CA1174440A - Method and apparatus for explosive-joining of pipes - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for explosive-joining of pipesInfo
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- CA1174440A CA1174440A CA000436817A CA436817A CA1174440A CA 1174440 A CA1174440 A CA 1174440A CA 000436817 A CA000436817 A CA 000436817A CA 436817 A CA436817 A CA 436817A CA 1174440 A CA1174440 A CA 1174440A
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- tubular member
- annular
- explosive
- carrier
- secured
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
Method and apparatus for the joining of one tubular member to another tubular member through the use of the substantially instantaneous application of high energy to the tubular members, such as by the use of explosives, while placing one tubular member in a state of substantially elastic deformation and the other tubular member in a state of substantially plastic and elastic deformation.
Method and apparatus for the joining of one tubular member to another tubular member through the use of the substantially instantaneous application of high energy to the tubular members, such as by the use of explosives, while placing one tubular member in a state of substantially elastic deformation and the other tubular member in a state of substantially plastic and elastic deformation.
Description
HIGH ENERGY FORMED CONNECl'IONS
.. . , . . ~
This invention relates to high energy formed connec-tions ~or use in ma~ine structures and i5 a divisional of application Serial NO~ 355,756, filed July ~ 80.
Marine structures are used for a wide variety of purposes and their design and construction are generally well known ih the art. ~ypically, marine structures are used in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons throughout the various marine environments of the worldO
Generallyl a marine structure utilized for the explora~ion and production of hydrocarbons comprises an underwater portion, which is often characterized as a jacket and is fabricated as a framework of tubular members, a plurality of piles driven into the floor of the body of water on which the marine structure is located to provide support for the marine structure, thereby acting as the foundation of the marine structure, and a deck section set on top of the ~acket after tbe plurality o~ piles have been secured to the ~acketO
In the marine structure the jacket fulfills a dual purpose. The jacket serves as a template or guide through which the piles are driven intv the earth and then, after the piles are driven and secured to the jacket, the jacket provides a strong framework to transmit and distribute loads imposed on the structure as a whole to the piles which acts as the oundation for the marine structure.
In shallow water depths r main piles drive~ through the jacket legs are normally suf~icient ~o pro~ide adequate sup-port for the marine structure. ~he main piles are connected to the jacke~ at the top Of each ~acket leg by welding the pile to the jacket leg be~ore the dec~ section is set thereon.
As the water depth becomes greater, a point is reached where the main piles in the jacket legs are no longer sufficient by themselves to withstand the increasing horizontal shear forces and overturning moments imposed on the structura. Additional support for the marine structure is then re~uired which is usually provided in the form of skirt piles arranged about the base o~ the structure.
Rather than extending to the top of the jacket, skirt piles are usually truncated a* some distance above the mudline of the floor of the ~dy of water upon which the marine struc-ture is located for two primary reasons. ~irst, the skirt piles are not needed for structural integrity of the jacket and, second, additional members, such as skirt piles, extending to the top o~ the jacket into the wave zone of the jacket will attract more wave forces, thereby increasing the stresses in adjacent members.
Since the connection between the skirt around the jacket and the pile to the skirt i5 made underwatex, the procedures used to make th~ pile to skirt connection are an important consideration in the o~erall marine structuxe design.
The commonly accepted means of connecting the skirt piles to the jacket skirt comprise~ filling the annulus between the skirt pile and a skirt sleeve, which serves as a pile dri~ing guide, of the jacke~ skirt with grouting material.
As marine structures are installed in greater depths of water and in ~ore ~ostile enviro~ments, the cost and reliability of the pile to jacket connections become a more important consideratio~ in the design and installation of the marine s~ructure. Depending upon the pro;cedure and equipment utilized, substantial sums can be expended in the grouting of a marine structure. Also, since the ~routed connection is difficult to inspect, the ~uality o~ the grouted connectio~
cannot be easily determined.
Therefore, based upo~ the difficulties in utilizing a grouted .onnection between the pilings and jacket of a marine structure, various alternative methods of forming the connec-~ions have been developed.
One such method utili7ing a ~echanically formed pile-to-jacket connection is.~escxibed in U.S. Patent No. 3,555,831 to Pogonowski. As described in Pogonowski, a tool is lowered into the cylindrical casing supporting the drilling platform, which cylindrical casi~g co~tai~s a piling therein. ~he tool is actua~ed to form a plurality o~ swaged, mechanically cold .worked connections between the casing and piling. Should a malfunction of the tool occur under some circumstances, it 4~4~
can be retrieved and repairedO
Another such method utilizing a tool per~anently secured to the jacket to mechanically grip the piling is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,052,861 to Malone et al.
As described in Malone et al, the tool is inflated to temporarily or permanently grip the piling by means of a plurality of flexible fingers which engage the outer periphery of the piling. However, since the tool is permanently installed, if the tool malfunctions it cannot be retrieved to be repaired. Also, the fatigue life under long term cyclical loading of the connection between the piling and jacket due to the concentrated stresses created by the localized engagement of the outer periphery of the piliny by the flexible fingers of the tool is presently unknown and must be empirically esti~ated.
Yet another method has been utilized by hydraulically actuating a tool to permanently expand the piling into an annular groove in the interior of the jacke~ leg or pile sleeve of the ja~ket. While the tool is relatively easy 20 to operate, the swaged connection between the pile and jacket exhibits lowered fracture toughness during loading of the marine structure.
~ owever, in comparison, if a connection between two members can be substantially instantaneously formed using a hish energy source, the connection may not exhibit as much fracture toughness sensitivity.
Therefore, the present invention is directed to high energy formed connections, specifically for use in marine structures but applicable to any situation where a reliable connection between ~wo tubular members .is desired~
It is well known i~ the art to use the application of substantially instantaneous high ~mounts of energy, such as the use of an explosive, to bond one metal to another base metal. For example, such techniques are described in U~S.
Patent Nos. 3,137,937; 3,140,$37 and 3,264,731.
It is also well ~nown in the art to use the application of substantially instantaneous high amounts of energy through the use of explosives to ~oin one tubular member to another tubular member. For ~xample, such techniques are desc~ibed in U.S.
Patent Nos. 2,367,206; 3,160,949; 3,432,192; 3,572,768 and 3,661,004.
It is further well known in the art to use the applica-tion of subs~antially instantaneous high a~ounts of energy through the use of explosives to join one tubular membex to another utilizing a backup me~ber to co~tain the deformation of he tubular me~bers. For example, such techniques are described in U.S. Pa~ent Numbers 2,779,279; 3,206,845;
3~263/323; 3,434,194 and 3,710,434.
It is yet further well known in the art to join one tubu-lar member to another througA the use of the applioation of suhstantially instantaneous high amounts of energy through the use of explosives in the laying of marine pipelines. For exam-ple, such a technique is described in U~S. Patent Number 3,7~0,069.
It is still yet further well known in the art to join one tubular me~ber to another underground by the use of high amounts of energy through the use of explosives by firing projectiles from the interior of one tubular member through the wall thereof into and through the wall o the othex tubular member while forming outwardly e~tending anchoring bumps in the walls of the tubular members. For example, such a technique is described in U.S. Pate~t Number 4,123,913.
In contrast to these prior art techniques, the present invention comprises a m thod and apparatus for the joining of one tubular member to another tubular member through the use of the substantially instantaneous application of high energy to the tubular members, such as by the use of lS explosives, while placing one tubular member in a state of substantially elastic deformation and the other tubular member in a state of substantially plastic and elastic deformation.
One embodiment of the invention comprises a method for making a substantially rigid connection between tubular members hAving circular cross-sections compri~ing:
selecting a first tubular member and a second tubular member, said first tubular member having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said second tubular ~ember; forming at least three grooves in the walls of the inside surface of said second tubular member wherein said at least three grooves include a first end groove, a second end groove and an intermediate groove between said first end groove and said second end groove ~.1 7~40 and further wherein each of said grooves is substantially centered on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second tubular member and passing through said wa~ls of said second tubular member and each of said grooves having a bottom surface substantially parallel to said inside surface of said second tubular member a first end surface and a second end surface; and still further wherein the distance between each groove is at least about 1/4 groove width; introducing said first tubular member into the interior of said second tubular member by an amount sufficient to penetrate said planes passing through said walls of said second tubular member whereby a portion of the outside surface of said first tubular member is GppOSite each said groove and wherein the longitudinal axis of said first tubular member is substantially coin-cident with the longitudinal axis of said second tubular memker thereby forming a telescoped pair consisting of said first and said second tubular members having an annular space between the outside surface of said first 20 tubular member and the inside surface of said second tubular member, said annu.lar space including said at least three grooves; introducing at least two explosive means into said telescoped pair via the interior of said first tubular member and positioning said explosive means in the interior of said first tubular member such that said explosive means are substantially centered on said planes passing through said walls of said second tubular member and on said longitudinal axis of said first tubular -6a-~'7~
member, wherein one of said two explosive means is centered on said plane passing through said first end groove and one of said two explosive means is centered on said plane passing through said second end groove; detonating said at least two explosive means substantially simultaneously whereby sufficient energy is released within said interior of said first tubular member to substantially instantan-eously radially expand the walls of said first tubular member opposite each of said at least three grooves by an amount sufficient to form at least three permanent bulges in said walls of said first tubular member each of said bulges being sufficiently large to cause said outside surface of said first tubular member opposite each o said groove to occupy said groove and to ~ontact said bottom surface thereof to thereby make a substantially rigid connection between said first tubular member and said second tubular member.
A further embodiment comprises an apparatus for the formation of a high energy formed connection between a first tubular member having a portion o a second tubular member contained therein, said apparatus comprising:
tubular member means having annular groove means in the interisr thereof seoured to said first tubular member, explosive carrier means having a smaller external diameter than the internal diameter of said second tubular member and having explosive charge means thereon, said explosive carrier means adapted to be positioned within the interior of said second tubular member; and seal means secured to said first tubular member to sealingly engage the outer -6b-~'7~
surface of said second tubular member; whereby said second tubular member is connected to said first tubular member by the detonation of the explosive charge means of said explosive carrier means when said explosive carrier means is posi~ioned in the interior of said second tubular mem ber, thereby causing the formation of a high energy ormed connection between said second tubular member and said first tubular member by the deformation of a portion of said second tubular member into the annular groove means in the interior of said tubular member means secured to said first tubular member.
The benefits of the oregoing invention will be more readily understood from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following dr~wings wherein:
Figure 1 is a view of a marine structuxe.
Figure ~ is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present inventionO
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2 taken along lines 3-3 thereof.
Figure 3A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Figure 3 taken along lines 3A-3A thereof.
6c-7~
~îgure 4 is a cross-sec~ional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention after the actuation thereof.
~igure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a secon~ preferred embodiment of the present in~ention.
Referxing to ~igure 1, a marine structure 10 is shown. The marine structure 10 comprisès a ja~ket 1 having skirt pile sleeves 2 thereon, piles 3 driven th~ough the ~acXét into the earth, and a deck 4 installed on the jacket 1 above the sur-face of the body of water in which the marine structure 10 is installed.
