Electricity: conductors and insulators – Combined fluid conduit and electrical conductor
Patent
1992-06-18
1994-08-02
Picard, Leo P.
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Combined fluid conduit and electrical conductor
166 651, 166242, 439191, 439194, G01V 140, E21B 1702, E21B 1710, H01R 460
Patent
active
053348010
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a pipe system incorporating one or more electrical conductors.
More specifically the invention relates to a pipe system in which a plurality of pipe members are connected together, to provide a conduit or conduits for fluid flow and in which the pipe members include one, or usually more, electrical conductors, which are also connected together to provide for electrical power supply and/or communication along the system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Different requirements however apply to the effective establishment of the mechanical coupling of the pipe members and the electrical connections between. Satisfactory mechanical coupling can be achieved with quite rough handling of the pipe members, without careful alignment and without great concern for cleanliness. In an offshore drilling environment, the members of a drill string or of a production pipe stack can be assembled by stabbing the end of one member into an end of the other and then completing the mechanical connection. Electrical connection however requires rather precise engagement of contacts, which should be checked for damage and which should be clean, to ensure minimum resistance at the connection, before the connection is made.
There is known from FR-A-2 440 465 a pipe system of the kind comprising two pipe members having respective interengageable connecting means by which the pipe members are mechanically connected together in end-to-end relationship, electrical conductor means extending within each of the pipe members, and electrical connection means at the connected ends of the pipe members establishing electrical connection between the electrical conductor means of the connected pipe members.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, such a pipe system is characterized in that the electrical connection means comprises contacts exposed at the outer surfaces of the pipe members at the end regions thereof adjacent the interengageable connecting means, and a bridging member extending across the mechanically connected ends of the pipe members mounted externally of the pipe members, the bridging member including second conductor means having second contacts exposed at positions on the bridging member adjacent the pipe members and in engagement with the contacts exposed at the outer surfaces of the pipe members.
The invention will thus be understood to provide a pipe system comprising pipe members connectible together to provide fluid flow and one or more electrical conduction paths, in which establishment of the conduction path or paths is facilitated and improved by being separated from the mechanical connection of the conductors, and effected simply by connection of a bridging member externally of the pipe members after the contacts have been inspected and if necessary cleaned.
The bridging member can have the form for example of a split sleeve and the pipe members can incorporate one or any appropriate greater number of the conductors, each having a contact at each end region of the member. Plural contacts can be located in a contact zone extending around the outside of the pipe member axially inwardly of the mechanical connection means. The bridging member, in the form of a sleeve, can then be assembled around the joint between the members to bridge over the mechanical connection means from the contact zone of one member to that of the other. The bridging connector member can if desired incorporate sensors responsive for example to stresses to which the system is subject.
The bridging member and the adjacent portions of the pipe members can be covered after assembly by an outer protective sleeve which additionally protects the mechanical joint between the pipe member and can if desired function as a stabilizer where the pipe system is a drill string.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is further described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a partial side view of a single pipe stand or unit
REFERENCES:
patent: 3606402 (1971-09-01), Medney
patent: 3860742 (1975-01-01), Medney
patent: 4220381 (1980-09-01), van der Graaf
Framo Developments (UK) Limited
Picard Leo P.
Sough Hyung S.
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