Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-19
2001-09-25
Yao, Sam Chuan (Department: 1733)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S294000, C138S098000, C264S269000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06294042
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to lined tubular assembly and to a method and apparatus for lining elongated tubular articles with a non-metallic tubular liner bonded to the interior surface of the tubular article.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
It is well known to line metallic tubulars with a non-metallic liner, such as a plastic liner, bonded to the interior of the metallic tubular. This protects the metallic tubular from corrosion resulting from corrosive media passing through the tubular.
With conventional lined tubular products of this type, and methods and apparatus used for production thereof, there are significant problems. Specifically, there is a potential for voids and porosity to exist in the medium used to fill the annular space between the liner and the metal tubular. In addition, the lack of bonding between the annular filler medium and the liner and the metal tube lead to the likelihood of liner movement when the tube is placed in tension or in the presence of pressure buildup due to gas permeation at the interface of either the liner and the filler medium or the filler medium and the internal tubing surface. In addition, the filler medium used in conventional systems offers limited chemical resistance to the environmental conditions encountered in conventional corrosive applications. In this regard, conventional filler mediums offer limited barrier properties with respect to gas and liquid permeation and migration between the liner and the metal tubular.
With respect to the production practices for these lined tubulars, the techniques conventionally employed generally result in poor quality and poor product consistency, which ultimately result in reduced product performance.
Upon application of the non-metallic liner within the tubular, the end flanges conventionally used to protect the tubing ends and provide for sealing of the interfaces of the metal tubular, filler medium, and non-metallic liner are susceptible to damage and possible removal by items passing through the lined tubular. Likewise, the end flanges are susceptible to mechanical damage caused by impact during transport and installation thereof.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for installing and bonding non-metallic liners to the interior of metallic tubulars that overcome the above-described problems of prior art systems.
An additional object of the invention is to provide for installation of liners in this application that are readily installed, positioned, and bonded to the metallic tubular interior in an efficient and consistent manner to result in improved product consistency and quality over prior art practices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, an apparatus is provided for lining an elongated tubular article. The apparatus includes means for supporting a tubular liner for lining an interior of an elongated tubular article and means for simultaneously introducing to said interior the liner and a bonding agent for bonding this liner to the interior of the elongated tubular article. The apparatus may further include an elongated liner installation device having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the elongated tubular article. This device further includes a longitudinal cavity extending from a rearward end of the device to a forward end of the device and terminating at a bonding agent spreader component for applying and spreading a bonding agent onto an interior surface of the elongated tubular article during insertion of the liner installation device into and through the article. A liner-support portion is provided on the device intermediate the rearward and forward ends of the liner installation device. The liner-support portion supports a tubular liner for lining the elongated tubular article. The tubular liner has an outside diameter less, than the inside diameter of the elongated tubular article. Means are provided for delivering the bonding agent to the spreader component during the insertion of the liner installation device into and through the elongated tubular article.
The liner-support portion of the liner installation device may have a circumferential relieved portion onto which the liner is supported.
The means for delivering the bonding agent may include a source of the bonding agent positioned exterior of the tubular article and the liner installation device. In addition, the means for delivering the bonding agent may further include at least one conduit extending from the source and through the liner installation device. The conduit may extend from the source through the liner installation device and into communication with a chamber in the liner installation device having an end portion opening into the spreader component of the device. The chamber may include means for mixing the bonding agent within the chamber prior to introducing the bonding agent to the spreader component. The source of the bonding agent may include means for metering a plurality of components of the bonding agent through separate conduits for each of the components and into the chamber for mixing.
The spreader component may include a bullet shaped end portion and a plurality of bonding agent outlets spaced around a circumferential portion of the spreader component. Alternately, the spreader component may include a spinning spray head for spraying the bonding agent onto the interior surface of the elongated tubular article
The bonding agent outlets of the spreader component may be oriented at a reverse angle from the forward end of the device. This reverse angle may be within the range of zero degrees, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated installation device, to forty-five degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis. The reverse angle may be approximately 26°. The bonding agent outlets may have the exterior ends thereof connected to transverse spreader grooves formed in a surface portion of the spreader component; these grooves are oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the device. These grooves may be at an angle of zero to 75° relative to the longitudinal axis of the device, preferably approximately 45°.
The spreader component may include a wiper, centralizer plate connected to the forward end of the spreader component for centralizing the spreader component within the tubular article and for decreasing movement of the bonding agent in a direction forward of the spreader component. This wiper, centralizer plate may be disk shaped.
In accordance with the method of the invention, the tubular article may be provided with a lining by introducing simultaneously into the article both a tubular liner for lining the article, with the tubular article having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the elongated tubular article, and a bonding agent for bonding the tubular liner to the elongated tubular article. The tubular liner and the bonding agent may be introduced simultaneously by mounting the tubular liner on an exterior portion of an elongated liner installation device and introducing the bonding agent through a longitudinal cavity of the installation device and into the elongated tubular article, while inserting the elongated liner installation device into and through the elongated tubular article to position and bond the liner to the tubular article.
A lined tubular article in accordance with the invention, includes a non-metallic tubular liner bonded to an internal surface of a metal tube by an organic bonding agent positioned between the internal surface of the metal tube and an external surface of a non-metallic tubular liner. The non-metallic tubular liner extends to both ends of the metal tube. This provides the tube with a continuous, uniform internal surface from end-to-end. A non-metallic flanged end piece is secured to each end of the metal tube. The flange end piece has a first portion extending into the metal tube and between the tubular liner and an internal surface end p
Bogema Gary W.
Nelson John M.
Person David V.
Snider William L.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Varco International, Inc.
Yao Sam Chuan
LandOfFree
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