The jacket 1 comprises a plurality of jacket legs 5, each ~aving a pile 3 driven therethrough into the earth, i~tercon-~ected by a plurality of horizontal braces 6 which are also interconnected by a plurality of ang~lar br~ces 7.
The skirt pile sleeves 2 comprise tubular members secured to the jacket 1 by means of horizontal brace 6 and angular brace 7. ~he skirt pile sleeves 2 eac:h.have a pile 3 driven therethrough into the earth.
The deck 4 is secured to the top~ 8 of the jacket legs 5, such as by welding, to form the marine structure.
As showfl in ~igure 1, the marine structure 10 may be of 2ny design with the structure shown being merely illustrative.
~ eferring to Figure 2, the ~irst preferred embodiment of ~he present invention is shown in relationship to a skirt pile ~eeve 2 having a pile 3 dxiven therethrough of the marine structure 10.
The i~vention comprises a tubular ~ember or can 11, explosive carrier ~ember 12, seal ~eans 13 and inlet port 13'.
As shown, the tubulax member or can 11 comprises a heavy walled or thick tubular ~ember 14 having inlet port means 15 S in the upper portion t~ereof, having ~ircumferential annular groove or socket 16 in the interior thereof, and having outlet port means 17 on the lower portion thereof.
As shown in ~igu~e 2, ~he tubular member 11 further con-tains a seal means 13 on the interior surface thereof to seal-ingly engage the pile 3 dxiven therethrough. ~he seal ~ean~ 13may be any commercially available seal means capable of forming a reliable seal with the pile 3 after the pile 3 has been driven therethrough. The seal means 13 may, alter~ately, be located above the tu~ular me~ber 11 at any convenient location.
Examples of suitable seal means 13 which may be utilized are described in U.S. Patent Numbars 3,468,132 and 4,041,391.
~ he tubular member 11 may be secured at any point in either the jacket legs 5 or skirt pile sleeves 2, although it is preferred that they be installed at the intersection of the horizontal 6 and angular 7 braces with the jacket legs 5 and skirt pile sleeves 2.
Also shown in Figure 2 located on either side of the tubular member 11 are centralizer means 18 which are used to center the pile 3 in the skirt pile sleeve 2.
The explosive carrier member 12 as shown in Figure 2 7~
comprises a generally annular explosive char~e 20 secured to carrier member 21. The generally annular explosive charge 20 is secured within arcuate annular channel members 22 which are, in turn, secured to outer annular member 22' of annular explosive charge carrier 21. The outer annular member 22' is retained on central mandrel 24 of the annular explosive charge carrier 21 ~y ~eans of struts 23. The struts 23 may be of any convenient cross-sectional shape and of any ~ype mater-ial-sufficient to support the explosive charge 20.
Typically/ t~e explosive charge 20 is toroidal in con-figuration arld is installed Oh the explosive carrier member 12 by at~aching means 25.
The explosive carrier member 12 ~urther comprises central-izer means 26 located on either side of the explosive charge - 15 20. The centralizer means 26 ma~ be of any con.venient type~
although a plurality ~f radial struts 27 connected to a central member 28 having wheels 29 thereon are preerred.
The centralizer means 26 are secured to the central mandrel 24 of the explosive charge carrier ~1 by any conven-ient easily releasable means, such as a threaded coupliny 30.
The expiosive carrier member 12 additionally comprisesplug and lifting means 30 and 31 respectively to provide a means by which a line 100 can be attached to the explosive carrier member 12 to position the explosive carrier member in a jacket leg 5 or skirt pile sleeve 2.
~.~74~
~ ot shown in ~igure 2 but also included on the explosive carrier member 12 is an indicator means, such as a commer-cially available ultrasonic indicator, to locate the tubular member 11 to position the explosive charge carriex member 12 within the pile 3 in the proper position substantially centered about the annular groove 16 in the tubular member 11.
Also not shown in Figure 2 but well known in the art, the explosive charge carrier member 12 con~ai~s a suita~le detona-tion ~eans having suitable a~tua~ion means to initiate the explosion in the explosive charge means 20.
. Referri~g to Figure 3, the centralizer means 26 isshown. ~he centralizer means 26 comprises a plurality of radial struts 27 secured to a central member 28 and inter connected about their outer ends by brace means 32.
Referring ~o ~lgure 3A, t~e details of the wheel means 29 and its interconnection with the centralizer means 26 can be sPenO The wheel ~eans 29 is retained on the U-shaped mem-ber 33 by pin means 34 having retaining means 35 thereon. The U-shaped me~ber 33 is secured to rod means 36 by pin means 37.
~20 ~e rod means 36, in turn, passes through bore 38 in the end 39 of strut 27 and has tu~ular member ~eans 40 having spring actuated pin ~eans 41 and spring means 42 ther~on. ~he tubu-lar member means 40, on rod means 36 is biased outwardly by means of wheel spring means 43 retained within strut 27 having one end thereof bearing against strut plug means 44 while the ~7~
other end bears against tubular member means ~0. To prevent the wheel means 29 from rotating about the axis of rod means 36 when th~ centralizer ~eans 26 engages the inner surface of the skirt pile sleeYe 2 or jacket leg 5, the pin means 41 engages slot means 45 in strut 27 and slides therein.
When the centralizer means 26 engages ~he inner surface of the skirt pile sleeve 2 or jacket leg 5 when the explosive carrier member 12 is being lowered therein, the wheel means 29 Qf the ~entralizer means 26 are biased, into engagement with the skirt pile sleeve 2 ur jacket leg 5 by spring means 43.
~ It should be noted that although the centr~lizer means 26 described herein is preferred to center the explosive charge carrier 21 in the skirt pile sleeve 2 or jacket leg 5, any suitable centralizer means may be utilized.
Referring again to Figure 2, the procedure ~or determining the various relationships ~etween the tubular member 11, explo-sive carrier member 12 and the pile 3 will be discussed.
The internal diameter "W'l of the! heavy walled tubular member 14 is determi~ed by taking the outside diameter "A" of the pile 3 and adding to that dimension twice the annular space "a" between ~he internal surface of the tubular member 14 and the external surface of the pile 3. It should be noted that the outside diameter of the pile 3 will be determined by the pile driving and operational loading upon the pile, Similarly it should be noted that the annular space "a" between the tubular member 14 and pile 3 will be determined by the ~ini-~um clearance required between the tubular member 14 and pile 3 to facilitate the driving of the pile 3 through ~e tubular member 14. Also, the thic~ness "t" of the pile wall will be determined by the pile driving and operational loading upo~
the pile 3.
~ he bulge height "~," the dis~a~ce between the outside surface of the unexpanded pile 3 and the ~ottom of the annular groo~e 16 is preferably in the range of 0.02A ~ ~ 0.25A, more preferably in the range of 0.04A ~ h ' 0.16A a~d most preferably in the range of ~,08A ~ h ~Ø12A.. ~he bulge height "h" must .
be greater than the annular space "a."
~ he depth of the annular groove 16 in the heavy walle~
tubular member 14, which is the dista~ce "d" between the inter-nal surface o~ the tubular member 14 and the bottom of theannular groove 16, is ~alculated by t~ie equation~
d = h - a The thickness "T" of the tubular member 14 is deter~ined after the dimension "~" has been calculated based upon the loading of the tubular member 14~ ~owever, the thickness "T" of the tubular member 14 should prefexably be in the range of 10 < W ~ 40 and more preferably in the range of 30 ~ ~ ~ 3~.
_ ~ _ The leng~h "Y" of the annular groove 16 along the inter-nal surface of the tubular member 14 is determined by the .~'7 general equation:
~ C Y C 2 ~
whereo ~ _ ~ 1/4 and ~ is Poisson's ratioO
S Poisson's ratio for steel i~ 0.27; there~ore, the general equation for groove length "Y" when the material of tubular member 14 is steel, re~uces to the equation: .
- . / \ i O ~Y C 2 1083/~
J~
The preferred values of "Y" are ~alues which occur in the -10 range of from about ~ to about 1.5 . For steel, the pre-ferred values reduce to values in the range of from about 1.29 ~ to about 2.58 ~ .
The length "X" along the bottom of the annular groove 16 in the tuhular mem~er 14 is determined by tha angle e which is 15l the groove wall angle. ~he groove wall angle e is preferably in the range o 0 to 90, more preferably in the range of SQ
to 60 and most preferably in the range of 20 to 45. If the groo~e angle ~ is small, such as O ~ e C ~.so, the high energy formed connection is flexible and tends to yield. However, i~
the ~roo~e angle a is laxge, such as 60 ~ ~ ~ 90, the pile ~ay split upon the formation of the high energy formed connec-.tion.
The corner radius "RG" at the intersection of the shoulder of ~he annular groove and the internal surface of the tubular member 14 should preferably be in the range of 0.5 ~ Rc C 16 and more pre~erably be in the range of Rc ~ t.
~'7~
Similarly, the radius "R~", the ~illet radius at the in-tersection of the shoulder of the annular groove 16 and the bottom of the annular groove 16 should be equal to the radius "R "
Of the radii "Rc" and "R~", the radius "Rc" is more criti-cal since if it is too small, the pile 3 may fracture upon form-ing the high energy connection between the pile 3 and tubular member 14.
Finally, the number of annular grooves 16 required to 1~ carry the load placed ~pon ~he pile 3 is a function of the permissible load "L" per groove which is defined by the equation:
L - [f t2~rA~] (1/2 sin e) where fy is the yield strength of the pile ~aterial.
~he permissible load "L" per annular groove 16 can ~e optimized by varying the distance "d", the depth of the annular groove 16 in the tubular member 14, and e, the groove angle~ It should be remembered that "A" and "t" we~e pr~viously determined by the pile driving and operational loading upon the pile.
~he number of an~ular grooves 16 required to transfer the operational loading to.the pile 3 is cletermined by dividing the required operational loading of the pile 3 by the penmissible loading "L" of each annular gxoove 16. If it is de~ermined that more than one annular groove, 16, is requir~d per pile, 25 then th2 dista~ce betwe~n immediately adjacent grooves, "groove separation," should not be less than about one-fourth of the groove length, i.e., 0.25Y. It is believed that a groove sepa-ration of less than about one-fourth of groove length (0.25Y) may cause ~he pile to buc~le between adjacent grooves upon load-ing. In a more preferred embodiment, the groove separation is e~ual to groove length, Y.
~he charge standoff distance l'S", the distance between the outer surface of the explosive charge 20 and t~e internal surface of the unexpanded pile 3 can be equal to one-fifth (1/5) of the internal pile diameter or, alternately, S a i~ ~ 2t The explosive charge 20 should not c~ntact the internal sur~ace of the unexpanded pile 3, becau~e.undesired damage to the pile, such as spalling and fracturing, could occur upon detona~ion of the charge. ~hus, charge standoXf "S" is greater than 0. Where "S" approac~es O, a buffer such as an elastomer, may be placed between the explo~ive charge 20 and the intexnal surface of pile 3.
Since explosive charge 20 may be in a concentrated form, such as a line charge or a spherical charge, charge standoff distance "S" may approach a dimension equal to the inside radius of pile 3, e.gu S ~ A ~ 2t Such concentration charges axe not desired, beca~serbulge-forming efficiency decreases as standoff distance increases.
