CA1147939A - Hydrostatic pipe splicing method and apparatus - Google Patents
Hydrostatic pipe splicing method and apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1147939A CA1147939A CA000348356A CA348356A CA1147939A CA 1147939 A CA1147939 A CA 1147939A CA 000348356 A CA000348356 A CA 000348356A CA 348356 A CA348356 A CA 348356A CA 1147939 A CA1147939 A CA 1147939A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sleeve
- pipe lengths
- pipe
- firing
- combination
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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- Pipe Accessories (AREA)
Abstract
HYDROSTATIC PIPE SPLICING METHOD AND APPARATUS
ABSTRACT
A method and apparatus for containing an annular body of fluid about a sleeve spanning the abutting ends of pipe lengths, and firing a charge of propellant, such as fast burning smokeless powder, in the liquid so as to radially shrink the sleeve into sealing engagement with the pipe lengths. If desired, the pipe lengths can be internally supported to avoid the possibility of collapse. Hard annular elements may be interposed between the sleeve and the pipe length ends to produce better mechanical locking.
ABSTRACT
A method and apparatus for containing an annular body of fluid about a sleeve spanning the abutting ends of pipe lengths, and firing a charge of propellant, such as fast burning smokeless powder, in the liquid so as to radially shrink the sleeve into sealing engagement with the pipe lengths. If desired, the pipe lengths can be internally supported to avoid the possibility of collapse. Hard annular elements may be interposed between the sleeve and the pipe length ends to produce better mechanical locking.
Description
7~3~ ~
This invention relates generally to ~oining lengths of pipe and more particularly concerns a method and apparatus for hydrostatically forming a sleeve into a pipe splice.
A pipe line ls conventionally formed by butt welding the ends of sections Or pipe. For example, a gas transmissi~n pipe ' line may be formed of approximately 40 foot lengths of extruded alumlnum pipe 4" in dlameter and having 1/4" thick walls.
i Ad~acent pipe lengths are carefully welded to form gas tight I ~oints. Such welds are difficult and expensive to make at best, 1l and inherently the welded areas become somewhat annealed, creating weak spots ln the resulting pipe line.
There is a body of patent art suggesting the forming of plpe or tube connections by explosively driving a sleeve into ~¦ intimate contact with ad~acent ends Or the lengths of the pipe 15 11 or tube. United States patent Nos. Re. 26,685 - 3,366,334 -3~495,778 - 3,742,582 - 3,759,551 - 3,872,707 and 3,876,233 represent aspects of this work. However, to applicant's knowledge, these or similar techniques have not been used commercially for pipe splicing, probably because of a number of technical problems flowing from the general approach of explosively driving a cold forming member to produce the desired connection.
Accordlnglyg it is the primary aim Or this invention to eliminate expenslve, time-consuming welding for the making of 25 gas tight pipe splices by providing a novel sleeve splice that avolds many of the problems of the prior art.
It is an ob~ect of the invention to provide such a splice which allows the pipe to be spliced in end abutting l contact, thus avoiding internal pipe discontlnuities, and which 3o l requires no crltical dimensioning preparation of the splicing ~ -2~
7~39 sleeve. A related object is to provide a splice as characterized above that does not depend on critical tolerances between the pipe and the slicing apparatus since the splicing force is exerted hydrostatically. It is another object to provide such a splice in which the splicing force is created by firing a charge of powder, but which does not require critical placement of the charge.
Another object is to provide a splice of the above type that results from a process that can be repeated if it is thought desirable. A further object is to provide a splicing process of the foregoing character that can be performed under water on pipe that has been cut for access or is otherwise already substantially in place.
According to the above object, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides a method of splicing pipe by sealing a sleeve over the ends of adjacent pipe lengths.
The method comprises, in combination, the steps of slipping a closely fitted sleeve over the ends of adjacent pipe lenghts, the sleeve being capable of plastic deformation. An annular body of liquid is completely confined in intimate contact about the sleeve with a rigid structure. A charge of propellant is fired in the body of liquid so as to radially shrink the sleeve into sealing engagement with the pipe lengths.
