GB1598433A

GB1598433A - Device for joining or reinforcing tubular members

Info

Publication number: GB1598433A
Application number: GB5059677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SECRETARY ENERGY BRIT
Current assignee: SECRETARY ENERGY BRIT
Priority date: 1978-05-23
Filing date: 1978-05-23
Publication date: 1981-09-23

Description

(54) DEVICE FOR JOINING OR REINFORCING TUBULAR MEMBERS (71) I, SECRETARY of STATE for ENERGY, London, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a device for joining or reinforcing tubular members. The device is particularly intended for use in the repair of damaged structural members especially where such repair must be effected underwater as is frequently the case in repairs to offshore platforms or other like underwater structures.

Conventional underwater repairs to structures of this nature are made using welding techniques. The present device is principally intended for use when welding is not appropriate such as in the vicinity of an explosion hazard or when the setting up of a hyperbaric diving chamber necessary for prolonged work at depth would be too time consuming or expensive. Most repairs of this nature will entail removing a damaged section of the tubular member and inserting a new section with two joints, one half of each of which could be made above water, but some repairs can be made in situ.

Accordingly the invention provides a device for joining or reinforcing tubular members comprising a rigid outer sleeve, at least one inner sleeve having at one end thereof a bevelled peripheral surface, the inner sleeve being securable to a tubular member to be joined or reinforced and being locatable within the outer sleeve with its bevelled peripheral surface adjacent an end of the outer sleeve to define a chamber therein bounded on one of its sides by the bevelled peripheral surface of the inner sleeve, and means for the injection under pressure of a fluid into the chamber.

When the device is to be used to join two tubular members, and is to be assembled completely under water, it comprises two inner sleeves, one for each end of the outer sleeve, and two chambers.

When one end of a joint can be made above water, then in that one end of the joint, an inner sleeve is not necessary and an annular flange can be welded directly to the end of the tubular member. The device, in this instance need only have one inner sleeve and chamber, the outer sleeve being bolted to the welded flange under water.

The or each inner sleeve is preferably secured to the tubular member by means of an adhesive. For this purpose, and particularly when the joint or reinforcement is to be made under water the resin formulations disclosed in co-pending patent application number 2419/77 Serial no. 1598431 are suitable. The inner sleeve may be made in two lateral sections for assembly around the respective tubular member.

In the case of the device having two inner sleeves, the outer sleeve is made in two parts. It may consist of two longitudinal sec- tions united at an annular flange or alternatively it may consist of two lateral sections united at a longitudinally extending flange.

This division into two parts is necessary in order that the outer sleeve may be assembled around the inner sleeves.

Preferably the means for the injection of a fluid under pressure comprises a non-return valve. The chamber may be provided with bleed valves to ensure complete filling with fluid. Preferably the device incorporates fluid seals to prevent leakage of fluid from the chamber.

The invention also provides a method for joining together a first, and a second tubular member by gluing to the exterior of the first tubular member an inner sleeve having at one end thereof a bevelled peripheral surface this end being positioned furthermost from the join, locating an outer sleeve around the inner sleeve such that a space bounded on one side by the bevelled peripheral surface of the inner sleeve is defined between the sleeves, securing the outer sleeve to a member on the second tubular member, and injecting into the space so defined a liquid under pressure to draw the first tubular member towards the second.

In a method for making the joint with both ends underwater, the outer sleeve of the first tubular member may be joined to a similar outer sleeve on the second tubular member, this being affixed thereto in like fashion, or alternatively a single outer sleeve secured in like fashion at both ends to the first and second tubular members may join the two tubular members.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the single figure accompanying the provisional specification and showing the device of the invention in longitudinal section.

In the figure two tubular member 1A and 1B are joined by a device generally indexed 2. The device 2 includes an outer sleeve 3 made in two longitudinal sections 3A and 3B joined by an annular flange 4, and two inner sleeves SA and SB respectively for tubular members 1A and 1B. Each of the inner sleeves SA and 5B has a bevelled peripheral surface 6 at one end thereof and they are placed on the tubular members 1A and 1B such that these surfaces are adjacent the ends of the outer sleeve 3. Within the outer sleeve 3 are two chambers 7A and 7B which are bounded on one of their sides by the bevelled peripheral surfaces 6 of the respective inner sleeves SA and SB. Each of chambers 7A and 7B has a non-return inlet valve 8 and bleed valve 9. Also the chambers 7A and 7B are sealed by an inner sleeve to outer sleeve seal 10 and an outer sleeve to tubular member seal 11.

Assembly of the device shown is as follows. Firstly the tubular members 1A and 1B are cleaned at their ends by water jets.

Next with the two tubular members 1A and 1B apart, the sections 3A and 3B of the outer sleeve are placed on respective members 1A and 1B well back from their ends.

Then the inner sleeves SA and SB are secured in the positions shown, on the ends of members 1A and 1B by means of a suitable adhesive. For assembly underwater, the resin formulations disclosed in co-pending patent application number 2419177 are used. When the adhesive has set, the two tubular members 1A and 1B are placed together and the sections 3A and 3B of outer sleeve 3 are bolted together at flange 4. Finally a suitable liquid is introduced to each chamber 7A and 7B under pressure to draw together the inner sleeves A and SB and hence the tubular members 1A and 1B.

In the assembly of the device the following considerations are important. Firstly the non-bevelled ends of inner sleeves SA and SB should extend slightly beyond, or at least be level with the ends of tubular members 1A and 1B in order that the tube members do not abut, when they are drawn together, before the ends of the inner sleeves SA and SB. This ensures that no permanent shear stress is applied to the adhesive bond by the liquid pressure acting on the bevelled peripheral surfaces 6.

Secondly, the inner sleeves SA and SB have the bevelled surfaces 6 so that the liquid pressure, in addition to drawing the tubular members 1A and 1B together, maintains the adhesive bonds beneath these surfaces under compression. Thirdly, the lateral projection of the chambers 7A and 7B along the bevelled surfaces 6 should be sufficient to produce sufficient longitudinal force to draw together the tubular members 1A and 1B with the pressure available.

Lastly the pressuring liquid should be settable so that long term leakage can be avoided. The resin mentioned previously can be used and will provide an extra barrier against permeation of water to the inner sleeve/tubular member bond, but other materials such as concrete could also be used.

The form of joint shown in the figure is one intended for complete assembly underwater. When one end of the joint can be made dry then that end of the joint may be replaced with a welded flange, the flange to mate with the flange 4 of a half outer sleeve 3. Also it may not be necessary to make a break in an existing tube where the tube is merely weakened as by fatigue cracks. In this case the design of the device may be varied to use both inner and outer sleeves of a kind having two lateral parts which can be assembled in situ around the weakened portion of tube.

The foregoing description is made by way of illustration only, and should not be viewed as a limitation of the scope of the invention to the embodiment described. Many variations in the construction will be apparent to one skilled in the art. Further, the application of the invention, although it is pnmarily for the repairs of structural member, is not limited to this. It may be adapted for use in repairing damaged pipelines by the incorporation of additional seals.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A device for joining or reinforcing tubular members comprising a rigid outer sleeve, at least one inner sleeve having at one end thereof a bevelled peripheral surface, the inner sleeve being securable to a tubular member to be joined or reinforced and being locatable within the outer sleeve with its bevelled peripheral surface adjacent an end of the outer sleeve to define a chamber therein bounded on one of its sides by the bevelled peripheral surface of the inner sleeve, and means for the injection under pressure of a fluid into the chamber.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 having only one inner sleeve and chamber, the outer sleeve being attachable to a tubular member at an end opposite to that end defining the chamber.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the first tubular member may be joined to a similar outer sleeve on the second tubular member, this being affixed thereto in like fashion, or alternatively a single outer sleeve secured in like fashion at both ends to the first and second tubular members may join the two tubular members. The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the single figure accompanying the provisional specification and showing the device of the invention in longitudinal section. In the figure two tubular member 1A and 1B are joined by a device generally indexed 2. The device 2 includes an outer sleeve 3 made in two longitudinal sections 3A and 3B joined by an annular flange 4, and two inner sleeves SA and SB respectively for tubular members 1A and 1B. Each of the inner sleeves SA and 5B has a bevelled peripheral surface 6 at one end thereof and they are placed on the tubular members 1A and 1B such that these surfaces are adjacent the ends of the outer sleeve 3. Within the outer sleeve 3 are two chambers 7A and 7B which are bounded on one of their sides by the bevelled peripheral surfaces 6 of the respective inner sleeves SA and SB. Each of chambers 7A and 7B has a non-return inlet valve 8 and bleed valve 9. Also the chambers 7A and 7B are sealed by an inner sleeve to outer sleeve seal 10 and an outer sleeve to tubular member seal 11. Assembly of the device shown is as follows. Firstly the tubular members 1A and 1B are cleaned at their ends by water jets. Next with the two tubular members 1A and 1B apart, the sections 3A and 3B of the outer sleeve are placed on respective members 1A and 1B well back from their ends. Then the inner sleeves SA and SB are secured in the positions shown, on the ends of members 1A and 1B by means of a suitable adhesive. For assembly underwater, the resin formulations disclosed in co-pending patent application number 2419177 are used. When the adhesive has set, the two tubular members 1A and 1B are placed together and the sections 3A and 3B of outer sleeve 3 are bolted together at flange 4. Finally a suitable liquid is introduced to each chamber 7A and 7B under pressure to draw together the inner sleeves A and SB and hence the tubular members 1A and 1B. In the assembly of the device the following considerations are important. Firstly the non-bevelled ends of inner sleeves SA and SB should extend slightly beyond, or at least be level with the ends of tubular members 1A and 1B in order that the tube members do not abut, when they are drawn together, before the ends of the inner sleeves SA and SB. This ensures that no permanent shear stress is applied to the adhesive bond by the liquid pressure acting on the bevelled peripheral surfaces 6. Secondly, the inner sleeves SA and SB have the bevelled surfaces 6 so that the liquid pressure, in addition to drawing the tubular members 1A and 1B together, maintains the adhesive bonds beneath these surfaces under compression. Thirdly, the lateral projection of the chambers 7A and 7B along the bevelled surfaces 6 should be sufficient to produce sufficient longitudinal force to draw together the tubular members 1A and 1B with the pressure available. Lastly the pressuring liquid should be settable so that long term leakage can be avoided. The resin mentioned previously can be used and will provide an extra barrier against permeation of water to the inner sleeve/tubular member bond, but other materials such as concrete could also be used. The form of joint shown in the figure is one intended for complete assembly underwater. When one end of the joint can be made dry then that end of the joint may be replaced with a welded flange, the flange to mate with the flange 4 of a half outer sleeve 3. Also it may not be necessary to make a break in an existing tube where the tube is merely weakened as by fatigue cracks. In this case the design of the device may be varied to use both inner and outer sleeves of a kind having two lateral parts which can be assembled in situ around the weakened portion of tube. The foregoing description is made by way of illustration only, and should not be viewed as a limitation of the scope of the invention to the embodiment described. Many variations in the construction will be apparent to one skilled in the art. Further, the application of the invention, although it is pnmarily for the repairs of structural member, is not limited to this. It may be adapted for use in repairing damaged pipelines by the incorporation of additional seals. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A device for joining or reinforcing tubular members comprising a rigid outer sleeve, at least one inner sleeve having at one end thereof a bevelled peripheral surface, the inner sleeve being securable to a tubular member to be joined or reinforced and being locatable within the outer sleeve with its bevelled peripheral surface adjacent an end of the outer sleeve to define a chamber therein bounded on one of its sides by the bevelled peripheral surface of the inner sleeve, and means for the injection under pressure of a fluid into the chamber.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in

which the outer sleeve is attachable to a flange welded to the tubular member.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 having two inner sleeves, one for each end of the outer sleeve, and two chambers.

S. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 in which the inner sleeve is secured to the tubular member by means of an adhesive.

6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the inner sleeve is in two lateral sections for assembly around the tubular member.

7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the outer sleeve is in two parts for assembly around the inner sleeves.

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the means for the injection of a fluid under pressure comprises a non-return valve.

9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which there are provided fluid seals to prevent leakage of the fluid from the chamber.

10. A method for joining together a first, and a second tubular member by gluing to the exterior of the first tubular member an inner sleeve having at one end thereof a bevelled peripheral surface this end being positioned furthermost from the join, locating an outer sleeve around the inner sleeve such that a space bounded on one side by the bevelled peripheral surface of the inner sleeve is defined between the sleeves, securing the outer sleeve to a member on the second tubular member, and injecting into the space so defined a liquid under pressure to draw the first tubular member towards the second.

11. A device for joining or reinforcing tubular members substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing accompanying the provisional specification.

12. A method for joining or reinforcing tubular members substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing accompanying the provisional specification.