It is thus prefe~red that charge standoff distance "S"
be in the range of from about A - 2t to abou~ A - 2t.
~e length Q of the surface of the explosive charge 20 is in the range of from about 0.25Y to about 1.33Y, preferably about 0~625Y. When the value for charge standoff distance "S"
is small, the value for explosive length Q is large. Thus, when l'S'I is at it5 minimum, "~" is equal to a~out 1.33Y.
The weight and geometry of explosive charge 20 can be calculated sepaxatelyO
The estimation of total deformation energy, "ED", required to form the plastic-elastic connection of this invention is - 5 based on a consideration of the final connection geometry, which, referring to ~igure 4, is characterized as consisting of a grOove region and two ~ransition regions. In Figure 4, ~he ex~erior surface of pile 3 is shown after de~ormation to be pressed against the interior surface of tubular member 14 f~r some dis-tance in 'Itransition xegions" on both sides of annular groove16. The pile in the "groove region" is shown to be crimped tightly over the outside corners of groove 16 and pressed against the center portion of groove 16.
The equation for calculation of total deformation energy, - 15 IIED", is, therefore, ~ = E~l + ED2 ~ ~D3 wherein: EDl is the energy xequired t:o expand or "bulge" the pile into the groove region; E~2 is the energy required to expand the outside diameter of pi~e 3 to the inside diameter of tubular member 14 in the transition regions; and ED3 is the residual strain energy in the tubular member 14.
Th~ defor~ation eneryy equations set out below are taken from a general expression given in Figure 2-48, page 65 of Bruno, E.J., Editor, ~ , American Society of Tool and ~anufacturing Engineers, Dearboxn, Michigan, 1968.
The equations for E~l, ED2 and ED3 are set out below:
~Dl = (2rrr2)(Y)(t)(Q) ED2 - (2rrr3)~2C)(t)(Q) ED3 - (2rrrS)(Y)(T-d)(Q) wllerein:
1~7~
"Y" is the groove length of annular groove 16, pre-viously defined ~See Figure 2~;
"t" is the wall thickness of pile 3, previously defined (See Figure 2);
"Q" is the general expression ( K ) ~~0.9~ (~n~1) ;
"C" is the length of the transition region, previously defined (See Figure 4?;
"T" is the thickness of the heavy walled tubular member ~0 14, previously deined (See ~igure 2);
"d" is ~he depth of annular groove 16, previously defined ~See ~igure 2);
"rl" is *he unexpanded inside ra~ius of pile 3 which is defined as A-2t (See Figure 2); .
15 : "r2" is the expanded inside radius of pile 3 in the groove region which.is defined as r1 + h tSee Figur~ 2~; -"r~" is the expanded inside radius of pile 3 in the transition regions, which is defined as rl ~ a (See Figure 2);
"r4" is the unexpanded inside radius of tubular member 14 in the groove region, which is defined as rl ~ t ~ h ~See Figure 2); and '`r5" is the expanded inside radius o tubular member 14 in the groove region, which is de~ined as r4 + k.
~ ~.'7~
The terms of the general equation - Q ~ )(e are de~ined as ollo~s:
"K" and "n" are material constants in the flow stress power law relating true stress to true strain wherein 0~ K~n. Values ~or "K" and lln" can be found in Table 3 . 1 , page 69 of Ezra , A .A ., ~, Volume I, I~dustrial Newspapers Ltd., Londont 1973. ~or steel values of "K" and "n"
which can be used herein for estimati~g pur-poses are 100,000 psi and 0.24, respectively.
~he term " ~," appearing in the general equation IIQ, -is the material strain involved in each of the equations for E~l, ED2 and ED3. Therefore, in accordance with the well known definition for strain, ~ is the ratio of the increase in a given radius to the initial value of the given radius.
Accordingly, in the equation for EDl, the stxain factor ~ is de~ined as h ; in the equation for , rl ED2, the strain factor ~ is de~ined as a ; in rl the equation for ED3, the strain factor ~ is defined as k r4 ~.~L74~4(~
With respect to ~ in the equation for ED3, the value for "k," the increase in radius r4, is not defined.
- Accordingly, i~ order to assure that tubular member 14 remains in elastic deformation, an allowable average circu~ferential strai~ in the groove region in tubular member 14 is specified. The equation ~o~ r5 thus reduces to r5 = r4(1~ o thus obtain the required elastic deformation, it is baliev~d that ~ for ED3 can safely be specified to be about 2% (i.e. 0.02 inches/inch).
With respect to the equation for ~2~ above, the value of "C" cannot be exactly defined for there is no known exist-ing method of predicting the length of metal contact in the transition regions (~igure 4). However, experimental evidence reveals that the transition region extends less than one'pile diameter on either side o~ the groove region. Accordingly, the value of "C" for estimating purposes is believed to,,be in ; the range of ~rom about 50% of the outside diameter or pile 3 to about 100% of the outside diameter of pile 3 and preferably about 75% of the outside diameter of pile 3, i. e . O . 5 "A" to "A"; preferably 0.7S "A.".
To calculate tne wei~ht "M" of the explosive required to ~orm a sinsle high energy ~or~ed connection t the weight "M" is def ined as:
D
.. . , . . ~
This invention relates to high energy formed connec-tions ~or use in ma~ine structures and i5 a divisional of application Serial NO~ 355,756, filed July ~ 80.
Marine structures are used for a wide variety of purposes and their design and construction are generally well known ih the art. ~ypically, marine structures are used in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons throughout the various marine environments of the worldO
Generallyl a marine structure utilized for the explora~ion and production of hydrocarbons comprises an underwater portion, which is often characterized as a jacket and is fabricated as a framework of tubular members, a plurality of piles driven into the floor of the body of water on which the marine structure is located to provide support for the marine structure, thereby acting as the foundation of the marine structure, and a deck section set on top of the ~acket after tbe plurality o~ piles have been secured to the ~acketO
In the marine structure the jacket fulfills a dual purpose. The jacket serves as a template or guide through which the piles are driven intv the earth and then, after the piles are driven and secured to the jacket, the jacket provides a strong framework to transmit and distribute loads imposed on the structure as a whole to the piles which acts as the oundation for the marine structure.
In shallow water depths r main piles drive~ through the jacket legs are normally suf~icient ~o pro~ide adequate sup-port for the marine structure. ~he main piles are connected to the jacke~ at the top Of each ~acket leg by welding the pile to the jacket leg be~ore the dec~ section is set thereon.
As the water depth becomes greater, a point is reached where the main piles in the jacket legs are no longer sufficient by themselves to withstand the increasing horizontal shear forces and overturning moments imposed on the structura. Additional support for the marine structure is then re~uired which is usually provided in the form of skirt piles arranged about the base o~ the structure.
Rather than extending to the top of the jacket, skirt piles are usually truncated a* some distance above the mudline of the floor of the ~dy of water upon which the marine struc-ture is located for two primary reasons. ~irst, the skirt piles are not needed for structural integrity of the jacket and, second, additional members, such as skirt piles, extending to the top o~ the jacket into the wave zone of the jacket will attract more wave forces, thereby increasing the stresses in adjacent members.
Since the connection between the skirt around the jacket and the pile to the skirt i5 made underwatex, the procedures used to make th~ pile to skirt connection are an important consideration in the o~erall marine structuxe design.
The commonly accepted means of connecting the skirt piles to the jacket skirt comprise~ filling the annulus between the skirt pile and a skirt sleeve, which serves as a pile dri~ing guide, of the jacke~ skirt with grouting material.
As marine structures are installed in greater depths of water and in ~ore ~ostile enviro~ments, the cost and reliability of the pile to jacket connections become a more important consideratio~ in the design and installation of the marine s~ructure. Depending upon the pro;cedure and equipment utilized, substantial sums can be expended in the grouting of a marine structure. Also, since the ~routed connection is difficult to inspect, the ~uality o~ the grouted connectio~
cannot be easily determined.
Therefore, based upo~ the difficulties in utilizing a grouted .onnection between the pilings and jacket of a marine structure, various alternative methods of forming the connec-~ions have been developed.
One such method utili7ing a ~echanically formed pile-to-jacket connection is.~escxibed in U.S. Patent No. 3,555,831 to Pogonowski. As described in Pogonowski, a tool is lowered into the cylindrical casing supporting the drilling platform, which cylindrical casi~g co~tai~s a piling therein. ~he tool is actua~ed to form a plurality o~ swaged, mechanically cold .worked connections between the casing and piling. Should a malfunction of the tool occur under some circumstances, it 4~4~
can be retrieved and repairedO
Another such method utilizing a tool per~anently secured to the jacket to mechanically grip the piling is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,052,861 to Malone et al.
As described in Malone et al, the tool is inflated to temporarily or permanently grip the piling by means of a plurality of flexible fingers which engage the outer periphery of the piling. However, since the tool is permanently installed, if the tool malfunctions it cannot be retrieved to be repaired. Also, the fatigue life under long term cyclical loading of the connection between the piling and jacket due to the concentrated stresses created by the localized engagement of the outer periphery of the piliny by the flexible fingers of the tool is presently unknown and must be empirically esti~ated.
Yet another method has been utilized by hydraulically actuating a tool to permanently expand the piling into an annular groove in the interior of the jacke~ leg or pile sleeve of the ja~ket. While the tool is relatively easy 20 to operate, the swaged connection between the pile and jacket exhibits lowered fracture toughness during loading of the marine structure.
~ owever, in comparison, if a connection between two members can be substantially instantaneously formed using a hish energy source, the connection may not exhibit as much fracture toughness sensitivity.
Therefore, the present invention is directed to high energy formed connections, specifically for use in marine structures but applicable to any situation where a reliable connection between ~wo tubular members .is desired~
It is well known i~ the art to use the application of substantially instantaneous high ~mounts of energy, such as the use of an explosive, to bond one metal to another base metal. For example, such techniques are described in U~S.
Patent Nos. 3,137,937; 3,140,$37 and 3,264,731.
It is also well ~nown in the art to use the application of substantially instantaneous high amounts of energy through the use of explosives to ~oin one tubular member to another tubular member. For ~xample, such techniques are desc~ibed in U.S.
Patent Nos. 2,367,206; 3,160,949; 3,432,192; 3,572,768 and 3,661,004.
It is further well known in the art to use the applica-tion of subs~antially instantaneous high a~ounts of energy through the use of explosives to join one tubular membex to another utilizing a backup me~ber to co~tain the deformation of he tubular me~bers. For example, such techniques are described in U.S. Pa~ent Numbers 2,779,279; 3,206,845;
3~263/323; 3,434,194 and 3,710,434.
It is yet further well known in the art to join one tubu-lar member to another througA the use of the applioation of suhstantially instantaneous high amounts of energy through the use of explosives in the laying of marine pipelines. For exam-ple, such a technique is described in U~S. Patent Number 3,7~0,069.
It is still yet further well known in the art to join one tubular me~ber to another underground by the use of high amounts of energy through the use of explosives by firing projectiles from the interior of one tubular member through the wall thereof into and through the wall o the othex tubular member while forming outwardly e~tending anchoring bumps in the walls of the tubular members. For example, such a technique is described in U.S. Pate~t Number 4,123,913.
