Socket pipe coupling for subsea pipeline systems

Details Socket pipe coupling for subsea pipeline systems Socket pipe coupling for subsea pipeline systems

1998-08-27

2001-05-29

Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)

Pipe joints or couplings

With means blocking release of holding means

Auxiliary latch

C285S310000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06237964

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates in general to socket pipe couplings with a female part and a male part telescopically engaged in a coupling position. The invention is especially developed for intercoupling pipe line parts in subsea installations, but can also be utilized for other applications.
The invention relates especially to socket pipe couplings of the kind wherein is used one or more displaceable sleeves in the joint by radial movement of usually wedge-shaped clamping members, effecting that the two pipe sections are being pressed together to a locked position with a simultaneous compression of interposed seal member or members.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are known a plurality of socket joints of this type. As illustrative for the prior art one may refer to U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,021, GB 2004341, SE 342495, FR 919287, GB 2223072 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,493. The two latter US patents are showing solutions wherein are utilized two overlapping displaceable locking rings on the inside of the joint, which can provide an outwardly directed pressing of wedge-shaped locking pawls with a simultaneously compressing of interposed seal elements. The coupling itself is carried out with a rotating tool which is engaged with the internal locking sleeve. A drawback of the before mentioned solutions is that the operation of the joints depends on a rotary tool which must be positioned inside one of the pipe parts, and necessitates that one of the pipe ends is open. A further drawback is that the packing or seals are positioned on the outside of the joint and therefore are susceptible to influence from outside environments, for instance ambient sea water, simultaneously as packings or seals will be exposed to the media inside the pipes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention has been to arrive at a simpler and more rugged construction, which simultaneously results in a high pressure resistant intercoupling and sealing between the respective pipe lines and also long durability. A further object of the invention is to provide a quick connect/disconnect coupling, i.e. a coupling with a mechanism which in a simple and quick fashion can be coupled and released, preferably by means of a rotating tool which is positioned on the coupling parts on the outside of the joints.
The socket pipe coupling in accordance with the invention is thus of the kind comprising a male part and a female part in an overlapping position in the joint, and wherein the coupling includes one or more displaceable sleeves which, subject to pressure against adjacent preferably wedge-shaped locking elements which thereby being pressed outwardly, can provide interlocking of the pipe parts, simultaneously as the interposed packing elements are subject to a compression, and the invention is characterized in that on the male part in the coupling is positioned a locking sleeve which extends outside of the end opening of the female part, and to manoeuvering means fixedly mounted on the male part for displacement of the sleeve between an inner position and an outer position, the sleeve in the inner position pressing against the locking elements providing compression of an interposed seal member and interlocking of the pipe parts.
In a preferred embodiment for the invention the locking sleeve on the male part outside the female part is provided with external threads in engagement with an adjacent mounted gear drive which may be operated by means of an auxilliary power tool.
The solution in accordance with the invention facilitates use of one single, preferably wedge-shaped seal ring made of metal or steel and which is positioned in a seat on the inside of the joint between the outside or the inside of the male part, and an adjacent seat surface at the bottom of the female socket.
The wedge-shaped locking elements may consist of a number of circumferentially distributed, radially movable locking pawls or dogs having wedge faces in position between the male and the female part in the joint, respectively, or in the shape of a radially flexible ring, a so called split ring (with a transverse slit)—and which by means of the locking sleeve may be pressed outwardly from a retracted resting position to an outer position for engagement between the male part and the female part, and thereby effect interlocking of the pipe parts in the joint and compression of an interposed seal member.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2628111 (1953-02-01), Smalline
patent: 4426104 (1984-01-01), Hazelrigg
patent: 4441740 (1984-04-01), Cowan et al.
patent: 4708376 (1987-11-01), Jennings et al.
patent: 4893842 (1990-01-01), Brammer
patent: 5934709 (1999-08-01), Morrison
patent: 6068427 (2000-05-01), Ostergaard
patent: 2 220 115 (1973-01-01), None
patent: 2 104 170 (1983-03-01), None
Shigley et al, Mechanical Engineering Design, 4th ed., New York, McGraw-Hill, p. 590, 1983.

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