According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for splicing pipe by sealing a sleeve over the ends of adjacent pipe lengths. The apparatus comprises, in combination, a pair of annular end plates sized to closely surround the pipe lengths and abut the ends of a sleeve fitted over the ends of adjacent pipe lengths. A cylindrical body is sealable between the end plates to define a rigid body having an annular cavity surrounding the sleeve. Means is provided for filling the cavity with liquid. Means is provided for firing a charge of propellant in the liquid so as to radially shrink the sleeve into sealing engagement with the pipe lengths.
According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for splicing pipes, as defined the previous two paragraphs but wherein the charge is fired in the rigid body instead of the liquid whereby to radially shrink the sleeve into sealing engagement with the pipe lengths.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a splice embodying the present invention, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective of the parts appearing in Fig. 1 before the splice is made, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section along section lines 3-3 of Fig. 4 illustrating the apparatus used for making the splice shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is an end view of the structure appearing in Fig. 3.
While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that I do not intend to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, I intend to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
~i ~
-3a-'7~339 I' I
Turning to the drawing, there is shown in ~ig. 1 a splice 10 embodying the invention in which two pipe lc~ngths 11 and 12 are brought into end abutting relationship and a sleeve . 13, bridgin~ the abutting ends Or the pipe lengths 11, 12, is radlally shrunk into sealing engagement wlth the pipe lengths.
; Prererably, substantially annular members such as ordinary piano wlre can be wrapped around the pipe length end as at 16, or fitted within the sleeve as at 17, before the ends of the pipe lengths 11, 12 are slipped into the sleeve 13. Thus, when the sleeve 13 is radially shrunk into place, the annular members at , 16, 17 are embedded ln the materials of the sleeve and pipe . length ends to provlde a mechanical lock against linear .l ! displacement- i ., In accordance with the invention, the splice 10 is made by slipping the sleeve 13 over the ends of ad~acent pipe lengths, j confining an annular body of liquid, prererably water 7 about the i sleeve 13, and riring a charge of propellant in the liquid so as ,' to radially shrink the sleeve. In the lllustrated embodiment, l~ the annular body Or water is confined between a pair of end j, plates 21 and 22 that closely surround the pipe lengths 11, 12 ¦l and abut the ends of the sleeve 13, and a cylindrical body 23 ¦
i! sealed between the end plates 21, 22 so as to derine a cavity ¦
between the end plates 21, 229 the sleeve 13 and the body 23.
'l, tapped hole 24, which can be substantially water sealed by a screw 25, permits the cavity to be filled with water. Preferably, j~ simple resilient liquid sealing members 26 are fitted between ; the end plates 21, 22 and the sleeve 13 and the body 23, The end plates 21, 22 and cylindrical body 23 assembly ls readily secured together by a plurality o~ bolts 28 and ' .
,. . .
.1, .
~ -4-793~ 1 ¦nuts 29. A packa~e Or propellant 30 ls lnserted in the cavity be~ore lt ls sealed and filled with water, and electrical l~detonatlon leads 31 are run through a sealed hole in the body 23 to a battery 32 and a firing swltch 33. The fluld may be " pres3urized ~y other methods, l.e. a pu~p, and elther lnternal or l~external to the cavity.
!I To glve some ldea of the scales lnvolved, good experi-¦¦mental results have been obtalned ~olning 4" diameter extruded ¦lalumlnum plpe (T6 alloy 6061) that is nomlnally 1/4" thick. The 0 j ~leeve, also aluminum, was fltted on the pipe length ends with ¦ about ltl6" to 1/4" clearance, A propellant charge Or approxi-mately 300 to 500 gralns of BullseyeTM smokeless plstol powder, packed in a waterproof bag, was utilized. Ignitlng the charge I resulted ln shrlnking the sleeve into gas tight seallng engagement !¦ wlth the pipe length ends.
~ For guardlng agalnst lnternal collapse Or the plpe i lengths, a mandrel 35 sllghtly lon~er than the æleeve 13 may be ! slld lnto the ~ipe lengths 11, 12 for supportln~ the inside walls l o~ the pipe lengths when the propellant ls dlscharged A cable O j 36 flxed to one end Or the mandrel 35 permlts the mandrel to be forclbly withdrawn a~ter the splice is made.
The rlrlng of the propella~t 30 dlrectly in the body of virtually inco~pressible liquid develops tremendous force on the l sleeve 13 which, being the weakest element containing the liquid, 1 deforms into the desired con~iguration. Thls is plainly di~ferent rom the use Or an explosive created gas pressure, acting throu~h ¦ a liquld, for rorming metal as ln United States Patent No.