In contrast to these prior art techniques, the present invention comprises a m thod and apparatus for the joining of one tubular member to another tubular member through the use of the substantially instantaneous application of high energy to the tubular members, such as by the use of lS explosives, while placing one tubular member in a state of substantially elastic deformation and the other tubular member in a state of substantially plastic and elastic deformation.
One embodiment of the invention comprises a method for making a substantially rigid connection between tubular members hAving circular cross-sections compri~ing:
selecting a first tubular member and a second tubular member, said first tubular member having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said second tubular ~ember; forming at least three grooves in the walls of the inside surface of said second tubular member wherein said at least three grooves include a first end groove, a second end groove and an intermediate groove between said first end groove and said second end groove ~.1 7~40 and further wherein each of said grooves is substantially centered on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second tubular member and passing through said wa~ls of said second tubular member and each of said grooves having a bottom surface substantially parallel to said inside surface of said second tubular member a first end surface and a second end surface; and still further wherein the distance between each groove is at least about 1/4 groove width; introducing said first tubular member into the interior of said second tubular member by an amount sufficient to penetrate said planes passing through said walls of said second tubular member whereby a portion of the outside surface of said first tubular member is GppOSite each said groove and wherein the longitudinal axis of said first tubular member is substantially coin-cident with the longitudinal axis of said second tubular memker thereby forming a telescoped pair consisting of said first and said second tubular members having an annular space between the outside surface of said first 20 tubular member and the inside surface of said second tubular member, said annu.lar space including said at least three grooves; introducing at least two explosive means into said telescoped pair via the interior of said first tubular member and positioning said explosive means in the interior of said first tubular member such that said explosive means are substantially centered on said planes passing through said walls of said second tubular member and on said longitudinal axis of said first tubular -6a-~'7~
member, wherein one of said two explosive means is centered on said plane passing through said first end groove and one of said two explosive means is centered on said plane passing through said second end groove; detonating said at least two explosive means substantially simultaneously whereby sufficient energy is released within said interior of said first tubular member to substantially instantan-eously radially expand the walls of said first tubular member opposite each of said at least three grooves by an amount sufficient to form at least three permanent bulges in said walls of said first tubular member each of said bulges being sufficiently large to cause said outside surface of said first tubular member opposite each o said groove to occupy said groove and to ~ontact said bottom surface thereof to thereby make a substantially rigid connection between said first tubular member and said second tubular member.
A further embodiment comprises an apparatus for the formation of a high energy formed connection between a first tubular member having a portion o a second tubular member contained therein, said apparatus comprising:
tubular member means having annular groove means in the interisr thereof seoured to said first tubular member, explosive carrier means having a smaller external diameter than the internal diameter of said second tubular member and having explosive charge means thereon, said explosive carrier means adapted to be positioned within the interior of said second tubular member; and seal means secured to said first tubular member to sealingly engage the outer -6b-~'7~
surface of said second tubular member; whereby said second tubular member is connected to said first tubular member by the detonation of the explosive charge means of said explosive carrier means when said explosive carrier means is posi~ioned in the interior of said second tubular mem ber, thereby causing the formation of a high energy ormed connection between said second tubular member and said first tubular member by the deformation of a portion of said second tubular member into the annular groove means in the interior of said tubular member means secured to said first tubular member.
The benefits of the oregoing invention will be more readily understood from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following dr~wings wherein:
Figure 1 is a view of a marine structuxe.
Figure ~ is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present inventionO
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2 taken along lines 3-3 thereof.
Figure 3A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Figure 3 taken along lines 3A-3A thereof.
6c-7~
~îgure 4 is a cross-sec~ional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention after the actuation thereof.
~igure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a secon~ preferred embodiment of the present in~ention.
Referxing to ~igure 1, a marine structure 10 is shown. The marine structure 10 comprisès a ja~ket 1 having skirt pile sleeves 2 thereon, piles 3 driven th~ough the ~acXét into the earth, and a deck 4 installed on the jacket 1 above the sur-face of the body of water in which the marine structure 10 is installed.
The jacket 1 comprises a plurality of jacket legs 5, each ~aving a pile 3 driven therethrough into the earth, i~tercon-~ected by a plurality of horizontal braces 6 which are also interconnected by a plurality of ang~lar br~ces 7.
The skirt pile sleeves 2 comprise tubular members secured to the jacket 1 by means of horizontal brace 6 and angular brace 7. ~he skirt pile sleeves 2 eac:h.have a pile 3 driven therethrough into the earth.
The deck 4 is secured to the top~ 8 of the jacket legs 5, such as by welding, to form the marine structure.
As showfl in ~igure 1, the marine structure 10 may be of 2ny design with the structure shown being merely illustrative.
~ eferring to Figure 2, the ~irst preferred embodiment of ~he present invention is shown in relationship to a skirt pile ~eeve 2 having a pile 3 dxiven therethrough of the marine structure 10.
The i~vention comprises a tubular ~ember or can 11, explosive carrier ~ember 12, seal ~eans 13 and inlet port 13'.
As shown, the tubulax member or can 11 comprises a heavy walled or thick tubular ~ember 14 having inlet port means 15 S in the upper portion t~ereof, having ~ircumferential annular groove or socket 16 in the interior thereof, and having outlet port means 17 on the lower portion thereof.
As shown in ~igu~e 2, ~he tubular member 11 further con-tains a seal means 13 on the interior surface thereof to seal-ingly engage the pile 3 dxiven therethrough. ~he seal ~ean~ 13may be any commercially available seal means capable of forming a reliable seal with the pile 3 after the pile 3 has been driven therethrough. The seal means 13 may, alter~ately, be located above the tu~ular me~ber 11 at any convenient location.
Examples of suitable seal means 13 which may be utilized are described in U.S. Patent Numbars 3,468,132 and 4,041,391.
~ he tubular member 11 may be secured at any point in either the jacket legs 5 or skirt pile sleeves 2, although it is preferred that they be installed at the intersection of the horizontal 6 and angular 7 braces with the jacket legs 5 and skirt pile sleeves 2.
Also shown in Figure 2 located on either side of the tubular member 11 are centralizer means 18 which are used to center the pile 3 in the skirt pile sleeve 2.
The explosive carrier member 12 as shown in Figure 2 7~
comprises a generally annular explosive char~e 20 secured to carrier member 21. The generally annular explosive charge 20 is secured within arcuate annular channel members 22 which are, in turn, secured to outer annular member 22' of annular explosive charge carrier 21. The outer annular member 22' is retained on central mandrel 24 of the annular explosive charge carrier 21 ~y ~eans of struts 23. The struts 23 may be of any convenient cross-sectional shape and of any ~ype mater-ial-sufficient to support the explosive charge 20.
Typically/ t~e explosive charge 20 is toroidal in con-figuration arld is installed Oh the explosive carrier member 12 by at~aching means 25.
The explosive carrier member 12 ~urther comprises central-izer means 26 located on either side of the explosive charge - 15 20. The centralizer means 26 ma~ be of any con.venient type~
although a plurality ~f radial struts 27 connected to a central member 28 having wheels 29 thereon are preerred.
The centralizer means 26 are secured to the central mandrel 24 of the explosive charge carrier ~1 by any conven-ient easily releasable means, such as a threaded coupliny 30.
The expiosive carrier member 12 additionally comprisesplug and lifting means 30 and 31 respectively to provide a means by which a line 100 can be attached to the explosive carrier member 12 to position the explosive carrier member in a jacket leg 5 or skirt pile sleeve 2.
~.~74~
~ ot shown in ~igure 2 but also included on the explosive carrier member 12 is an indicator means, such as a commer-cially available ultrasonic indicator, to locate the tubular member 11 to position the explosive charge carriex member 12 within the pile 3 in the proper position substantially centered about the annular groove 16 in the tubular member 11.
Also not shown in Figure 2 but well known in the art, the explosive charge carrier member 12 con~ai~s a suita~le detona-tion ~eans having suitable a~tua~ion means to initiate the explosion in the explosive charge means 20.
. Referri~g to Figure 3, the centralizer means 26 isshown. ~he centralizer means 26 comprises a plurality of radial struts 27 secured to a central member 28 and inter connected about their outer ends by brace means 32.
Referring ~o ~lgure 3A, t~e details of the wheel means 29 and its interconnection with the centralizer means 26 can be sPenO The wheel ~eans 29 is retained on the U-shaped mem-ber 33 by pin means 34 having retaining means 35 thereon. The U-shaped me~ber 33 is secured to rod means 36 by pin means 37.
~20 ~e rod means 36, in turn, passes through bore 38 in the end 39 of strut 27 and has tu~ular member ~eans 40 having spring actuated pin ~eans 41 and spring means 42 ther~on. ~he tubu-lar member means 40, on rod means 36 is biased outwardly by means of wheel spring means 43 retained within strut 27 having one end thereof bearing against strut plug means 44 while the ~7~
other end bears against tubular member means ~0. To prevent the wheel means 29 from rotating about the axis of rod means 36 when th~ centralizer ~eans 26 engages the inner surface of the skirt pile sleeYe 2 or jacket leg 5, the pin means 41 engages slot means 45 in strut 27 and slides therein.
When the centralizer means 26 engages ~he inner surface of the skirt pile sleeve 2 or jacket leg 5 when the explosive carrier member 12 is being lowered therein, the wheel means 29 Qf the ~entralizer means 26 are biased, into engagement with the skirt pile sleeve 2 ur jacket leg 5 by spring means 43.
~ It should be noted that although the centr~lizer means 26 described herein is preferred to center the explosive charge carrier 21 in the skirt pile sleeve 2 or jacket leg 5, any suitable centralizer means may be utilized.
Referring again to Figure 2, the procedure ~or determining the various relationships ~etween the tubular member 11, explo-sive carrier member 12 and the pile 3 will be discussed.
The internal diameter "W'l of the! heavy walled tubular member 14 is determi~ed by taking the outside diameter "A" of the pile 3 and adding to that dimension twice the annular space "a" between ~he internal surface of the tubular member 14 and the external surface of the pile 3. It should be noted that the outside diameter of the pile 3 will be determined by the pile driving and operational loading upon the pile, Similarly it should be noted that the annular space "a" between the tubular member 14 and pile 3 will be determined by the ~ini-~um clearance required between the tubular member 14 and pile 3 to facilitate the driving of the pile 3 through ~e tubular member 14. Also, the thic~ness "t" of the pile wall will be determined by the pile driving and operational loading upo~
the pile 3.
~ he bulge height "~," the dis~a~ce between the outside surface of the unexpanded pile 3 and the ~ottom of the annular groo~e 16 is preferably in the range of 0.02A ~ ~ 0.25A, more preferably in the range of 0.04A ~ h ' 0.16A a~d most preferably in the range of ~,08A ~ h ~Ø12A.. ~he bulge height "h" must .
be greater than the annular space "a."
