US20130105028A1 - High Strength Pipe Thread Protector - Google Patents
High Strength Pipe Thread Protector Download PDFInfo
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- US20130105028A1 US20130105028A1 US13/428,250 US201213428250A US2013105028A1 US 20130105028 A1 US20130105028 A1 US 20130105028A1 US 201213428250 A US201213428250 A US 201213428250A US 2013105028 A1 US2013105028 A1 US 2013105028A1
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- Prior art keywords
- base
- ridge
- pipe
- axis
- distal
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L57/00—Protection of pipes or objects of similar shape against external or internal damage or wear
- F16L57/005—Protection of pipes or objects of similar shape against external or internal damage or wear specially adapted for the ends of pipes
Definitions
- the invention relates generally to the protection of pipe from damage and, more specifically, to a thread protection device (or “thread protector”) for protecting end of a pipe and the threads adjacent the end of a pipe from impact loads.
- a thread protection device or “thread protector”
- Pipes such as those used for oil or gas drilling, are often connected at the ends using a male thread portion at one end (the pin end) of a section of pipe that is threadably engageable to a female thread portion (the box end) of another section of pipe.
- Thread protectors are commonly used to protect the threaded ends of a pipe.
- Thread protectors must prevent substantial impact energy from reaching the pipe and damaging the threads during handling and transportation. This may be accomplished by a thread protector that plastically deforms upon impact, dissipating impact energy away from the pipe threads in the form of heat.
- An aspect of the present invention provides a device for protecting a portion of a pipe having a pipe end, a pipe axis and a series of pipe threads adjacent the pipe end.
- the device comprises a disk-shaped base having a proximal base surface that faces the pipe end when the device is installed on the pipe and a distal base surface.
- the base is a body of revolution about a base axis that is coaxial with the pipe axis when the device is installed on the pipe.
- An annular connector extends proximally from the base and has an interior connector surface and an exterior connector surface and a threaded engagement portion configured for threadably engaging the series of pipe threads for securing the device to the pipe.
- the device further comprises a ridge extending distally from at least a portion of the outer edge of the distal base surface.
- the ridge has a ridge height, an outer ridge surface and an inner ridge surface.
- the device also comprises a plurality of ribs extending distally from the distal base surface and radially inward toward the base axis from the inner ridge surface.
- FIG. 1 is a top view of a protection device according to an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 2 is a section view of a protection device according to an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 3 is a section view of a protection device according to an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 4 is a top view of a protection device according to an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 5 is a section view of a protection device according to an embodiment of the invention.
- Embodiments of the present invention provides thread protectors that can be threaded to the end of a pipe and that are able to withstand impact energy from various angles and dissipate it in order to protect the pipe end and the threads at the pipe end.
- thread protectors of the invention are capable of meeting the requirements of American Petroleum Institute (API) Specification 5CT/ISO 11960 Annex I, which is incorporated herein by reference.
- Thread protectors according to the invention have structural features that allow reductions in the amount of material needed, which serves to minimize weight and production costs.
- the thread protectors of the invention may be made from a variety of materials, depending on the desired strength properties and the anticipated environmental conditions in the field.
- the thread protectors of the invention may be configured for threadable engagement with any standard threaded pipe.
- proximal and distal are used to describe the relative placement and direction of features of the disclosed thread protectors relative to the pipe when the thread protector is installed.
- proximal means in the direction the pipe extends from the pipe end and “distal” means in the direction away from the pipe, in each case, along the centerline axis of the pipe.
- distal means in a direction away from the threaded end of the pipe.
- a thread protector has a disk-shaped base with a proximal base surface and a distal base surface.
- the proximal base surface is attached to an annular connector that extends proximally in the direction of the pipe.
- the annular connector has an interior surface and an exterior surface and a threaded engagement portion for threadably engaging a corresponding series of pipe threads adjacent the pipe end.
- the annular connector may be configured as either a box or pin connector depending on the configuration of the pipe end.
- the illustrative thread protector has a ridge that extends distally from the distal base surface. This ridge is positioned along some or all of the circumferential edge of the distal base surface.
- the circumferential ridge may be broken into a plurality of arcuate ridge sections.
- the ridge has an inner surface that is oriented toward and an outer surface that is oriented away from an axis of the thread protector that is coaxial with the pipe centerline axis when the thread protector is installed.
- the illustrative thread protector embodiment also has a plurality of ribs extending distally from the distal base surface. These ribs are positioned and oriented so that they extend radially inward from the inner ridge surface toward the thread protector axis.