This invention relates generally to ~oining lengths of pipe and more particularly concerns a method and apparatus for hydrostatically forming a sleeve into a pipe splice.
A pipe line ls conventionally formed by butt welding the ends of sections Or pipe. For example, a gas transmissi~n pipe ' line may be formed of approximately 40 foot lengths of extruded alumlnum pipe 4" in dlameter and having 1/4" thick walls.
i Ad~acent pipe lengths are carefully welded to form gas tight I ~oints. Such welds are difficult and expensive to make at best, 1l and inherently the welded areas become somewhat annealed, creating weak spots ln the resulting pipe line.
There is a body of patent art suggesting the forming of plpe or tube connections by explosively driving a sleeve into ~¦ intimate contact with ad~acent ends Or the lengths of the pipe 15 11 or tube. United States patent Nos. Re. 26,685 - 3,366,334 -3~495,778 - 3,742,582 - 3,759,551 - 3,872,707 and 3,876,233 represent aspects of this work. However, to applicant's knowledge, these or similar techniques have not been used commercially for pipe splicing, probably because of a number of technical problems flowing from the general approach of explosively driving a cold forming member to produce the desired connection.
Accordlnglyg it is the primary aim Or this invention to eliminate expenslve, time-consuming welding for the making of 25 gas tight pipe splices by providing a novel sleeve splice that avolds many of the problems of the prior art.
It is an ob~ect of the invention to provide such a splice which allows the pipe to be spliced in end abutting l contact, thus avoiding internal pipe discontlnuities, and which 3o l requires no crltical dimensioning preparation of the splicing ~ -2~
7~39 sleeve. A related object is to provide a splice as characterized above that does not depend on critical tolerances between the pipe and the slicing apparatus since the splicing force is exerted hydrostatically. It is another object to provide such a splice in which the splicing force is created by firing a charge of powder, but which does not require critical placement of the charge.
Another object is to provide a splice of the above type that results from a process that can be repeated if it is thought desirable. A further object is to provide a splicing process of the foregoing character that can be performed under water on pipe that has been cut for access or is otherwise already substantially in place.
According to the above object, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides a method of splicing pipe by sealing a sleeve over the ends of adjacent pipe lengths.
The method comprises, in combination, the steps of slipping a closely fitted sleeve over the ends of adjacent pipe lenghts, the sleeve being capable of plastic deformation. An annular body of liquid is completely confined in intimate contact about the sleeve with a rigid structure. A charge of propellant is fired in the body of liquid so as to radially shrink the sleeve into sealing engagement with the pipe lengths.
According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for splicing pipe by sealing a sleeve over the ends of adjacent pipe lengths. The apparatus comprises, in combination, a pair of annular end plates sized to closely surround the pipe lengths and abut the ends of a sleeve fitted over the ends of adjacent pipe lengths. A cylindrical body is sealable between the end plates to define a rigid body having an annular cavity surrounding the sleeve. Means is provided for filling the cavity with liquid. Means is provided for firing a charge of propellant in the liquid so as to radially shrink the sleeve into sealing engagement with the pipe lengths.
According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for splicing pipes, as defined the previous two paragraphs but wherein the charge is fired in the rigid body instead of the liquid whereby to radially shrink the sleeve into sealing engagement with the pipe lengths.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a splice embodying the present invention, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective of the parts appearing in Fig. 1 before the splice is made, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section along section lines 3-3 of Fig. 4 illustrating the apparatus used for making the splice shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is an end view of the structure appearing in Fig. 3.
While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that I do not intend to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, I intend to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
~i ~
-3a-'7~339 I' I
Turning to the drawing, there is shown in ~ig. 1 a splice 10 embodying the invention in which two pipe lc~ngths 11 and 12 are brought into end abutting relationship and a sleeve . 13, bridgin~ the abutting ends Or the pipe lengths 11, 12, is radlally shrunk into sealing engagement wlth the pipe lengths.