~ he depth of the annular groove 16 in the heavy walle~
tubular member 14, which is the dista~ce "d" between the inter-nal surface o~ the tubular member 14 and the bottom of theannular groove 16, is ~alculated by t~ie equation~
d = h - a The thickness "T" of the tubular member 14 is deter~ined after the dimension "~" has been calculated based upon the loading of the tubular member 14~ ~owever, the thickness "T" of the tubular member 14 should prefexably be in the range of 10 < W ~ 40 and more preferably in the range of 30 ~ ~ ~ 3~.
_ ~ _ The leng~h "Y" of the annular groove 16 along the inter-nal surface of the tubular member 14 is determined by the .~'7 general equation:
~ C Y C 2 ~
whereo ~ _ ~ 1/4 and ~ is Poisson's ratioO
S Poisson's ratio for steel i~ 0.27; there~ore, the general equation for groove length "Y" when the material of tubular member 14 is steel, re~uces to the equation: .
- . / \ i O ~Y C 2 1083/~
J~
The preferred values of "Y" are ~alues which occur in the -10 range of from about ~ to about 1.5 . For steel, the pre-ferred values reduce to values in the range of from about 1.29 ~ to about 2.58 ~ .
The length "X" along the bottom of the annular groove 16 in the tuhular mem~er 14 is determined by tha angle e which is 15l the groove wall angle. ~he groove wall angle e is preferably in the range o 0 to 90, more preferably in the range of SQ
to 60 and most preferably in the range of 20 to 45. If the groo~e angle ~ is small, such as O ~ e C ~.so, the high energy formed connection is flexible and tends to yield. However, i~
the ~roo~e angle a is laxge, such as 60 ~ ~ ~ 90, the pile ~ay split upon the formation of the high energy formed connec-.tion.
The corner radius "RG" at the intersection of the shoulder of ~he annular groove and the internal surface of the tubular member 14 should preferably be in the range of 0.5 ~ Rc C 16 and more pre~erably be in the range of Rc ~ t.
~'7~
Similarly, the radius "R~", the ~illet radius at the in-tersection of the shoulder of the annular groove 16 and the bottom of the annular groove 16 should be equal to the radius "R "
Of the radii "Rc" and "R~", the radius "Rc" is more criti-cal since if it is too small, the pile 3 may fracture upon form-ing the high energy connection between the pile 3 and tubular member 14.
Finally, the number of annular grooves 16 required to 1~ carry the load placed ~pon ~he pile 3 is a function of the permissible load "L" per groove which is defined by the equation:
L - [f t2~rA~] (1/2 sin e) where fy is the yield strength of the pile ~aterial.
~he permissible load "L" per annular groove 16 can ~e optimized by varying the distance "d", the depth of the annular groove 16 in the tubular member 14, and e, the groove angle~ It should be remembered that "A" and "t" we~e pr~viously determined by the pile driving and operational loading upon the pile.
~he number of an~ular grooves 16 required to transfer the operational loading to.the pile 3 is cletermined by dividing the required operational loading of the pile 3 by the penmissible loading "L" of each annular gxoove 16. If it is de~ermined that more than one annular groove, 16, is requir~d per pile, 25 then th2 dista~ce betwe~n immediately adjacent grooves, "groove separation," should not be less than about one-fourth of the groove length, i.e., 0.25Y. It is believed that a groove sepa-ration of less than about one-fourth of groove length (0.25Y) may cause ~he pile to buc~le between adjacent grooves upon load-ing. In a more preferred embodiment, the groove separation is e~ual to groove length, Y.
~he charge standoff distance l'S", the distance between the outer surface of the explosive charge 20 and t~e internal surface of the unexpanded pile 3 can be equal to one-fifth (1/5) of the internal pile diameter or, alternately, S a i~ ~ 2t The explosive charge 20 should not c~ntact the internal sur~ace of the unexpanded pile 3, becau~e.undesired damage to the pile, such as spalling and fracturing, could occur upon detona~ion of the charge. ~hus, charge standoXf "S" is greater than 0. Where "S" approac~es O, a buffer such as an elastomer, may be placed between the explo~ive charge 20 and the intexnal surface of pile 3.
Since explosive charge 20 may be in a concentrated form, such as a line charge or a spherical charge, charge standoff distance "S" may approach a dimension equal to the inside radius of pile 3, e.gu S ~ A ~ 2t Such concentration charges axe not desired, beca~serbulge-forming efficiency decreases as standoff distance increases.
It is thus prefe~red that charge standoff distance "S"
be in the range of from about A - 2t to abou~ A - 2t.
~e length Q of the surface of the explosive charge 20 is in the range of from about 0.25Y to about 1.33Y, preferably about 0~625Y. When the value for charge standoff distance "S"
is small, the value for explosive length Q is large. Thus, when l'S'I is at it5 minimum, "~" is equal to a~out 1.33Y.
The weight and geometry of explosive charge 20 can be calculated sepaxatelyO
The estimation of total deformation energy, "ED", required to form the plastic-elastic connection of this invention is - 5 based on a consideration of the final connection geometry, which, referring to ~igure 4, is characterized as consisting of a grOove region and two ~ransition regions. In Figure 4, ~he ex~erior surface of pile 3 is shown after de~ormation to be pressed against the interior surface of tubular member 14 f~r some dis-tance in 'Itransition xegions" on both sides of annular groove16. The pile in the "groove region" is shown to be crimped tightly over the outside corners of groove 16 and pressed against the center portion of groove 16.
The equation for calculation of total deformation energy, - 15 IIED", is, therefore, ~ = E~l + ED2 ~ ~D3 wherein: EDl is the energy xequired t:o expand or "bulge" the pile into the groove region; E~2 is the energy required to expand the outside diameter of pi~e 3 to the inside diameter of tubular member 14 in the transition regions; and ED3 is the residual strain energy in the tubular member 14.
Th~ defor~ation eneryy equations set out below are taken from a general expression given in Figure 2-48, page 65 of Bruno, E.J., Editor, ~ , American Society of Tool and ~anufacturing Engineers, Dearboxn, Michigan, 1968.
The equations for E~l, ED2 and ED3 are set out below:
~Dl = (2rrr2)(Y)(t)(Q) ED2 - (2rrr3)~2C)(t)(Q) ED3 - (2rrrS)(Y)(T-d)(Q) wllerein:
1~7~
"Y" is the groove length of annular groove 16, pre-viously defined ~See Figure 2~;
"t" is the wall thickness of pile 3, previously defined (See Figure 2);
"Q" is the general expression ( K ) ~~0.9~ (~n~1) ;
"C" is the length of the transition region, previously defined (See Figure 4?;
"T" is the thickness of the heavy walled tubular member ~0 14, previously deined (See ~igure 2);
"d" is ~he depth of annular groove 16, previously defined ~See ~igure 2);
"rl" is *he unexpanded inside ra~ius of pile 3 which is defined as A-2t (See Figure 2); .
15 : "r2" is the expanded inside radius of pile 3 in the groove region which.is defined as r1 + h tSee Figur~ 2~; -"r~" is the expanded inside radius of pile 3 in the transition regions, which is defined as rl ~ a (See Figure 2);
"r4" is the unexpanded inside radius of tubular member 14 in the groove region, which is defined as rl ~ t ~ h ~See Figure 2); and '`r5" is the expanded inside radius o tubular member 14 in the groove region, which is de~ined as r4 + k.
~ ~.'7~
The terms of the general equation - Q ~ )(e are de~ined as ollo~s:
"K" and "n" are material constants in the flow stress power law relating true stress to true strain wherein 0~ K~n. Values ~or "K" and lln" can be found in Table 3 . 1 , page 69 of Ezra , A .A ., ~, Volume I, I~dustrial Newspapers Ltd., Londont 1973. ~or steel values of "K" and "n"
which can be used herein for estimati~g pur-poses are 100,000 psi and 0.24, respectively.
~he term " ~," appearing in the general equation IIQ, -is the material strain involved in each of the equations for E~l, ED2 and ED3. Therefore, in accordance with the well known definition for strain, ~ is the ratio of the increase in a given radius to the initial value of the given radius.
Accordingly, in the equation for EDl, the stxain factor ~ is de~ined as h ; in the equation for , rl ED2, the strain factor ~ is de~ined as a ; in rl the equation for ED3, the strain factor ~ is defined as k r4 ~.~L74~4(~
With respect to ~ in the equation for ED3, the value for "k," the increase in radius r4, is not defined.
- Accordingly, i~ order to assure that tubular member 14 remains in elastic deformation, an allowable average circu~ferential strai~ in the groove region in tubular member 14 is specified. The equation ~o~ r5 thus reduces to r5 = r4(1~ o thus obtain the required elastic deformation, it is baliev~d that ~ for ED3 can safely be specified to be about 2% (i.e. 0.02 inches/inch).
With respect to the equation for ~2~ above, the value of "C" cannot be exactly defined for there is no known exist-ing method of predicting the length of metal contact in the transition regions (~igure 4). However, experimental evidence reveals that the transition region extends less than one'pile diameter on either side o~ the groove region. Accordingly, the value of "C" for estimating purposes is believed to,,be in ; the range of ~rom about 50% of the outside diameter or pile 3 to about 100% of the outside diameter of pile 3 and preferably about 75% of the outside diameter of pile 3, i. e . O . 5 "A" to "A"; preferably 0.7S "A.".
To calculate tne wei~ht "M" of the explosive required to ~orm a sinsle high energy ~or~ed connection t the weight "M" is def ined as:
D
2 5 M = ~
F tSpecific Energy of the Explosive Used) '7~
where F is an estLmated forming efficiency fro~ Flgure 2 49 of the Hi~h Velocity ~orming of Metals, ~merican Society of Tools and Manufacturing Engineers, E.J. Bruno, Ed., Dearborn, Michiganf 1968.
.
OPERATION
__ To ~orm a high energ~ formed connection between a pile
F tSpecific Energy of the Explosive Used) '7~
where F is an estLmated forming efficiency fro~ Flgure 2 49 of the Hi~h Velocity ~orming of Metals, ~merican Society of Tools and Manufacturing Engineers, E.J. Bruno, Ed., Dearborn, Michiganf 1968.
.
OPERATION
__ To ~orm a high energ~ formed connection between a pile
3 and tubular member 11, the pile 3 is first driven to the desLred depth in the floor of the body of water in which the marine structure 10 is installedO The pile 3 is usually, alth~ugh not ~ecessarily, then truncated to allow the easy insertion o~ the explosive carrier member 12 therein.
The explosive carrier ~ember.12 is lowered into the pile 3 by a suitable li~ting means (not shown3, such as a crane o~
a derrick barge, until the explosive charge 20 is substantially centered a~out a plane passing through the center of the annular groove 16 in the tubular member 14.
Once the explosive charge 20 is centered about the annular groave 16 in the tubular member 14, the seal means 13 is actu-ated by introducing compressed air or gas thr~ugh inlet port 13' to sealingly engage the exterior surface of the pile 3.
Next, compressed air or gas i5 injected through inlet ports 15 in the tubular member 14 to expel the water contained in the annulws between the tubular me~ber 14 and pile 3 through the outlet ports 17 located at the bottom o~ the tubular member 14.