- the illustrative thread protector will typically be a single integrally formed molded thermoplastic material. Any suitable material providing the requisite strength characteristics may be used. Typical polymer materials may include but are not limited to high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene, nylon, polyurethane, and acetal. High strength HDPE, polypropylene, nylon and acetal may be particularly suitable.
- the circumferential ridge and the ribs serve to support and reinforce the base of the thread protector and distribute impact loads received by the thread protector when installed on a pipe.
- the size and configuration of the ridge and the number, size and spacing of the ribs may be varied depending on the design loads and other design criteria. In particular, these features may be determined based on an optimization between expected environmental loads and material(s) used to produce the thread protector.
- the thread protector has a disk-shaped base 102 , a proximal base surface 102 a , a distal base surface 102 b , and an outer edge 102 c .
- the disk-shaped base 102 is a body of revolution with circular proximal and distal base surfaces.
- the base 102 may be cylindrical or frusto-conical. In other embodiments, the disk-shaped base 102 may be polygonal.
- the base 102 is a body of revolution about a base axis 108 that is coaxial with the pipe axis when the thread protector is installed on a pipe.
- An annular connector portion 103 extends proximally from the proximal base surface 102 a .
- the annular connector portion 103 has an interior connector surface 103 a , an exterior connector surface 103 b , and a threaded portion 103 c configured to threadably engage the pipe threads of the pin end of a pipe.
- the annular connector portion 103 may alternatively be configured for threadable engagement with a box end of a pipe as exemplified by the connector portion 203 of FIG. 3 .
- a ridge 104 extends distally to a height h from at least a portion of the distal base surface 102 b of the base 102 .
- the ridge 104 has an outer ridge surface 104 a and an inner ridge surface 104 b and a width w.
- the ridge 104 is substantially circular and is co-centric with the circular outer edge 102 c .
- the width w and the height h are uniform around the ridge 104 . In other embodiments, either dimension may be varied.
- the ridge 104 may extend around the entire circumference of the distal base surface. in other embodiments, the ridge may be broken into arcuate segments.
- the thread protector 100 has a plurality of ribs 106 extending distally from the distal base surface 102 b and radially inward from the ridge 104 toward the base axis 108 .
- the ribs 106 may be evenly spaced with respect to each other as shown or may have variable spacing.
- the base 102 , the ridge 104 , the ribs 106 , and the annular connector portion 103 may collectively or individually be formed from any suitable material including composite resins, thermoplastics, polymer alloys, steel, or similar materials.
- the base 102 , the ridge 104 , the ribs 106 , and the annular connector portion 103 may be integrally formed as a single monolithic body.
- the ribs 106 may be distributed around the entirety of the ridge 104 or along one or more portions of the ridge 104 . As shown in FIG. 1 , the ribs are distributed and evenly spaced in two distinct groups on opposing sides of the ridge 104 . The specific configuration of the ribs 106 may be determined based on the loads to be experienced and/or based on tooling or manufacturing requirements.
- Each rib 106 has a length L and a width w 2 . In this embodiment, the length L is the same for each rib. In other embodiments, the length L may be varied from rib to rib, depending on the desired impact-load bearing and distribution characteristics of the thread protector. The width w 2 may similarly be varied from rib to rib.
- the width w 2 is uniform along the length L of each rib. In other embodiments, the width w 2 may be greater at the end of the rib 106 that is adjacent the inner ridge surface 104 b , with a gradual taper to a smaller width at the end of the rib that is closer to the base axis 108 . This width w 2 may be varied based on the desired load-bearing characteristics of the thread protector. Each rib also has a height that may be the same as or different from the height h of the ridge 104 .
- the thread protector 200 configured for protecting the threads on the box end of a pipe is shown.
- the thread protector 200 has a disk-shaped base 202 , a circumferential ridge 204 and radially oriented ribs 206 that may be substantially similar to the base 102 , ridge 104 and ribs 106 of the thread protector 100 .
- the thread protector 200 also has an annular connector portion 203 that projects proximally from the proximal base surface 202 a of the base 202 .
- the annular connector portion 203 has an interior connector surface 203 a and an exterior connector surface 203 b that includes a threaded portion 203 c configured to threadably engage the pipe threads of the box end of a pipe.
- the thread protector 200 FIG. 3 also includes an additional support feature that could be applied to either a box end protector or a pin end protector.
- This feature comprises a plurality of support members 207 in contact with the interior connector surface 203 a and the proximal base surface 202 a .
- the support members 207 extend proximally from the proximal base surface 202 a and radially inward from the interior connector surface towards the base axis 208 .
