pipe joints. However, these state of the art joints do not satisfy the demand of fluid tightness and do not have the necessary performance characteristics. One example of a known pipe joint is disclosed in EP 0 489 137 B1.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved pipe joint of the above mentioned type, which is durable, simple and inexpensive to produce. A further object of the present invention is to provide a joint which facilitates the joining of two pipe ends, and a joint which can withstand high pressures.
According to the present invention, the above mentioned advantages are achieved by a pipe joint that is characterized in that the pipe ends are provided with a joining part for mutually centering and locking the two pipe ends. The joining part has joining sleeves that connect the respective bores or lines with each other in order to obtain a tight connection therebetween.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One way of carrying out the invention is described in detail below with reference to accompanying drawings which illustrate one specific embodiment in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a pipe joint constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of one of the two similar pipe ends as shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along section lines 2B--2B; and
FIG. 3A is an enlarged end view of a joining part as shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along section lines 3B--3B.
FIG. 4A is an enlarged end view of a variation of the joining part as shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along section lines 4B--4B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As mentioned above, FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a pipe joint according to the invention. Between the pipes 1, 1' (only end sections shown here) the joint comprises a joining part 2. The pipes 1, 1' and the joining part are adapted to be connected by means of a pipe union 3, which is provided with two internal threaded sections 13, 13'. One section is threaded to the right, and the other section is threaded to the left. The threaded sections correspond respectively to external right and left oriented threads 6, 6' formed at the end sections of the pipes.
The pipes, or more precisely the pipe end sections, in the joint are identical. Therefore, for practicable reasons, only one pipe end 1 is shown in FIG. 2. As will be seen, the pipe end section 1 has two external recesses which are diametrically opposed to each other (see also FIG. 1). The recesses 10 serve as female parts corresponding to male parts 5 which are formed at the joining part 2.
The pipe 1 may include one or more lines 8 for hydraulic fluid, electric cables or the like. The lines 8 are longitudinally oriented in a recess or recesses formed in the pipe, and each of the recesses communicates with a bore 7 formed at the
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patent: 5163721 (1992-11-01), Babuder
B.o slashed.e Einar
Carlsen Hans-Paul
Haugerud Olay Sveinung
Holgersen Stig
Arola Dave W.
Norsk Hydro ASA
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