Once the annulus between the tubular member 14 and pile 3 has ~ ~7~4LV
been substantially evacuated of liquid con~ained in the area surrounding the annular groove 16, the explosive charge 20 may be detonated thereby causing a high energy formed connection between the tubular member 14 and the pile 3 by the pile 3 being locally plastically deformed into the annular groove 16 in the ~ubular member 14.
Referring to Figure 4, the high energy formed connec-tion of the present invention is shown. As shown, the pile 3 has been locally plastically deformed into engage~
ment with the annular groove 16 in the tubular member 14.
However, it should be noted that the tubular member 14 is merely in elastic deformation since the explosive charge 20 was si zed to merely plastically deform the pile 3 but not the tubular member 14 when the annulus between tubular ~ember 14 and the pile 3 has been substantially evacuated.
It must be noted that it is important to have the annulus between the tubular ~ember 14 and pile 3 substan-tially free of water so that a compressible medium is present in the annulus between the tubular member 14 and pile 3. Otherwise, the ~ubular member 14 will be plastic-ally deformed like the pile 3, thereby causing the strength of the high energy formed connection to be less than that of a high energy formed connection in which the tubular member 14 was merely elasti~ally deformed. By carefully designing the tubular member 14 and the judicious selection of ductile material for the tubular ~ember 14 and pile three, as well as the proper size of explosive charge 20 and the substantial evacuation of the annulus between the tubular member ~7~
14 and pile 3, the tubular member 14 can be placed in sub-stantially elastic deformation, thereby yielding a stronger high energy foxmed connection than that of a joint where both the tubular mem~er 14 and pile 3 are plastically deformed with each having a bulge therein after the formation of the connection.
It should be noted that after the formation of a high energy formed connection, the explosive charge carrier 12 is retrieved from the interior of the pile 3 and the charge car-rier member 21, arcuate annular channel ~embers 22, outerannular member 22' and central mandre~ 24 are replaced with other members having an explosive charge 20 thereon. At this time, the explosive charge carrier 12 is ready to be reused to form ano~her high energy formed connection in ano-ther jacket leg 5 or pile sleeve 2.
The explosive charge carrier 12 can be reused any num-ber of tImes so long as the threaded couplings 30 are not damaged and adequately support and release the central mandrel 24 from central members 28.
It should be noted that, if desired, the portion of the pile sleeve 2 below the tubular member 11 may be deleted since that portion of the pile sleeve serves no purpose other than as the connection point ~or the horizontal brace 6 and angular brace 7, which may be otherwise connected or deleted depending upon the design of marine structure 10. If the -22~
~7'~
portion of the pile sleeve 2 below the tubular member 11 is deleted, the marine structure is more economical to construct since a lesser amount of material is utilized.
Referring to Figure 5, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodi~ent of the pxesent inven-tion,.three high energy formed connections can be made between the tubular member 14 and pile 3 by means of an explosive carrier member 12 containing two expl~sive charges 20 ther,eon.
~he various dimensions of the pile 3, tubular member 14 and explosive c~arges 20 are cal~ulated as if only on_ high energy formed connection were to be made between the pile 3 and tubular ~emb~r 14 by each explosive charge 20.
However, when two explosiwe charges 20 are used, if care-ful attention and consideration are given to t~e location of the annular grooves 16 in the t~bular member 14, three high energy formed connections be~ween the tubular member 14 and pile 3 can be formed utilizing only two explosive charges 20.
To form three high energy for~ed connections utilizing only two explosive charges 20 on the explosive charge carrier 12, the two explosive charges 20 must be substantially centered a~out planes passing through the centers of the outer two annular grooves 16 in the tubular member 14 and,the dis,tance "Z" between the center of the two outer grooves 16 can be substantially equal to the external diameter "A" of the pile 3. The distance between the center of two adjacent grooves is substantially equal to A/2 and the groove length "Y" should ~ .~ 7 preferably not be less than A/4 .
Upon substantially simultaneous detonation of the explo-sive charges 20, the pile 3 is deformed into the outer annular grooves 16 in the tubular member 14 by the shock waves from the explosive charges 20 while the pile 3 is deormed into the center annular yroove 16 i~ the tubular member.14 by the combined effect of the shock waves from the explosi~e charges 20. ~he combined effect of the shock waves from the explosive charges 20 is a shock wave whose pressure can range from two to eight times the pressure from a single explosive charge 20, depending u~on the proximity of the explosive charges 20 on the explosive charge carrier 12.
The spacing of the explosive ~harges 20 on the explosive charge carrier 12 is critical to prevent the plastic deforma-tion o~ the tubular member 14 in the ~icinity of the center .annular groove 16. Should the distance "Z" between the outerannuIar grooves 16 be substantially less than the external diameter "A" of the pile 3, the combined effect of the shock waves emanating from..the explosive charges 20 will be suffi-ciently great to cause the plas~ic deformation of not only the pile 3 but also the tubular member 14 in the vieinity of the center of annular groove 16. As previously discussed, if the high energy formed connection results in the plastic deformation of both the tubular member 14 and pile 3, at the minimum, a connection is formed whose fatigue life is less than that of a plastic-elastic connection and, at the worst, if the plastic deformation is too great, either or ~oth the tubular member 14 and pile 3 may be cracked or split.
From the foregoing, it can be easily seen that although the,present invention has been described with respect to form-ing high energy formed connections between either the pile and skirt pile sleeve or the pile and jacket leg of a marine struc-ture, the present invention can be used to join any two tu~ular members in eithex atmospheric conditions or liquid environments.
I should also be readily apparent from the foregoing - that it is important to have the pile (inner tubular member~
substantially centered in either the skirt pile sleeve or jacket leg (outer tubulax member); othexwise, the high energy formed connection will not be uniform about the skirt pile sleeve or,jacket leg. , However, if the pile is offset in either the skirt pile sleeve or the jacket leg, a high energy formed connection can be formed by merely offsçtting the location of the explosive carrier member within either the skirt pile sleeve or jacket leg,to compensate for the eccentricity of the pile within either the skirt pile sleeve or jacket leg.
It should be readily apparent from the foregoing that it is important to have the explosive charges substantially centered about a plane passing through the center o~ the annular groove in the tubular member secured to the jacket leg or skirt pile sleeve; otherwise, the high energy formed connection will not be satisfactorily formed.
7~
As previously recited, the annulus between the pile and the tubular member secured to either the jacket leg or skirt pile sleeve should be substantially free of liquid or a com-pressible medium should be present in the annulus in the area where the high energy formed connections are to be made. Other-wise, the high energy formed connections will result in the tubular member being plastically deformed rather than merely being substantially elastically defoxmed.
Additionally, it should be further understood that the tubular member containing the annular grooves into which the pile is to be deformed ~ust be of sufficiently ductile mater-ial to permit the elastic deformation thereof during the high energy forming process.
In reviewing the present invention descxibed hereinbefore in the light of the pri~r art methods of ~orming connections between two tubular members, particularly tubular members of a marine structure, it can be easily seen that the present inven-tion o~fers the following advantages.
The present invention eliminates the need for the grouting of the annulus between either the jacket leg or skirt pile sleeve o a marine structure and the pile contained therein to support the structure, thereby el.iminating the cost of grouting material.
The present invention is simple and economical to construct and simple to use.
~26-The present invention does not plasticall~r deform both members of the high energy formed connection, thereby causing undesirable properties in the metal at the connection points.
The present invention does not cause highly concentrated stresses over very small areas of the members forming the high energy formed connection, thereby facilitating the accurate mathematic prediction of the fatigue life of the connection under long-term cyclic loading.
The explosive charge carrier 12 of the present invention can be easily removed from the members involved in the high energy formed connection prior to detonation should a mal-function occur.
The present invention does not require the use of a bac~up anvil on the exterior of the outer tubular member of the high energy formed connection to prevent the plastic deformation thereof during the connection forming process.
This invention is not limited to the above described specific embodiments thereof; it must be understood there-fore thak the detail involved in the descriptions of the speciic embodiments is presented for the purpose of illustration only, and that reasonable variations and modi-fications, which will ~e apparent to those skilled in the axt~ can be made in this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.
Having thus described the invention, that which i5 claimed is:
The explosive carrier ~ember.12 is lowered into the pile 3 by a suitable li~ting means (not shown3, such as a crane o~
a derrick barge, until the explosive charge 20 is substantially centered a~out a plane passing through the center of the annular groove 16 in the tubular member 14.
Once the explosive charge 20 is centered about the annular groave 16 in the tubular member 14, the seal means 13 is actu-ated by introducing compressed air or gas thr~ugh inlet port 13' to sealingly engage the exterior surface of the pile 3.
Next, compressed air or gas i5 injected through inlet ports 15 in the tubular member 14 to expel the water contained in the annulws between the tubular me~ber 14 and pile 3 through the outlet ports 17 located at the bottom o~ the tubular member 14.
Once the annulus between the tubular member 14 and pile 3 has ~ ~7~4LV
been substantially evacuated of liquid con~ained in the area surrounding the annular groove 16, the explosive charge 20 may be detonated thereby causing a high energy formed connection between the tubular member 14 and the pile 3 by the pile 3 being locally plastically deformed into the annular groove 16 in the ~ubular member 14.
Referring to Figure 4, the high energy formed connec-tion of the present invention is shown. As shown, the pile 3 has been locally plastically deformed into engage~
ment with the annular groove 16 in the tubular member 14.
However, it should be noted that the tubular member 14 is merely in elastic deformation since the explosive charge 20 was si zed to merely plastically deform the pile 3 but not the tubular member 14 when the annulus between tubular ~ember 14 and the pile 3 has been substantially evacuated.
It must be noted that it is important to have the annulus between the tubular ~ember 14 and pile 3 substan-tially free of water so that a compressible medium is present in the annulus between the tubular member 14 and pile 3. Otherwise, the ~ubular member 14 will be plastic-ally deformed like the pile 3, thereby causing the strength of the high energy formed connection to be less than that of a high energy formed connection in which the tubular member 14 was merely elasti~ally deformed. By carefully designing the tubular member 14 and the judicious selection of ductile material for the tubular ~ember 14 and pile three, as well as the proper size of explosive charge 20 and the substantial evacuation of the annulus between the tubular member ~7~
14 and pile 3, the tubular member 14 can be placed in sub-stantially elastic deformation, thereby yielding a stronger high energy foxmed connection than that of a joint where both the tubular mem~er 14 and pile 3 are plastically deformed with each having a bulge therein after the formation of the connection.
It should be noted that after the formation of a high energy formed connection, the explosive charge carrier 12 is retrieved from the interior of the pile 3 and the charge car-rier member 21, arcuate annular channel ~embers 22, outerannular member 22' and central mandre~ 24 are replaced with other members having an explosive charge 20 thereon. At this time, the explosive charge carrier 12 is ready to be reused to form ano~her high energy formed connection in ano-ther jacket leg 5 or pile sleeve 2.
The explosive charge carrier 12 can be reused any num-ber of tImes so long as the threaded couplings 30 are not damaged and adequately support and release the central mandrel 24 from central members 28.
It should be noted that, if desired, the portion of the pile sleeve 2 below the tubular member 11 may be deleted since that portion of the pile sleeve serves no purpose other than as the connection point ~or the horizontal brace 6 and angular brace 7, which may be otherwise connected or deleted depending upon the design of marine structure 10. If the -22~
~7'~
portion of the pile sleeve 2 below the tubular member 11 is deleted, the marine structure is more economical to construct since a lesser amount of material is utilized.
Referring to Figure 5, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodi~ent of the pxesent inven-tion,.three high energy formed connections can be made between the tubular member 14 and pile 3 by means of an explosive carrier member 12 containing two expl~sive charges 20 ther,eon.
~he various dimensions of the pile 3, tubular member 14 and explosive c~arges 20 are cal~ulated as if only on_ high energy formed connection were to be made between the pile 3 and tubular ~emb~r 14 by each explosive charge 20.
However, when two explosiwe charges 20 are used, if care-ful attention and consideration are given to t~e location of the annular grooves 16 in the t~bular member 14, three high energy formed connections be~ween the tubular member 14 and pile 3 can be formed utilizing only two explosive charges 20.
To form three high energy for~ed connections utilizing only two explosive charges 20 on the explosive charge carrier 12, the two explosive charges 20 must be substantially centered a~out planes passing through the centers of the outer two annular grooves 16 in the tubular member 14 and,the dis,tance "Z" between the center of the two outer grooves 16 can be substantially equal to the external diameter "A" of the pile 3. The distance between the center of two adjacent grooves is substantially equal to A/2 and the groove length "Y" should ~ .~ 7 preferably not be less than A/4 .
Upon substantially simultaneous detonation of the explo-sive charges 20, the pile 3 is deformed into the outer annular grooves 16 in the tubular member 14 by the shock waves from the explosive charges 20 while the pile 3 is deormed into the center annular yroove 16 i~ the tubular member.14 by the combined effect of the shock waves from the explosi~e charges 20. ~he combined effect of the shock waves from the explosive charges 20 is a shock wave whose pressure can range from two to eight times the pressure from a single explosive charge 20, depending u~on the proximity of the explosive charges 20 on the explosive charge carrier 12.
The spacing of the explosive ~harges 20 on the explosive charge carrier 12 is critical to prevent the plastic deforma-tion o~ the tubular member 14 in the ~icinity of the center .annular groove 16. Should the distance "Z" between the outerannuIar grooves 16 be substantially less than the external diameter "A" of the pile 3, the combined effect of the shock waves emanating from..the explosive charges 20 will be suffi-ciently great to cause the plas~ic deformation of not only the pile 3 but also the tubular member 14 in the vieinity of the center of annular groove 16. As previously discussed, if the high energy formed connection results in the plastic deformation of both the tubular member 14 and pile 3, at the minimum, a connection is formed whose fatigue life is less than that of a plastic-elastic connection and, at the worst, if the plastic deformation is too great, either or ~oth the tubular member 14 and pile 3 may be cracked or split.
From the foregoing, it can be easily seen that although the,present invention has been described with respect to form-ing high energy formed connections between either the pile and skirt pile sleeve or the pile and jacket leg of a marine struc-ture, the present invention can be used to join any two tu~ular members in eithex atmospheric conditions or liquid environments.
I should also be readily apparent from the foregoing - that it is important to have the pile (inner tubular member~
substantially centered in either the skirt pile sleeve or jacket leg (outer tubulax member); othexwise, the high energy formed connection will not be uniform about the skirt pile sleeve or,jacket leg. , However, if the pile is offset in either the skirt pile sleeve or the jacket leg, a high energy formed connection can be formed by merely offsçtting the location of the explosive carrier member within either the skirt pile sleeve or jacket leg,to compensate for the eccentricity of the pile within either the skirt pile sleeve or jacket leg.
It should be readily apparent from the foregoing that it is important to have the explosive charges substantially centered about a plane passing through the center o~ the annular groove in the tubular member secured to the jacket leg or skirt pile sleeve; otherwise, the high energy formed connection will not be satisfactorily formed.
7~
As previously recited, the annulus between the pile and the tubular member secured to either the jacket leg or skirt pile sleeve should be substantially free of liquid or a com-pressible medium should be present in the annulus in the area where the high energy formed connections are to be made. Other-wise, the high energy formed connections will result in the tubular member being plastically deformed rather than merely being substantially elastically defoxmed.
Additionally, it should be further understood that the tubular member containing the annular grooves into which the pile is to be deformed ~ust be of sufficiently ductile mater-ial to permit the elastic deformation thereof during the high energy forming process.
In reviewing the present invention descxibed hereinbefore in the light of the pri~r art methods of ~orming connections between two tubular members, particularly tubular members of a marine structure, it can be easily seen that the present inven-tion o~fers the following advantages.
The present invention eliminates the need for the grouting of the annulus between either the jacket leg or skirt pile sleeve o a marine structure and the pile contained therein to support the structure, thereby el.iminating the cost of grouting material.
The present invention is simple and economical to construct and simple to use.
~26-The present invention does not plasticall~r deform both members of the high energy formed connection, thereby causing undesirable properties in the metal at the connection points.
The present invention does not cause highly concentrated stresses over very small areas of the members forming the high energy formed connection, thereby facilitating the accurate mathematic prediction of the fatigue life of the connection under long-term cyclic loading.
The explosive charge carrier 12 of the present invention can be easily removed from the members involved in the high energy formed connection prior to detonation should a mal-function occur.
The present invention does not require the use of a bac~up anvil on the exterior of the outer tubular member of the high energy formed connection to prevent the plastic deformation thereof during the connection forming process.
This invention is not limited to the above described specific embodiments thereof; it must be understood there-fore thak the detail involved in the descriptions of the speciic embodiments is presented for the purpose of illustration only, and that reasonable variations and modi-fications, which will ~e apparent to those skilled in the axt~ can be made in this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.
Having thus described the invention, that which i5 claimed is:
Claims (39)
1. A method for making a substantially rigid connection between tubular members having circular cross-sections comprising: selecting a first tubular member and a second tubular member, said first tubular member having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said second tubular member; forming at least three grooves in the walls of the inside surface of said second tubular member wherein said at least three grooves include a first end groove, a second end groove and an intermediate groove between said first end groove and said second end groove and further wherein each of said grooves is substantially centered on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second tubular member and passing through said walls of said second tubular member and each of said grooves having a bottom surface substantially parallel to said inside surface of said second tubular member a first end surface and a second end surface; and still further wherein the distance between each groove is at least about 1/4 groove width; introducing said first tubular member into the interior of said second tubular member by an amount sufficient to penetrate said planes passing through said walls of said second tubular member whereby a portion of the outside surface of said first tubular member is opposite each said groove and wherein the longitudinal axis of said first tubular member is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of said second tubular member thereby forming a telescoped pair consisting of said first and said second tubular members having an annular space between the out-side surface of said first tubular member and the inside surface of said second tubular member, said annular space including said at least three grooves; introducing at least two explosive means into said telescoped pair via the interior of said first tubular member and posit-ioning said explosive means in the interior of said first tubular member such that said explosive means are substantially centered on said planes passing through said walls of said second tubular member and on said longitudinal axis of said first tubular member, wherein one of said two explosive means is centered on said plane passing through said first end groove and one of said two explosive means is centered on said plane pass-ing through said second end groove; detonating said at least two explosive means substantially simultaneously whereby sufficient energy is released within said interior of said first tubular member to substantially instantaneously radially expand the walls of said first tubular member opposite each of said at least three grooves by an amount sufficient to form at least three permanent bulges in said walls of said first tubular member each of said bulges being sufficiently large to cause said outside surface of said first tubular member opposite each of said groove to occupy said groove and to contact said bottom surface thereof to thereby make a substantially rigid connection between said first tubular member and said second tubular member.
2. An apparatus for the formation of a high energy formed connection between a first tubular member having a portion of a second tubular member contained therein, said apparatus comprising: tubular member means having annular groove means in the interior thereof secured to said first tubular member; explosive carrier means having a smaller external diameter than the internal diameter of said second tubular member and having explosive charge means thereon, said explosive carrier means adapted to be positioned within the interior of said second tubular member; and seal means secured to said first tuular member to sealingly engage the outer surface of said second tubular member; where-by said second tubular member is connected to said tubular member means by the detonation of the explosive charge means of said explosive carrier means when said explosive carrier means is positioned in the interior of said second tubular member, thereby causing the formation of a high energy formed connection between said second tubular member and said tubular member means by the deformation of a portion of said second tubular member into the annular groove means in the interior of said tubular member means secured to said first tubular member.
3. The apparatus of Claim 2 wherein said tubular member means further comprises inlet port means located on one side of the annular groove means.
4. The apparatus of Claim 2 wherein said tubular member means further comprises outlet port means located on the other side of the annular groove means.
5. The apparatus of Claim 2 wherein said explosive carrier means comprises:
central mandrel means;
strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the strut means; and annular explosive charge means attached to the annular carrier means.
central mandrel means;
strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the strut means; and annular explosive charge means attached to the annular carrier means.
6. The apparatus of Claim 5 wherein the annular explosive charge means comprises a plurality of arcuate explosive charge means.
7. The apparatus of Claim 2 wherein the annular groove means in said tubular member means comprises a plurality of annular groove means.
8. The apparatus of Claim 7 wherein the explosive carrier means comprises:
central mandrel means;
first strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
first annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the first strut means;
first annular explosive charge means attached to the first annular carrier means;
second strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom, second annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the second strut means; and second annular explosive charge means attached to the second annular carrier means.
central mandrel means;
first strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
first annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the first strut means;
first annular explosive charge means attached to the first annular carrier means;
second strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom, second annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the second strut means; and second annular explosive charge means attached to the second annular carrier means.
9. The apparatus of Claim 2 further comprising:
indicator means on said explosive carrier means to indicate the position of said explosive carrier means with respect to said tubular member means.
indicator means on said explosive carrier means to indicate the position of said explosive carrier means with respect to said tubular member means.
10. The apparatus of Claim 2 further comprising:
detonator means on said explosive carrier means to detonate the explosive charge means thereon.
detonator means on said explosive carrier means to detonate the explosive charge means thereon.
11. The apparatus of Claim 2 wherein said seal means comprises annular inflatable seal means.
12. An apparatus for the formation of a high energy formed connection between a first tubular member having a portion of a second tubular member contained therein, said apparatus comprising:
tubular member means having annular groove means in the interior thereof secured to said first tubular member; and explosive carrier means having a smaller external diameter than the internal diameter of said second tubular member and having explosive charge means thereon, said explosive carrier means adapted to be positioned within the interior of said second tubular member, whereby said second tubular member is connected to said tubular member means by the detonation of the explosive charge means of said explosive carrier means when said explosive carrier means is positioned in the interior of said second tubular member thereby causing the formation of a high energy formed connection between said second tubular member and said tubular member means by deformation of a portion of said second tubular member into the annular groove means in the interior of said tubular member means secured to said first tubular member.
tubular member means having annular groove means in the interior thereof secured to said first tubular member; and explosive carrier means having a smaller external diameter than the internal diameter of said second tubular member and having explosive charge means thereon, said explosive carrier means adapted to be positioned within the interior of said second tubular member, whereby said second tubular member is connected to said tubular member means by the detonation of the explosive charge means of said explosive carrier means when said explosive carrier means is positioned in the interior of said second tubular member thereby causing the formation of a high energy formed connection between said second tubular member and said tubular member means by deformation of a portion of said second tubular member into the annular groove means in the interior of said tubular member means secured to said first tubular member.
13. The apparatus of Claim 12 wherein said explosive carrier means comprises:
central mandrel means;
strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the strut means; and annular explosive charge means attached to the annular carrier means.
central mandrel means;
strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the strut means; and annular explosive charge means attached to the annular carrier means.
14. The apparatus of Claim 13 wherein the annular explosive charge means comprises a plurality of arcuate explosive charge means.
15. The apparatus of Claim 12 wherein the annular groove means in said tubular member means comprises a plurality of annular groove means.
16. The apparatus of Claim 15 wherein the explosive carrier means comprises:
central mandrel means;
first strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom:
first annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the first strut means;
first annular explosive charge means attached to the first annular carrier means;
second strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
second annular carrier means secured to the outer end of the second strut means; and second annular explosive charge means attached to the second annular carrier means.
central mandrel means;
first strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom:
first annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the first strut means;
first annular explosive charge means attached to the first annular carrier means;
second strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
second annular carrier means secured to the outer end of the second strut means; and second annular explosive charge means attached to the second annular carrier means.
17. The apparatus of Claim 16 wherein the distance between the center of the first annular explosive charge means and the center of the second annular explosive charge means is substantially equal to the distance between the center of the annular groove means on one end of the plurality of annular groove means and the center of the annular groove means on the other end of the plurality of annular groove means.
18. The apparatus of Claim 8 wherein the distance between the center of the first annular explosive charge means and the center of the second annular explosive charge means is substantially equal to the distance between the center of the annular groove means on one end of the plurality of annular groove means and the center of the annular groove means on the other end of the plurality of annular groove means.
19. An apparatus for the formation of a high energy formed connection between a skirt pile sleeve or jacket leg of a marine structure having a tubular pile driven therethrough, said apparatus comprising:
tubular member means having annular groove means in the interior thereof secured to said skirt pile sleeve or said jacket leg;
explosive carrier means having a smaller external diameter than the internal diameter of said tubular pile and having explosive charge means thereon, said explosive charge means adapted to be positioned within the interior of said tubular pile; and seal means secured to said skirt pile sleeve or said jacket leg to sealingly engage the outer surface of said tubular pile, whereby said tubular pile is connected to said skirt pile sleeve or said jacket leg by the detonation of the explosive charge means of said explosive carrier means when said explosive carrier means is positioned in the interior of said tubular pile, thereby causing the formation of a high energy formed connection between said pile and said skirt pile sleeve or said jacket leg by the deformation of a portion of said pile into the annular groove means in the interior of said tubular member means secured to said skirt pile sleeve or said jacket leg.
tubular member means having annular groove means in the interior thereof secured to said skirt pile sleeve or said jacket leg;
explosive carrier means having a smaller external diameter than the internal diameter of said tubular pile and having explosive charge means thereon, said explosive charge means adapted to be positioned within the interior of said tubular pile; and seal means secured to said skirt pile sleeve or said jacket leg to sealingly engage the outer surface of said tubular pile, whereby said tubular pile is connected to said skirt pile sleeve or said jacket leg by the detonation of the explosive charge means of said explosive carrier means when said explosive carrier means is positioned in the interior of said tubular pile, thereby causing the formation of a high energy formed connection between said pile and said skirt pile sleeve or said jacket leg by the deformation of a portion of said pile into the annular groove means in the interior of said tubular member means secured to said skirt pile sleeve or said jacket leg.
20. The apparatus of Claim 19 wherein said tubular member means further comprises inlet port means located on one side of the annular groove means.
21. The apparatus of Claim 19 wherein said tubular member means further comprises outlet port means located on the other side of the annular groove means.
22. The apparatus of Claim 19 wherein said explosive carrier means comprises.
central mandrel means;
strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the strut means; and annular explosive charge means attached to the annular carrier means.
central mandrel means;
strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the strut means; and annular explosive charge means attached to the annular carrier means.
23. The apparatus of Claim 22 wherein the annular explosive charge means comprises a plurality of arcuate explosive charge means.
24. The apparatus of Claim 19 wherein the annular groove means in said tubular member means comprises a plurality of annular groove means.
25. The apparatus of Claim 24 wherein the explosive carrier means comprises:
central mandrel means;
first strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
first annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the first strut means;
first annular explosive charge means attached to the first annular carrier means;
second strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
second annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the second strut means; and second annular explosive charge means attached to the second annular carrier means.
central mandrel means;
first strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
first annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the first strut means;
first annular explosive charge means attached to the first annular carrier means;
second strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
second annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the second strut means; and second annular explosive charge means attached to the second annular carrier means.
26. The apparatus of Claim 19 further comprising:
indicator means on said explosive carrier means to indicate the position of said explosive carrier means with respect to said tubular member means.
indicator means on said explosive carrier means to indicate the position of said explosive carrier means with respect to said tubular member means.
27. The apparatus of Claim 19 further comprising detonator means on said explosive carrier means to detonate the explosive charge means thereon.
28. The apparatus of Claim 19 wherein said seal means comprises annular inflatable seal means.
29. The apparatus of Claim 25 wherein the distance between the center of the first annular explosive charge means and the center of the second annular explosive charge means is substantially equal to the distance between the center of the annular groove means on one end of the plurality of annular groove means and the center of the annular groove means on the other end of the plurality of annular groove means.
30. The apparatus of Claim 19 wherein said tubular member means further comprises:
inlet port means located on one side of the annular groove means; and outlet port means located on the other side of the annular groove means;
and said seal means comprises:
annular inflatable member means positioned prior to the inlet port means in said tubular member means to sealingly engage the exterior of said pile when the annular inflatable member means are inflated.
inlet port means located on one side of the annular groove means; and outlet port means located on the other side of the annular groove means;
and said seal means comprises:
annular inflatable member means positioned prior to the inlet port means in said tubular member means to sealingly engage the exterior of said pile when the annular inflatable member means are inflated.
31. The apparatus of Claim 5 wherein said explosive carrier means further comprises:
centralizer means to center said explosive carrier means in said second tubular member.
centralizer means to center said explosive carrier means in said second tubular member.
32. The apparatus of Claim 2 wherein said first tubular member contains centralizer means therein to center said second tubular member therein.
33. The apparatus of Claim 7 wherein said explosive carrier means further comprises:
centralizer means to center said explosive carrier means in said second tubular member.
centralizer means to center said explosive carrier means in said second tubular member.
34. The apparatus of Claim 22 wherein said explosive carrier means further comprises:
centralizer means to center said explosive carrier means in said pile.
centralizer means to center said explosive carrier means in said pile.
35. The apparatus of Claim 19 wherein said jacket leg or skirt pile sleeve contains centralizer means therein to center said pile therein.
36. The apparatus of Claim 25 wherein said explosive carrier means further comprises:
centralizer means to center said explosive carrier means in said pile.
centralizer means to center said explosive carrier means in said pile.
37. The method of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal distance between said plane passing through said first end groove and said plane passing through said second end groove is not substantially less than said outside diameter of said first tubular member, so that the walls of said first tubular member are expanded radially into said inter-mediate groove by a combined effect of said at least two explosive means without causing plastic deformation of said second tubular member.
38. An apparatus for the formation of a high energy formed connection between a first tubular member having a portion of a second tubular member contained therein, said apparatus comprising:
tubular member means having a plurality of annular groove means in the interior thereof secured to said first tubular member;
explosive carrier means having a smaller external diameter than an internal diameter of said second tubular member and having explosive charge means thereon, said explosive carrier means adapted to be positioned within the interior of said second tubular member, whereby said second tubular member is connected to said first tubular member by the detonation of the explosive charge means of said explosive carrier means when said explosive carrier means is positioned in the interior of said second tubular member thereby causing the formation of a high energy formed connection between said second tubular member and said first tubular member by deformation of a portion of said second tubular member into the annular groove means in the interior of said tubular member means secured to said first tubular member, said explosive carrier means including:
central mandrel means;
first strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
first annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the first strut means;
first annular explosive charge means attached to the first annular carrier means;
second strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
second annular carrier means secured to the outer end of the second strut means;
second annular explosive charge means attached to the second annular carrier means; and wherein the distance between the center of the first annular explosive charge means and the center of the second annular explosive charge means is substan-tially equal to the distance between the center of the annular groove means on one end of the plurality of annular groove means and the center of the annular groove means on the other end of the plurality of annular groove means.
tubular member means having a plurality of annular groove means in the interior thereof secured to said first tubular member;
explosive carrier means having a smaller external diameter than an internal diameter of said second tubular member and having explosive charge means thereon, said explosive carrier means adapted to be positioned within the interior of said second tubular member, whereby said second tubular member is connected to said first tubular member by the detonation of the explosive charge means of said explosive carrier means when said explosive carrier means is positioned in the interior of said second tubular member thereby causing the formation of a high energy formed connection between said second tubular member and said first tubular member by deformation of a portion of said second tubular member into the annular groove means in the interior of said tubular member means secured to said first tubular member, said explosive carrier means including:
central mandrel means;
first strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
first annular carrier means secured to the outer ends of the first strut means;
first annular explosive charge means attached to the first annular carrier means;
second strut means secured to the central mandrel means and extending radially therefrom;
second annular carrier means secured to the outer end of the second strut means;
second annular explosive charge means attached to the second annular carrier means; and wherein the distance between the center of the first annular explosive charge means and the center of the second annular explosive charge means is substan-tially equal to the distance between the center of the annular groove means on one end of the plurality of annular groove means and the center of the annular groove means on the other end of the plurality of annular groove means.
39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said distance between the centers of the first and second annular explosive charges is not substantially less than an outside diameter of said first tubular member and said plurality of annular grooves are equally spaced.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000436817A CA1174440A (en) | 1979-08-16 | 1983-09-15 | Method and apparatus for explosive-joining of pipes |
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US6549479A | 1979-08-16 | 1979-08-16 | |
| US65,494 | 1979-08-16 | ||
| US06/143,563 US4585374A (en) | 1979-08-16 | 1980-04-25 | High energy formed connections |
| US143,563 | 1980-04-25 | ||
| CA000355756A CA1175645A (en) | 1979-08-16 | 1980-07-09 | Method and apparatus for explosive-joining of pipes |
| CA000436817A CA1174440A (en) | 1979-08-16 | 1983-09-15 | Method and apparatus for explosive-joining of pipes |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000355756A Division CA1175645A (en) | 1979-08-16 | 1980-07-09 | Method and apparatus for explosive-joining of pipes |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1174440A true CA1174440A (en) | 1984-09-18 |
Family
ID=27426251
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000436817A Expired CA1174440A (en) | 1979-08-16 | 1983-09-15 | Method and apparatus for explosive-joining of pipes |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1174440A (en) |
-
1983
- 1983-09-15 CA CA000436817A patent/CA1174440A/en not_active Expired
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