- the support members 207 may be equally spaced with respect to each other and may be distributed around all or a portion of the circumference of the interior connector surface.
- the support members 207 have a curved, buttress-like shape. It will be understood, however, that the shape of the support members may be varied depending on the desired load bearing characteristics and the material used to form the thread protector.
- the base 202 , the ridge 204 , the ribs 206 , and the annular connector portion 203 may collectively or individually be formed from any suitable material.
- the base 202 , ridge 204 , ribs 206 , and connector portion 203 are integrally formed from a thermoplastic material into a single monolithic body.
- the thread protector 300 has a disk-shaped base 302 , a circumferential ridge 304 , radially oriented ribs 306 , connector portion 303 and support members 307 that may be substantially similar to those of the previous embodiments.
- the thread protector 300 also has a number of additional features that may be added individually or collectively to the previously described embodiments.
- One such feature is a center hole 312 through the base 302 , which is configured for receiving an engagement portion of a tool that may be used to assist in handling or installing the thread protector 300 .
- An annular hole extension member 310 has a center bore matching and aligned with the center hole 312 and extends proximally from the base 302 .
- the annular extension member 310 has an inner extension wall 310 a and an outer extension wall 310 b .
- the center cylindrical hole 312 is positioned coaxially with the base axis 308 so that a cylindrical tool portion can be inserted therein and the tool simultaneously rotated about the axis of the thread protector 300 and the axis of a pipe to which the thread protector 300 is to be mounted.
- the thread protector 300 may have, in addition to or instead of the center hole 312 , one or more off-center holes 311 through the distal base surface 302 b .
- these additional holes 311 may extend through a portion of or all the way through the thickness of the base 302 and may be configured for receiving engagement members of a tool for that may be used to assist in handling or installing the thread protector 300 .
- the thread protector 300 has both the center hole 312 and two or more off-center holes 311 , which are collectively configured for receiving rotation members of a tool designed to engage the thread protector, position it at the end of a pipe and rotate it to thread it onto the pipe.
- Another optional feature of the thread protector 300 is the provision of one or more tool engagement slots 314 in the circumferential ridge 304 .
- These slots 314 may be provided and configured for application of a rotational force on the thread protector 300 to install or remove the thread protector 300 from a pipe.
- these slots may be configured so that, in the field, any of a variety of tools not specifically designed for use in conjunction with the thread protectors of the invention may be used to provide torque to install or remove them.
- the ridge 304 of the thread protector 300 is bisected by a pair of tool engagement slots 314 .
- the tool engagement slots 214 are positioned on a diameter through the base axis 208 on opposing sides of the ridge 204 to allow for the insertion of a bar or other tool found in a typical oil field environment.
- the height h 1 of the ridge 304 may be increased adjacent the tool-receiving slots 314 to h 2 . This serves to increase the bearing surface and the strength of the ridge 304 in these locations.
- any of the above optional features may be applied to any of the embodiments described herein.
- Any of the embodiments described herein may be produced as a single integrally formed monolithic structure.
- any embodiment may be formed by molding of a thermoplastic material.
- Features such as threads, holes and slots may be formed by molding or by machining of the molded part.
- thread protectors of the invention may be scaled to any size as required for the protection of various pipe diameters and thicknesses.
- the specific configuration and features of the thread protectors may be driven by the loads expected in use and desired manufactured economies.
- the protection devices of the present invention may be formed from any suitable material.
- suitable materials include various thermoplastic materials such as HDPE, LDPE, polypropylene, nylon, polyurethane, and acetal.
- Such materials may be provided with any of various additives selected to enhance processing characteristics or to tailor the physical characteristics of the final protector device. Physical characteristics that may be tailored include material stability, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), strength and stiffness, and toughness.
- CTE coefficient of thermal expansion
- an inorganic, halloysite-based, polymer additive marketed by Applied Minerals Inc. under the name DragoniteTM is added to an HDPE and molded to form thread protector devices of the invention.
- LDPE LDPE. Filler materials or foaming agents may also be incorporated in some or all of the device components.
- Exemplary thread protectors have been produced for a variety of pipe sizes using HDPE. These protectors have been shown to withstand the axial and angled load requirements of API 5CT/ISO 11960 Annex I under test conditions ranging from ⁇ 50° F. to 150° F. with no damage to the pipe to which they were attached. Thread protectors successfully met these impact standards for pipe diameters ranging from 2.375 to 13.375 in.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Protection Of Pipes Against Damage, Friction, And Corrosion (AREA)
- Joints That Cut Off Fluids, And Hose Joints (AREA)
- Buffer Packaging (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/552,783 filed Oct. 28, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
- The invention relates generally to the protection of pipe from damage and, more specifically, to a thread protection device (or “thread protector”) for protecting end of a pipe and the threads adjacent the end of a pipe from impact loads.
- Pipes, such as those used for oil or gas drilling, are often connected at the ends using a male thread portion at one end (the pin end) of a section of pipe that is threadably engageable to a female thread portion (the box end) of another section of pipe.
- The threaded ends of a pipe are subject to damage when not in actual use. Pipes are often dropped or impacted by other outside forces. “Thread protectors” are commonly used to protect the threaded ends of a pipe.
- Thread protectors must prevent substantial impact energy from reaching the pipe and damaging the threads during handling and transportation. This may be accomplished by a thread protector that plastically deforms upon impact, dissipating impact energy away from the pipe threads in the form of heat.
- An aspect of the present invention provides a device for protecting a portion of a pipe having a pipe end, a pipe axis and a series of pipe threads adjacent the pipe end. The device comprises a disk-shaped base having a proximal base surface that faces the pipe end when the device is installed on the pipe and a distal base surface. The base is a body of revolution about a base axis that is coaxial with the pipe axis when the device is installed on the pipe. An annular connector extends proximally from the base and has an interior connector surface and an exterior connector surface and a threaded engagement portion configured for threadably engaging the series of pipe threads for securing the device to the pipe. The device further comprises a ridge extending distally from at least a portion of the outer edge of the distal base surface. The ridge has a ridge height, an outer ridge surface and an inner ridge surface. The device also comprises a plurality of ribs extending distally from the distal base surface and radially inward toward the base axis from the inner ridge surface.
- The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference indicators are used to designate like elements, and in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a top view of a protection device according to an embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 2 is a section view of a protection device according to an embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 3 is a section view of a protection device according to an embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 4 is a top view of a protection device according to an embodiment of the invention; and -
FIG. 5 is a section view of a protection device according to an embodiment of the invention; - Embodiments of the present invention provides thread protectors that can be threaded to the end of a pipe and that are able to withstand impact energy from various angles and dissipate it in order to protect the pipe end and the threads at the pipe end. In particular, thread protectors of the invention are capable of meeting the requirements of American Petroleum Institute (API) Specification 5CT/ISO 11960 Annex I, which is incorporated herein by reference. Thread protectors according to the invention have structural features that allow reductions in the amount of material needed, which serves to minimize weight and production costs. The thread protectors of the invention may be made from a variety of materials, depending on the desired strength properties and the anticipated environmental conditions in the field.
- The thread protectors of the invention may be configured for threadable engagement with any standard threaded pipe. Throughout the present specification the terms “proximal” and “distal” are used to describe the relative placement and direction of features of the disclosed thread protectors relative to the pipe when the thread protector is installed. As used herein “proximal” means in the direction the pipe extends from the pipe end and “distal” means in the direction away from the pipe, in each case, along the centerline axis of the pipe. Thus, when installed, the proximal end of the thread protector is oriented in a direction toward the pipe and the distal end of the thread protector is oriented in a direction away from the threaded end of the pipe.
- In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention a thread protector has a disk-shaped base with a proximal base surface and a distal base surface. The proximal base surface is attached to an annular connector that extends proximally in the direction of the pipe. The annular connector has an interior surface and an exterior surface and a threaded engagement portion for threadably engaging a corresponding series of pipe threads adjacent the pipe end. The annular connector may be configured as either a box or pin connector depending on the configuration of the pipe end. The illustrative thread protector has a ridge that extends distally from the distal base surface. This ridge is positioned along some or all of the circumferential edge of the distal base surface. In some embodiments, the circumferential ridge may be broken into a plurality of arcuate ridge sections. The ridge has an inner surface that is oriented toward and an outer surface that is oriented away from an axis of the thread protector that is coaxial with the pipe centerline axis when the thread protector is installed. The illustrative thread protector embodiment also has a plurality of ribs extending distally from the distal base surface. These ribs are positioned and oriented so that they extend radially inward from the inner ridge surface toward the thread protector axis.
- The illustrative thread protector will typically be a single integrally formed molded thermoplastic material. Any suitable material providing the requisite strength characteristics may be used. Typical polymer materials may include but are not limited to high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene, nylon, polyurethane, and acetal. High strength HDPE, polypropylene, nylon and acetal may be particularly suitable.