; Prererably, substantially annular members such as ordinary piano wlre can be wrapped around the pipe length end as at 16, or fitted within the sleeve as at 17, before the ends of the pipe lengths 11, 12 are slipped into the sleeve 13. Thus, when the sleeve 13 is radially shrunk into place, the annular members at , 16, 17 are embedded ln the materials of the sleeve and pipe . length ends to provlde a mechanical lock against linear .l ! displacement- i ., In accordance with the invention, the splice 10 is made by slipping the sleeve 13 over the ends of ad~acent pipe lengths, j confining an annular body of liquid, prererably water 7 about the i sleeve 13, and riring a charge of propellant in the liquid so as ,' to radially shrink the sleeve. In the lllustrated embodiment, l~ the annular body Or water is confined between a pair of end j, plates 21 and 22 that closely surround the pipe lengths 11, 12 ¦l and abut the ends of the sleeve 13, and a cylindrical body 23 ¦
i! sealed between the end plates 21, 22 so as to derine a cavity ¦
between the end plates 21, 229 the sleeve 13 and the body 23.
'l, tapped hole 24, which can be substantially water sealed by a screw 25, permits the cavity to be filled with water. Preferably, j~ simple resilient liquid sealing members 26 are fitted between ; the end plates 21, 22 and the sleeve 13 and the body 23, The end plates 21, 22 and cylindrical body 23 assembly ls readily secured together by a plurality o~ bolts 28 and ' .
,. . .
.1, .
~ -4-793~ 1 ¦nuts 29. A packa~e Or propellant 30 ls lnserted in the cavity be~ore lt ls sealed and filled with water, and electrical l~detonatlon leads 31 are run through a sealed hole in the body 23 to a battery 32 and a firing swltch 33. The fluld may be " pres3urized ~y other methods, l.e. a pu~p, and elther lnternal or l~external to the cavity.
!I To glve some ldea of the scales lnvolved, good experi-¦¦mental results have been obtalned ~olning 4" diameter extruded ¦lalumlnum plpe (T6 alloy 6061) that is nomlnally 1/4" thick. The 0 j ~leeve, also aluminum, was fltted on the pipe length ends with ¦ about ltl6" to 1/4" clearance, A propellant charge Or approxi-mately 300 to 500 gralns of BullseyeTM smokeless plstol powder, packed in a waterproof bag, was utilized. Ignitlng the charge I resulted ln shrlnking the sleeve into gas tight seallng engagement !¦ wlth the pipe length ends.
~ For guardlng agalnst lnternal collapse Or the plpe i lengths, a mandrel 35 sllghtly lon~er than the æleeve 13 may be ! slld lnto the ~ipe lengths 11, 12 for supportln~ the inside walls l o~ the pipe lengths when the propellant ls dlscharged A cable O j 36 flxed to one end Or the mandrel 35 permlts the mandrel to be forclbly withdrawn a~ter the splice is made.
The rlrlng of the propella~t 30 dlrectly in the body of virtually inco~pressible liquid develops tremendous force on the l sleeve 13 which, being the weakest element containing the liquid, 1 deforms into the desired con~iguration. Thls is plainly di~ferent rom the use Or an explosive created gas pressure, acting throu~h ¦ a liquld, for rorming metal as ln United States Patent No.
2,995,053.
It can now be seen that a splice 10 has been provided ~0 ¦ which allows the pipe to be spliced ln end abuttine contact, thus avoldin~ lnternal plpe dlscontinulties which can cause vortexes in the material bein~ transmitted throug~ the plpe or ~ 1 ~ -5-7~3~ -, !
hang-up points for mechanical "pigs" used to clean or test tllc pipe. Since the splicing force is exerted hydrostatically, there are no critical mechanical tolerances to be maintained.
The placement Or the charge 30 is also not critical since its actuation anywhere in the body of liquid produces an instanta-' neous and unlform shrinking force on the sleeve.
It will be appreciated that the splice 10 can be formed under water lf desired on pipe already substantially in place.
Furthermore, the operation can be repeated at a glven splice locatlon since the parts are not so distorted by a single spliclng operation as to prevent a repetition of the process.
The structure illustrated and described above ls intended to confirm and illustrate the principle involved.
~~ Commercial apparatus would desirably be side-opening so as to l, fit over a continuous length of pipe at any intermediate point.
1, . I ' 1.
Il I
il I .
_6--
It can now be seen that a splice 10 has been provided ~0 ¦ which allows the pipe to be spliced ln end abuttine contact, thus avoldin~ lnternal plpe dlscontinulties which can cause vortexes in the material bein~ transmitted throug~ the plpe or ~ 1 ~ -5-7~3~ -, !
hang-up points for mechanical "pigs" used to clean or test tllc pipe. Since the splicing force is exerted hydrostatically, there are no critical mechanical tolerances to be maintained.
The placement Or the charge 30 is also not critical since its actuation anywhere in the body of liquid produces an instanta-' neous and unlform shrinking force on the sleeve.
It will be appreciated that the splice 10 can be formed under water lf desired on pipe already substantially in place.
Furthermore, the operation can be repeated at a glven splice locatlon since the parts are not so distorted by a single spliclng operation as to prevent a repetition of the process.
The structure illustrated and described above ls intended to confirm and illustrate the principle involved.
~~ Commercial apparatus would desirably be side-opening so as to l, fit over a continuous length of pipe at any intermediate point.
1, . I ' 1.
Il I
il I .
_6--
Claims (10)
1. A method of splicing pipe by sealing a sleeve over the ends of adjacent pipe lengths comprising, in combination, the steps of slipping a closely fitted sleeve over the ends of adjacent-pipe lengths, said sleeve being capable of plastic deformation, completely confining an annular body of liquid in intimate contact about said sleeve with a rigid structure, and firing a charge of propellant in said body of liquid so as to radially shrink said sleeve into sealing engagement with said pipe lengths.
2. The combination of claim 1 including the step of interposing hard, substantially annular members between said sleeve and said pipes before firing said charge so that said firing embeds said members in said sleeve and said pipe lengths to provide mechanical locking therebetween.
3. The combination of claim 1 in which pipe length ends are abutted, and including the step of supporting the inside walls of the pipe lengths against collapse during firing.
4. An apparatus for splicing pipe by sealing a sleeve over the ends of adjacent pipe lengths comprising, in combination, a pair of annular end plates sized to closely surround said pipe lengths and abut the ends of a sleeve fitted over the ends of adjacent pipe lengths, a cylindrical body sealable between said end plates to define a rigid body having an annular cavity surrounding said sleeve, means for filling said cavity with liquid and means for firing a charge of propellant in said liquid so as to radially shrink said sleeve into sealing engagement with said pipe lengths.
5. The combination of claim 4 including a cylindrical mandrel fittable within said pipe lengths for a linear length somewhat greater than the length of said sleeve so as to support the pipe lengths against radial collapse upon firing of said propellant.
6. The combination of claim 4 in which said end plates and body are releasably securable together so as to be readily assembled and readily disassembled.
7. An apparatus for splicing pipe by sealing a sleeve over the ends of adjacent pipe lengths comprising, in combination, a pair of annular end plates sized to closely surround said pipe lengths and abut the ends of a sleeve fitted over the ends of adjacent pipe lengths, a cylindrical body sealable between said end plates to define a rigid body having an annular cavity surrounding said sleeve, means for filling said cavity with liquid, and means for firing a charge of propellant in said rigid body so as to radially shrink said sleeve into sealing engagement with said pipe lengths.
8. A method of splicing pipes by sealing a sleeve over the ends of adjacent pipe lengths comprising, in combination, the steps of slipping a closely fitted sleeve over the ends of adjacent pipe lengths, said sleeve being capable of plastic deformation, completely confining an annular body of a substantially incompressible medium in intimate contact about said sleeve with a rigid structure and firing a charge of propellant in said rigid structure so as to radially shrink said sleeve into sealing engagement with said pipe lengths.
9. The combination of claim 8 including the step of interposing hard members between said sleeves and said pipes before firing said charge so that said firing embeds said members in said sleeve and said pipe lengths to provide mechanical blocking therebetween.
10. The combination of claim 8 in which pipe length ends are abutted, and including the step of supporting the inside walls of the pipe lengths against collapse during said shrinking.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US2476179A | 1979-03-28 | 1979-03-28 | |
| US24,761 | 1979-03-28 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1147939A true CA1147939A (en) | 1983-06-14 |
Family
ID=21822272
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000348356A Expired CA1147939A (en) | 1979-03-28 | 1980-03-25 | Hydrostatic pipe splicing method and apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1147939A (en) |
-
1980
- 1980-03-25 CA CA000348356A patent/CA1147939A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |