JPS5813791B2 - universal joint for pipes - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a universal joint for connecting pipes that can be tilted in any direction and at any angle and rotated at any intersection angle while allowing pipes to communicate with each other.

For example, multi-joint risers are devices used to guide oil and gas produced in the deep sea from the seabed to the sea, and conventionally hinges or universal joints are used at the joints of these risers.

However, if a hinge or universal joint is provided, the way the pipe passes through the joint becomes very complicated.

Oil and gas pipes must be routed to the sea for each well installed on the seabed, and in addition, hydraulic pipes for controlling and powering each well and other equipment installed on the seabed must be installed remotely from the sea. Risers need to pass through many pipes and wires, such as electrical wires.

There are two ways to pass the pipe through a joint: one is to use a flexible hose to bypass only the hinge or universal joint, and the other is to use a swivel placed so that the center line of each bearing of the hinge or universal joint coincides with the center line. There are two ways to connect the pipes, one is to connect the pipes freely, the other is to use a flexible hose for small diameter pipes, and a swivel for large diameter pipes.
Sometimes both methods are used together.

However, flexible hoses used for such purposes have a very complex structure made of metal and plastic, and are expensive.Although they are strong against internal and external pressure, they are weak against tension and lack durability, so they must be replaced regularly. I need it, but
There are many problems, such as the deeper the water, the more difficult it is to replace.

On the other hand, with the method of using swivels, it is very difficult spatially to arrange the swivels of many pipes so that the center line coincides with the rotation axis of each bearing of a hinge or universal joint. There is a limit to the number of

Figures 1 and 2 show how to pass six pipes through a universal joint that is more complicated than a hinge.
A lower yoke 6 is connected to two orthogonal axes 2 and 3 via bearings 4 and 5, and an upper yoke 9 is connected via bearings 7 and 8, and the lower yoke 6 is connected to six pipes 10, 15, 20, 25,3
0,35, six pipes 14 corresponding to the upper yoke 9
, 19, 24, 29, 34, and 39 are arranged side by side.

Then, connect these six upper and lower pipes to (1) Vipe 10 - Swivel 11 - Pipe 12 - Swivel 13 - Pipe 14 (2) Pipe 15 - Swivel 16 - Pipe 17 - Swivel 18 - Pipe 19 (3) Pipe 20 - Swivel 21 - Pipe 22 - Swivel 23 - Pipe 24 (4) Pipe 25 - Swivel 26 - Pipe 27 - Swivel 28 - Pipe 29 (5) Vipe 30 - Swivel 31 - Vipe 32 - Swivel 33 - Pipe 34 (6) Pipe 35 - Swivel 36-pipe 37-swivel 2 swivel 38-pipe 39.
The center line of 21, 26, 31, 36 is the axis 2 of cross pin 1
, the center lines of the swivels 13, 18, 23, 2833, and 38 are arranged to match the axis 3, and the six pipes are connected as a universal joint so that they can be tilted in any direction and at any angle. It is impossible to rotate each pipe on the side yoke 6 side and the upper yoke 9 side in a direction that twists the yoke.

). Such a universal joint for pipes appears complicated at first glance.

Furthermore, in the case of deep-sea oil and gas drilling pipes, a tool called a pump-down tool is hydraulically sent from the sea via production pipes to the underground of each well, and then is subjected to even higher pressure. Depending on what you do, it will operate in a unique way and perform maintenance and repairs inside the mine.

Since such a pump-down tool is a combination of metal parts that can easily pass through the pipe, the pipe through which it passes must have a minimum allowable radius of curvature. If there is a bend, it cannot be passed through.

Arranging the swivels of this large radius of curvature along with the swivels of many other pipes in a straight line on the axes 2 and 3 of the cross pin 1 makes it difficult to support them with the cross pin bearings and occupies a large amount of space near the cross pin. It's so much that it's almost impossible.

The present invention connects a yoke to each of the two axes of the cross pin,
An appropriate number of swivels are placed in a certain mutual relationship between the ends of the two pipes placed along each of these yokes, allowing both pipes to communicate with each other through these swivels, and allowing any movement in any direction. To provide a universal joint for a pipe which can be freely tilted at any angle, occupy a narrow space, arbitrarily select the radius of curvature of the pipe, and require small cross pins and yokes.

Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings.

3 to 5, a first yoke (for example, a lower yoke) 44 is attached to one axis (first axis) 42 of the two orthogonal axes 42 and 43 of the cross pin 41, and a first yoke (for example, a lower yoke) 44 is attached to the other axis (second axis) 43. Two yokes (upper yoke) 45 are connected rotatably, and a first pipe (lower pipe) 46 is connected to the first yoke 44, and a second pipe (upper pipe) 47 is connected to the second yoke (upper yoke) 45, respectively. Place it along the line.

The end of the first pipe 46 is supported by the first swivel 48 supported by the first yoke 44, the pipe 49, the unsupported intermediate second swivel 50, the pipe 51, and preferably the second shaft 43 of the cross pin 41. third swivel 52,
a pipe 53, a fourth swivel 54 supported preferably on the first axis 42 of the cross pin 41, a pipe 55, a fifth unsupported intermediate swivel 56, a pipe 57 and a second
Connected to the end of the second pipe 47 via a sixth swivel 58 supported by the yoke 45 in this order and in a coil shape surrounding the outer peripheries of the first and second yokes 44, 45 and the cross pin 41. The first pipe 46 and the second pipe 47 are connected to each other.

and the first, second and third swivels 48, 50.30
The center lines of both are parallel to the axis X of the first shaft 42, and the center lines of the fourth, fifth, and sixth swivels 54, 56, and 58 are all arranged parallel to the axis y of the second shaft 43. Configure a universal joint.

According to the universal joint for pipes having such a structure, when the first yoke 44 and the first pipe 46 and the second yoke 45 and the second pipe 47 are tilted about the first shaft 42, as shown in FIGS. As shown in the figure, the center lines of the first swivel 48, the intermediate second swivel 50, and the third swivel 52 are arranged parallel to the axis X of the first shaft. The swivel 52 and the pipe 51 rotate at the intermediate second swivel 50, and the distance l between the center lines of the first swivel 48 and the third swivel 52 is
1 can be changed, and the first pipe 46 and the second pipe 47 can be inclined or intersect at any angle around the first axis 42.

Similarly, when the first yoke 44 and the first pipe 46 and the second yoke 45 and the second pipe 47 are tilted about the second axis 43, the fourth swivel 54 and the sixth swivel are Distance l between center lines of 58
2 rotates while changing, so the first pipe 46 and the second
The pipe 47 is a second axis 43 perpendicular to the first axis 42 mentioned above.
The circumference can be inclined or crossed at any angle,
Therefore, if both are combined, both pipes will be 46.47
can be tilted in any direction and at any angle relative to each other without applying excessive force to the entire swivel.

Further, according to this universal joint, both pipes 46, . It is also possible to rotate the yokes 44, 45 in a direction to twist them while maintaining the desired crossing angle of the yokes 47.

If it is necessary to increase the radius of curvature of the pipe, use the pipes 46, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55 of the universal joint part.
, 57 along the outer periphery of the first and second yokes 44, 45 in a coil shape with a sufficient distance from these yokes 44, 45, the radius of curvature can be increased. It is also possible to reduce the outer diameter of each yoke 44,45.

The intermediate second swivel 50 (same as the intermediate fifth swivel 56), which is not supported by either the first yoke 44 or the cross pin 41, is combined with the first swivel 48 and the third swivel 52, as shown in FIG. However, since this intermediate second swivel 50 is only a temporary device that allows the distance l1 between the first swivel 48 and the third swivel 52 to be changed, as shown in FIG. Two intermediate swivels 50', 50' or an arbitrary plurality of intermediate swivels may be provided, and a pipe 59 may be used to connect these intermediate swivels.

First pipe 46, second pipe 47 and cross pin 41
Except for the pipe 53 supported between the third and fourth swivels 52 and 54, the other pipes 49 and 51
, 55, 57 are the first to sixth swivels 48, 50, 5
2, 54, 56, 58, these first to sixth swivels 48, 50, 52, 54, 56
, 58 are subjected to loads from the pipes 49, 51, 55, 57.

A swivel is not originally a device that receives a load, but its original function or purpose is to allow two pipes that are connected to each other so that their center lines coincide, to rotate freely around their center lines. Therefore, adding a load is not desirable in terms of the durability of the swivel.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, a hinge 61 is provided on one or both sides of the center line A of the swivel 60, and a pipe support member is provided at the other end of both hinge pieces 62, 63 of this hinge 61. Swivel 6 due to 64.65
If the pipe support means is configured to fix the pipes 66 and 67 connected to both sides of the swivel 60, only the rotational force will be applied to the swivel 60, and the other loads will be borne by the hinge 61. It also serves as reinforcement.

Such pipe support means include the first to sixth swivels 4.
It is applicable to all of 8, 50, 52, 54, 56, and 5B.

Next, according to such a universal joint, the first pipe 46 (
That is, while the first yoke 44) and the second pipe 4γ (that is, the second yoke 45) are kept at an arbitrary intersection angle, and the positions of the pipes and swivels are left as they are, the first yoke 44 and the second yoke 45 are It is possible to rotate it in a twisting direction.

In other words, the two axes 42 and 4 of the cross pin 41
3 to two arbitrary straight lines x', y' that are orthogonal to each other with the intersection of the two axes, that is, the center point O of the universal joint, as the intersection point in the plane to which the two axes 42 and 43 belong, as shown in FIG. It means that.

Therefore, the first to third subails 48 parallel to each other,
The two sets of center lines, the center line of 50.52 and the center lines of the fourth to sixth subails 54, 56, 58, which are parallel to each other, are:
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 or 9, the cross bin may be arranged parallel to the two orthogonal axes 42 and 43, respectively, but it is not necessarily limited to these two axes 42 and 43, and the 9 As shown in the figure, it is only necessary to be parallel to any two straight lines x' and y' that are perpendicular to each other in the plane formed by the two axes 42 and 43.

There are special universal joints in which the two axes of the cross pin are not on the same plane.

In FIG. 10, two axes 71 and 72 are not on one plane.
An axis, 73 is a straight line perpendicular to both axes 71 and 72,
74 is a straight line passing through the intersection 75 of the straight line 73 and the axis 71 and parallel to the axis γ2, and L is the distance between the axis 72 and the straight line 74.

Since it is a universal joint, the axis 71 and the straight line 74 are perpendicular to each other.

Here, if the axis 72 is brought closer to the straight line 14 (the distance L is brought closer to 0) and the two are made to coincide (the distance L is brought to 0), a normal universal joint will be obtained.

That is, in this special universal joint, the shafts 71 and 72 are simply separated by a distance L along a straight line 73 perpendicular to the shafts 71 and 72 from the position of the normal universal joint.

Therefore, in such a special universal joint, the first to third swivels 48 in FIGS.
, 50.52 center line and 4th to 6th swivel 5
4, 56, and 58 are the planes formed by axes 71 and 72 when axis 72 approaches straight line 74 in FIG. 10, that is, straight line 1 perpendicular to both axes 71 and 72.
Any two straight lines 76 orthogonal in the plane P perpendicular to 3.
．． 77, it should be parallel to each of them.

According to the universal joint for pipes of the present invention, the two pipes can be made to incline or intersect each other in any direction at any angle while communicating with each other, and the two pipes can also be connected at any angle. You can rotate them while crossing them.

Furthermore, the radius of curvature of the bent portion of the two pipes and the intermediate connecting pipe used as a universal joint can be arbitrarily selected, and on the other hand, the two yokes and cross pins can be accommodated in a small size inside the pipe connected in a coiled manner.

Furthermore, the two axes of the cross pin do not need to be in the same plane; if a pipe support means using a hinge is used for each swivel, only rotational force is applied to the swivel without any other load, and at the same time both sides of the swivel are It can also be reinforced by including pipes connected to it.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a side view showing a conventional universal joint means for connecting six pipes, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in Fig. 1, and Figs. Embodiment FIG. 3 is a front view showing the universal joint for pipes of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a side view in the ■ direction of FIG. 3, and FIG.
A perspective view of the main parts in the figure, Figure 6 is a front view when one intermediate swivel is used, Figure 7 is a front view when two intermediate swivels are used, and Figure 8 is a pipe support means for each swivel. 9 is a plan view showing a cross pin, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view for explaining the case of using a cross pin having two axes that are not on the same plane. 41... Cross pin, 42, 43... Axis of cross pin, 44... First yoke, 45... Second yoke, 4
6...First pipe, 47...Second pipe, 48...
・First swivel, 50...Intermediate second swivel, 52・
...3rd swivel, 54...4th swivel, 56...
・Intermediate 5th swivel, 58...6th swivel, 49
,51,53,55.57...pipe, 60...swivel, 61...hinge, 62,63...hinge piece, 66,67...pipe, 71,72...cross pin Axes not on one plane, 73... Straight lines perpendicular to the axes 71, 72, 76, 77... Straight lines perpendicular to the plane P, x, y, x', y'... 2 axes 42, A straight line perpendicular to the plane formed by 43, P... A plane perpendicular to the straight line 73.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Connect a first yoke to the first axis and a second yoke to the second axis of a cross pin having two axes perpendicular to each other in one plane, and align the first pipe and the second pipe along each of the two yokes. a first swivel supported by the first yoke, at least one intermediate second swivel, a third swivel and a fourth swivel supported by the cross bin, and arranged between the ends of the two tubes; At least one intermediate fifth swivel and a sixth swivel supported by the second yoke are arranged, and a pipe connects these to communicate the first pipe and the second pipe, and the first pipe and the second pipe are connected to each other by a pipe. The center lines of the first, second, and third swivels are parallel to each other, and the center lines of the fourth, fifth, and sixth swivels are parallel to each other, and the two sets of parallel center lines are parallel to each other. A universal joint for pipes that is arranged parallel to each of two arbitrary straight lines that are perpendicular to each other in the plane to be formed.