- The circumferential ridge and the ribs serve to support and reinforce the base of the thread protector and distribute impact loads received by the thread protector when installed on a pipe. The size and configuration of the ridge and the number, size and spacing of the ribs may be varied depending on the design loads and other design criteria. In particular, these features may be determined based on an optimization between expected environmental loads and material(s) used to produce the thread protector.
- Aspects of the thread protectors of the invention will now be discussed in more detail. Referring now to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , athread protector 100 according to an embodiment of the invention for a pin end of a pipe is illustrated. The thread protector has a disk-shaped base 102, aproximal base surface 102 a, adistal base surface 102 b, and anouter edge 102 c. In this embodiment, the disk-shaped base 102 is a body of revolution with circular proximal and distal base surfaces. Thebase 102 may be cylindrical or frusto-conical. In other embodiments, the disk-shaped base 102 may be polygonal. Thebase 102 is a body of revolution about abase axis 108 that is coaxial with the pipe axis when the thread protector is installed on a pipe. Anannular connector portion 103 extends proximally from theproximal base surface 102 a. Theannular connector portion 103 has aninterior connector surface 103 a, anexterior connector surface 103 b, and a threadedportion 103 c configured to threadably engage the pipe threads of the pin end of a pipe. As will be discussed, theannular connector portion 103 may alternatively be configured for threadable engagement with a box end of a pipe as exemplified by theconnector portion 203 ofFIG. 3 . - With reference specifically to
FIG. 1 , aridge 104 extends distally to a height h from at least a portion of thedistal base surface 102 b of thebase 102. Theridge 104 has anouter ridge surface 104 a and aninner ridge surface 104 b and a width w. In this embodiment, theridge 104 is substantially circular and is co-centric with the circularouter edge 102 c. In this embodiment, the width w and the height h are uniform around theridge 104. In other embodiments, either dimension may be varied. As shown inFIG. 1 , theridge 104 may extend around the entire circumference of the distal base surface. in other embodiments, the ridge may be broken into arcuate segments. - The
thread protector 100 has a plurality ofribs 106 extending distally from thedistal base surface 102 b and radially inward from theridge 104 toward thebase axis 108. Theribs 106 may be evenly spaced with respect to each other as shown or may have variable spacing. - The
base 102, theridge 104, theribs 106, and theannular connector portion 103 may collectively or individually be formed from any suitable material including composite resins, thermoplastics, polymer alloys, steel, or similar materials. In particular embodiments, thebase 102, theridge 104, theribs 106, and theannular connector portion 103 may be integrally formed as a single monolithic body. - The
ribs 106 may be distributed around the entirety of theridge 104 or along one or more portions of theridge 104. As shown inFIG. 1 , the ribs are distributed and evenly spaced in two distinct groups on opposing sides of theridge 104. The specific configuration of theribs 106 may be determined based on the loads to be experienced and/or based on tooling or manufacturing requirements. Eachrib 106 has a length L and a width w2. In this embodiment, the length L is the same for each rib. In other embodiments, the length L may be varied from rib to rib, depending on the desired impact-load bearing and distribution characteristics of the thread protector. The width w2 may similarly be varied from rib to rib. Furthermore, in this embodiment, for eachrib 106, the width w2 is uniform along the length L of each rib. In other embodiments, the width w2 may be greater at the end of therib 106 that is adjacent theinner ridge surface 104 b, with a gradual taper to a smaller width at the end of the rib that is closer to thebase axis 108. This width w2 may be varied based on the desired load-bearing characteristics of the thread protector. Each rib also has a height that may be the same as or different from the height h of theridge 104. - Referring now to
FIG. 3 , an embodiment of athread protector 200 configured for protecting the threads on the box end of a pipe is shown. Thethread protector 200 has a disk-shapedbase 202, acircumferential ridge 204 and radially orientedribs 206 that may be substantially similar to thebase 102,ridge 104 andribs 106 of thethread protector 100. Thethread protector 200 also has anannular connector portion 203 that projects proximally from theproximal base surface 202 a of thebase 202. Theannular connector portion 203 has aninterior connector surface 203 a and anexterior connector surface 203 b that includes a threadedportion 203 c configured to threadably engage the pipe threads of the box end of a pipe. - The
thread protector 200FIG. 3 also includes an additional support feature that could be applied to either a box end protector or a pin end protector. This feature comprises a plurality ofsupport members 207 in contact with theinterior connector surface 203 a and theproximal base surface 202 a. Thesupport members 207 extend proximally from theproximal base surface 202 a and radially inward from the interior connector surface towards thebase axis 208. Thesupport members 207 may be equally spaced with respect to each other and may be distributed around all or a portion of the circumference of the interior connector surface. In the illustrated embodiment, thesupport members 207 have a curved, buttress-like shape. It will be understood, however, that the shape of the support members may be varied depending on the desired load bearing characteristics and the material used to form the thread protector. - Again, the
base 202, theridge 204, theribs 206, and theannular connector portion 203 may collectively or individually be formed from any suitable material. In particular embodiments, thebase 202,ridge 204,ribs 206, andconnector portion 203 are integrally formed from a thermoplastic material into a single monolithic body. - Referring now to
FIGS. 4 and 5 , athread protector 300 according to another illustrative embodiment is shown. Thethread protector 300 has a disk-shapedbase 302, acircumferential ridge 304, radially orientedribs 306,connector portion 303 andsupport members 307 that may be substantially similar to those of the previous embodiments. Thethread protector 300 also has a number of additional features that may be added individually or collectively to the previously described embodiments. One such feature is acenter hole 312 through thebase 302, which is configured for receiving an engagement portion of a tool that may be used to assist in handling or installing thethread protector 300. An annularhole extension member 310 has a center bore matching and aligned with thecenter hole 312 and extends proximally from thebase 302. Theannular extension member 310 has aninner extension wall 310 a and anouter extension wall 310 b. The centercylindrical hole 312 is positioned coaxially with thebase axis 308 so that a cylindrical tool portion can be inserted therein and the tool simultaneously rotated about the axis of thethread protector 300 and the axis of a pipe to which thethread protector 300 is to be mounted. Thethread protector 300 may have, in addition to or instead of thecenter hole 312, one or more off-center holes 311 through thedistal base surface 302 b. Theseadditional holes 311 may extend through a portion of or all the way through the thickness of thebase 302 and may be configured for receiving engagement members of a tool for that may be used to assist in handling or installing thethread protector 300. In a particular embodiment, thethread protector 300 has both thecenter hole 312 and two or more off-center holes 311, which are collectively configured for receiving rotation members of a tool designed to engage the thread protector, position it at the end of a pipe and rotate it to thread it onto the pipe. - Another optional feature of the
thread protector 300 is the provision of one or moretool engagement slots 314 in thecircumferential ridge 304. Theseslots 314 may be provided and configured for application of a rotational force on thethread protector 300 to install or remove thethread protector 300 from a pipe. In particular, these slots may be configured so that, in the field, any of a variety of tools not specifically designed for use in conjunction with the thread protectors of the invention may be used to provide torque to install or remove them. - In a particular embodiment, the
ridge 304 of thethread protector 300 is bisected by a pair oftool engagement slots 314. The tool engagement slots 214 are positioned on a diameter through thebase axis 208 on opposing sides of theridge 204 to allow for the insertion of a bar or other tool found in a typical oil field environment. To facilitate the ability to torque the thread protector by placement of a tool member in the tool-receivingslots 314, the height h1 of theridge 304 may be increased adjacent the tool-receivingslots 314 to h2. This serves to increase the bearing surface and the strength of theridge 304 in these locations. - It will be understood that any of the above optional features may be applied to any of the embodiments described herein. Any of the embodiments described herein may be produced as a single integrally formed monolithic structure. In particular, any embodiment may be formed by molding of a thermoplastic material. Features such as threads, holes and slots may be formed by molding or by machining of the molded part.
- It will also be understood that the thread protectors of the invention may be scaled to any size as required for the protection of various pipe diameters and thicknesses. The specific configuration and features of the thread protectors may be driven by the loads expected in use and desired manufactured economies.
- As has been discussed, the protection devices of the present invention may be formed from any suitable material. Particularly suitable materials include various thermoplastic materials such as HDPE, LDPE, polypropylene, nylon, polyurethane, and acetal. Such materials may be provided with any of various additives selected to enhance processing characteristics or to tailor the physical characteristics of the final protector device. Physical characteristics that may be tailored include material stability, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), strength and stiffness, and toughness. In some exemplary embodiments, an inorganic, halloysite-based, polymer additive marketed by Applied Minerals Inc. under the name Dragonite™ is added to an HDPE and molded to form thread protector devices of the invention. In exemplary embodiments, LDPE. Filler materials or foaming agents may also be incorporated in some or all of the device components.
- Exemplary thread protectors have been produced for a variety of pipe sizes using HDPE. These protectors have been shown to withstand the axial and angled load requirements of API 5CT/ISO 11960 Annex I under test conditions ranging from −50° F. to 150° F. with no damage to the pipe to which they were attached. Thread protectors successfully met these impact standards for pipe diameters ranging from 2.375 to 13.375 in.
- It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the method, manufacture, configuration, and/or use of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
Claims (16)
Priority Applications (7)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/428,250 US20130105028A1 (en) | 2011-10-28 | 2012-03-23 | High Strength Pipe Thread Protector |
CA2775502A CA2775502A1 (en) | 2011-10-28 | 2012-04-30 | High strength pipe thread protector |
MX2012005334A MX2012005334A (en) | 2011-10-28 | 2012-05-07 | High strength pipe thread protector. |
DE102012104395A DE102012104395A1 (en) | 2011-10-28 | 2012-05-22 | High-strength pipe thread protection |
BR102012012613-3A BR102012012613A2 (en) | 2011-10-28 | 2012-05-25 | high strength pipe thread protector |
CO12086955A CO6800253A1 (en) | 2011-10-28 | 2012-05-25 | Heavy Duty Pipe Thread Protector |
ARP120101876A AR086584A1 (en) | 2011-10-28 | 2012-05-28 | HIGH RESISTANCE PIPE THREAD PROTECTOR |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US201161552783P | 2011-10-28 | 2011-10-28 | |
US13/428,250 US20130105028A1 (en) | 2011-10-28 | 2012-03-23 | High Strength Pipe Thread Protector |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20130105028A1 true US20130105028A1 (en) | 2013-05-02 |
Family
ID=48084469
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US13/428,250 Abandoned US20130105028A1 (en) | 2011-10-28 | 2012-03-23 | High Strength Pipe Thread Protector |
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---|---|
US (1) | US20130105028A1 (en) |
AR (1) | AR086584A1 (en) |
BR (1) | BR102012012613A2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2775502A1 (en) |
CO (1) | CO6800253A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE102012104395A1 (en) |
MX (1) | MX2012005334A (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20160039585A1 (en) * | 2014-08-11 | 2016-02-11 | Universal Moulding Co., Ltd. | Pipe thread protector with an inner tapered groove |
US9593792B1 (en) | 2012-10-10 | 2017-03-14 | Michael E. Yoder | Thread protectors |
US10274123B2 (en) * | 2014-08-11 | 2019-04-30 | Universal Moulding Co. Ltd. | Pipe thread protector with an inner tapered groove |
WO2019206484A1 (en) * | 2018-04-25 | 2019-10-31 | Peter Kroll | System and protector for protecting an end of a pipe |
US20190375564A1 (en) * | 2018-06-07 | 2019-12-12 | G&H Diversified Manufacturing Lp | Thread protector for tubular members |
US11774029B2 (en) | 2021-02-04 | 2023-10-03 | Universal Moulding Co. Ltd. | Open-ended pipe thread protector with seal thereon and seal therefor |
USD1025308S1 (en) | 2019-11-25 | 2024-04-30 | Universal Moulding Co. Ltd. | Pipe thread protector |
Citations (10)
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US4020873A (en) * | 1975-07-18 | 1977-05-03 | Precise Metals & Plastics, Inc. | Thread protector for an externally threaded pipe |
US4337799A (en) * | 1980-09-22 | 1982-07-06 | Hoover C Roger | Thread protector |
US4655256A (en) * | 1985-01-14 | 1987-04-07 | Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation | Threaded end protector and component |
US4682707A (en) * | 1985-01-11 | 1987-07-28 | National Can Corporation | Container having a tamper proof lid |
US5803126A (en) * | 1997-04-01 | 1998-09-08 | Zaro; Marvin | Protective closure |
US6085478A (en) * | 1998-08-11 | 2000-07-11 | Deslauriers, Inc. | Impalement prevention safety system |
US6338338B1 (en) * | 1997-03-14 | 2002-01-15 | Bespak Plc | Inhalation apparatus |
US7281546B2 (en) * | 2003-04-11 | 2007-10-16 | Hunting Energy Services, Inc. | Thread protection system with weather barrier |
US20080314468A1 (en) * | 2007-06-22 | 2008-12-25 | Jon Houghton | Cap or Plate With Electronic Or Magnetic Marker |
US20110265904A1 (en) * | 2010-05-03 | 2011-11-03 | Drilltec Patents & Technologies Corporation | Pipe Thread Protector |
-
2012
- 2012-03-23 US US13/428,250 patent/US20130105028A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2012-04-30 CA CA2775502A patent/CA2775502A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2012-05-07 MX MX2012005334A patent/MX2012005334A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2012-05-22 DE DE102012104395A patent/DE102012104395A1/en not_active Ceased
- 2012-05-25 CO CO12086955A patent/CO6800253A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2012-05-25 BR BR102012012613-3A patent/BR102012012613A2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2012-05-28 AR ARP120101876A patent/AR086584A1/en unknown
Patent Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4020873A (en) * | 1975-07-18 | 1977-05-03 | Precise Metals & Plastics, Inc. | Thread protector for an externally threaded pipe |
US4337799A (en) * | 1980-09-22 | 1982-07-06 | Hoover C Roger | Thread protector |
US4682707A (en) * | 1985-01-11 | 1987-07-28 | National Can Corporation | Container having a tamper proof lid |
US4655256A (en) * | 1985-01-14 | 1987-04-07 | Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation | Threaded end protector and component |
US6338338B1 (en) * | 1997-03-14 | 2002-01-15 | Bespak Plc | Inhalation apparatus |
US5803126A (en) * | 1997-04-01 | 1998-09-08 | Zaro; Marvin | Protective closure |
US6085478A (en) * | 1998-08-11 | 2000-07-11 | Deslauriers, Inc. | Impalement prevention safety system |
US7281546B2 (en) * | 2003-04-11 | 2007-10-16 | Hunting Energy Services, Inc. | Thread protection system with weather barrier |
US20080314468A1 (en) * | 2007-06-22 | 2008-12-25 | Jon Houghton | Cap or Plate With Electronic Or Magnetic Marker |
US20110265904A1 (en) * | 2010-05-03 | 2011-11-03 | Drilltec Patents & Technologies Corporation | Pipe Thread Protector |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9593792B1 (en) | 2012-10-10 | 2017-03-14 | Michael E. Yoder | Thread protectors |
US20160039585A1 (en) * | 2014-08-11 | 2016-02-11 | Universal Moulding Co., Ltd. | Pipe thread protector with an inner tapered groove |
US9828150B2 (en) * | 2014-08-11 | 2017-11-28 | Universal Moulding Co. Ltd. | Pipe thread protector with an inner tapered groove |
US10274123B2 (en) * | 2014-08-11 | 2019-04-30 | Universal Moulding Co. Ltd. | Pipe thread protector with an inner tapered groove |
WO2019206484A1 (en) * | 2018-04-25 | 2019-10-31 | Peter Kroll | System and protector for protecting an end of a pipe |
US11320085B2 (en) | 2018-04-25 | 2022-05-03 | Peter Kroll | System and protector for protecting an end of a pipe |
US20190375564A1 (en) * | 2018-06-07 | 2019-12-12 | G&H Diversified Manufacturing Lp | Thread protector for tubular members |
US10954045B2 (en) * | 2018-06-07 | 2021-03-23 | G&H Diversified Manufacturing Lp | Thread protector for tubular members |
USD1025308S1 (en) | 2019-11-25 | 2024-04-30 | Universal Moulding Co. Ltd. | Pipe thread protector |
US11774029B2 (en) | 2021-02-04 | 2023-10-03 | Universal Moulding Co. Ltd. | Open-ended pipe thread protector with seal thereon and seal therefor |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2775502A1 (en) | 2013-04-28 |
BR102012012613A2 (en) | 2013-08-27 |
MX2012005334A (en) | 2013-04-29 |
AR086584A1 (en) | 2014-01-08 |
DE102012104395A1 (en) | 2013-05-02 |
CO6800253A1 (en) | 2013-11-29 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: MOULDING SPECIALISTS, INC. D/B/A MSI OILFIELD PROD Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LEAHY, THOMAS M.;LOCKARD, GARY;REEL/FRAME:027917/0460 Effective date: 20120320 Owner name: STRESS ENGINEERING SERVICES, INC., OHIO Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:TEKAMP, DAVID ALAN;REEL/FRAME:027917/0339 Effective date: 20120309 Owner name: MOULDING SPECIALISTS, INC. D/B/A MSI OILFIELD PROD Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:STRESS ENGINEERING SERVICES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:027917/0612 Effective date: 20120321 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: MSI PIPE PROTECTION TECHNOLOGIES INC., TEXAS Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MOULDING SPECIALISTS INC.;REEL/FRAME:031409/0276 Effective date: 20130104 Owner name: ESSENTRA PIPE PROTECTION TECHNOLOGIES INC., TEXAS Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MSI PIPE PROTECTION TECHNOLOGIES INC.;REEL/FRAME:031409/0354 Effective date: 20131007 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |