US3851623A

US3851623A - Method of and device for coating lengths of linear elements

Info

Publication number: US3851623A
Application number: US00399054A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Landry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-12-28
Filing date: 1973-09-20
Publication date: 1974-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-03

Abstract

A device for and method of coating linear elements which provides a housing, which housing has elastomer end members. The respective end members being axially apertured, which apertures are complementary. One of the apertures preferably being serrated. The chamber formed by the housing receives a liquid corrosion inhibitor, preferably of the cationic type. Lengths of pipe, shafting, bars or the like are drawn through the close fitting apertures in the respective end members of the housing to clean the linear elements and to deposit a thin film of magnetically attractable, corrosion inhibiting cationic liquid on the surface of the pipe, shafting or the like, as it passes through the chamber. The liquid corrosion inhibitor is withdrawn from a reservoir by a pump and is directed into the chamber within the housing, and out through a conduit, a filter and back into the reservoir, so as to clean and filter the corrosion inhibiting liquid for reuse and to maintain the proper liquid level within the chamber.

Description

ite

States Patent Landry, Jr.

Dec. 3, 1974 Inventor: Floyd ,1. Landry, Jr., 1207 W. Ohio St., Midland, Tex. 79701 [22] Filed: Sept. 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 399,054

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 212,989, Dec. 28, 1971,

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 118/405 [51] Int. Cl. 1305c 3/02 [58] Field of Search 118/405, 404, 125, 419,

118/420, DIG. l1, DIG. 18

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,943,818 l/l934 Fantone et al 118/405 X 2,894,483 7/1959 Stahl 118/125 X 3,135,620 6/1964 McGrath et al. 118/405 X 3,332,393 7/1967 Houver 118/404 3,402,696 9/1968 Richards 118/405 UX 3,513,017 5/1970 Waters et al 117/94 y 44 as 'L 34 c '2 1 i 5 36 4o 42 7 W I 46 Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum Attorney, Agent, or FirmWay1and D. Keith S 7] ABSTRACT A device for and method of coating linear elements which provides a housing, which housing has elastomer end members. The respective end members being axially apertured, which apertures are complementary. One of the apertures preferably being serrated. The chamber formed by the housing receives a liquid corrosion inhibitor, preferably of the cationic type. Lengths of pipe, shafting, bars or the like are drawn through the close fitting apertures in the respective end members of the housing to clean the linear elements and to deposit a thin film of magnetically attractable, corrosion inhibiting cationic liquid on the surface of the pipe, shafting or the like, as it passes through the chamber. The liquid corrosion inhibitor is withdrawn from a reservoir by a pump and is directed into the chamber within the housing, and out through a conduit, a filter and back into the reservoir, so as to clean and filter the corrosion inhibiting liquid for reuse and to maintain the proper liquid level within the chamber.

PATENTEDUEB 31m 3.851.623

FIG. I "1 I 22 i 4 z 2 53 I8 28 26 2 I i l6 INVENTOR.

HIS AGENT FLOYD J. LANDRY METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR COATING LENGTHS OF LINEAR ELEMENTS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present device is used primarily for coating linear elements, such as lengths of pipe, shafting, or bars which are passed through a chamber filled with coating material. One side of the device will normally remove foreign matter before the linear elements pass into the chamber, which is filled with the coating material. A coating of the material will be applied to the lengths of pipe or the like being passed through the chamber, but the greater portion of the coating material will be stripped therefrom, to leave a coating of the desired thickness on the surface of the linear element so as to normally protect the surface thereof against corrosion and to enhance the beauty thereof.

The present device is constructed in such manner as to have apertured ends and surrounding side wall to form a chamber, which device may be of any desired configuration, but in the present instance it is shown to be substantially cylindrical, and may be one unitary element or several elements fitted together to form a chamber.

The device is so constructed as to have inlet and outlet conduits leading thereinto and therefrom, to enable the circulation of liquid into and out of the chamber, thereby to enable the chamber to be supplied with liquid and to maintain the liquid at the proper lever and under the desired pressure, to provide the best operating conditions and the best coating action on the linear elements being passed therethrough.

The housing which forms the chamber of the present device is preferably made of rubber or other elastomer material, or at least has the end portions thereof of elastomer material, so that, when a lineal element, such as a length of pipe or shaft or the like, or any crosssectional configuration, is pulled therethrough, the aperture in each of the end members, which apertures are complementary in size and shape to be lineal element being passed therethrough, will be provided with a coating of protective liquid. A pump is provided to direct the coating liquid through a conduit into the chambet and out through a conduit and through a filter into a storage reservoir to which the suction conduit of a pump is connected, to enable the fluid to be circulated through and maintained at a given pressure, so the fluid, such as a liquid corrosion inhibitor may be deposited on the lineal elements. The corrosion inhibitor may be of the character of a cationic material which is an electrolysed solution which has a positively charged ion therein, which ion migrates and adheres to the cathode, the element being coated, such as pipe, shafting or the like.

The present device is shown to be mounted so a pipe, such as a drill stem, may be pulled therethrough, as the drill stem is being removed from the well. The aperture in the lower end of the housing strips foreign matter from the pipe or the like as its passes therethrough, and the aperture. at the upper end of the housing being of such a diameter as to give a uniform coating of the protective material on the pipe. Serrations or notches are formed in the material surrounding the upper aperture, which serrations or notches exude the coating material onto the pipe, shaft of the like being drawn through the device. In the case of removing drill stem from a well the drill stem or drill pipe may be coated with a minimum amount of material which will inhibit rust or other corrosive action on the drill pipe.

The preferred form of the invention is shown to be of rubber or other elastomer material, and may be in either one or two parts, but for the sake of sealing, two parts are shown to be vulcanized together, with reinforcing rings therearound to relieve the elastomer structure of distortion brought about by the pull of an-' chor cables thereon.

A modified form of the device isshown, which form embodies the same primary features as the perferred form of the device, but has a metallic ring or container which forms the sides of the housing, with an elastomer element secured at each end in fluid tight relation with respect to the metallic ring, to enable the end members to be readily removed and replaced when they become worn.

The chamber may be supported for the passage of the pipe, shaft, or the like therethrough, either vertically or horizontally, and the anchor cables may be suitably anchored to hold the housing, which forms the chamber, in any desired position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various coating devices have been proposed heretofore, but these, for the most part, were directed primarily to applying a heavy coating, such as grease to elements, and were not primarily directed to applying a relatively minute coating of liquid material, such as cationic material or other protective material to pipe, shaftin'g, bars or other lineal elements being drawn therethrough from corrosion, or the depositing of a material to add to the beauty of such elements, such as anodizing the element or covering it with a relatively thin coating of protective paint or the like, which would minimize deterioration of the surface of the material being coated, whether it be of metal, wood or a specially prepared molded or extruded material.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide a method of coating a linear element, such as a pipe, shaft or bar with a fluid, such as a liquid-corrosion inhibitor, so as to prevent corrosion or oxidation of the element.

Another object of the invention is to provide a housing to receive a liquid, which housing has longitudinally apertured end members, the apertures of which are aligned to enable a linear element to be drawn therethrough to enable. a thin coating of liquid to be deposited on the surface thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a system for coating linear elements, such as pipe, shafting or bars which may be passed through an apertured chamber, with the coating material being directed into the chamber under pressure, out of the chamber and through a filter to return to a storage reservoir for future use.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an elastomer housing, which housing may be bolted together or bonded together so as to provide a selfcontained chamber to receive liquid coating material through which to pass the lengths of linear elements through axially aligned apertures formed in the ends of said housing, thereby to provide on the linear elements a uniform surface coating.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a housing having axially aligned apertures formed in the respective ends thereof, the edge of which apertures may be serrated or notched to enable the coating of the linear element with a gauged amount of liquid, such as a corrosion inhibitor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a reversible housing to receive a coating material, which housing is supported on radially extending cables, the sides of which cables may be quickly reversed.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a replaceable elastomer wiper portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING With these objects in mind and others which will become manifest as the description proceeds, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts in the several views thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention taken from a side and from the top thereof, an exterior portion being cut away and parts being shown in section to show the interior construction; and showing an anchor member embedded within the elastomer housing, with a support eye fitted therein and showing a hook capable of being attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the apertures in an end of the housing, showing the serrations on the inner diameter of the aperture, and showing a fragmentary portion of a pipe in dot-dash outline;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the housing to contain coating fluid, which housing is supported on cables, as beneath a drilling rig, and showing a pump to with draw coating fluid from a reservoir to be directed into and through the housing which forms a chamber for the coating fluid, which fluid is returned through a filter to a reservoir to be reused; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of the invention, showing a metallic housing which receives removable and replaceable wiper elements, showing the removable, elastomer wiper elements held in place by rings and cap screws.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION With more detailed reference to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally a housing, in the present instance an elastomer housing preferably made of two separable portions, which portions may be bonded together as by vulcanizing, or the housing may be formed as a unitary element.

The housing 1 comprises an upper portion and a lower portion designated respectively at 2 and 4, which portions 2 and 4 each have an out-

tumed flange

6 and 8, respectively thereon. The

flanges

6 and 8 are preferably bonded together, as indicated at 10, or they may be bolted together by utilizing the

respective rings

12 and 14 to hold the

flange portions

6 and 8 in binding relation by bolts which pass through

rings

12 and 14 and

flanges

6 and 8.

When the

flanges

6 and 8 are bonded together, the

rings

12 and 14 may be bolted on each side of the re spective flanges to bindingly engage the rings with the flanges so as to reinforce the housing to prevent spreading or distortion thereof when pressure is applied thereto. The portion 2 of the housing has ribs 18 formed therein and spaced circumferentially therearound. The housing portion 4 has ribs 20 formed circumferentially therein, as will be seen in FIG. 1. These ribs maintain the

ends

22 and 24 of the housing in proper spaced apart relation, and prevent material distortion thereof.

The end member 22 of the housing portion 2 has an aperture 26 formed axially therein, with serrations 28 being formed around the inner diameter thereof. The serrations 28 are shown enlarged in FIG. 2, but they are usually from one thirtysecond to one sixteenth of an inch in depth, and are readily yieldable so that a length of pipe, shafting or the like, passing through the aperture 26 will compress these serrations and will receive therefrom a thin coating of protective material, which may be from one to three thousandths inch in thickness. The coating material may contain a corrosion inhibitor of the cationic type or of the nonionic type, depending on the characteristics of the linear elements being coated.

The housing end member 24 has an aperture 30 formed therein which acts as a cleaning or wiping element. The aperture 30 is in axial alignment with the aperture 26, so that pipe, shafting or other linear element 32 may be drawn therethrough, and, in the present instance, if the linear element is drawn upwardly, it is desirable to have the serrated aperture 26 at the upper end of the housing 1.

When the device is used for coating pipe or drill stem as it is being used in the drilling of a well, the device is preferably positioned beneath the floor of the derrick and is supported thereunder by cables, as shown in FIG. 3. By the utilization of four cables 34, each of which has a hook 36 on the inner end thereof which hooks are connected to the respective eye blots 38, therefore, by disconnecting the positioning hooks, the housing 1 may be rotated degrees the serrations 28 will be on the bottom of the housing. Then, if it is desired to coat the pipe as it goes into the well it can be done, however, in normal usage, the pipe is coated as it is withdrawn from the well to protect it against rust and corrosion while racked in the derrick or stored in horizontal stacks.

It is preferable to have the threaded anchor members 40 vulcanized into the housing 1 mediate the length thereof, each which member 40 may have a flange 42 thereon, which flange extends into the housing. The eye bolts 38 threadably engage the anchor members 40 to enable the hooks 36 on cables 34 to be attached thereto, so, in addition to supporting the housing 1 in guided relation, it enables opposing hooks 36 to be disconnected and, when pipe is not passing through the housing, the housing may be rotated through 180 degrees, the hooks 36 reconnected to the eye bolts 38, so the coating device may be used to coat pipe, whether the pipe is coming out of the well or going into the well. It is preferable to have screw threaded

flanges

44 and 46 vulcanized or bonded to the respective housing portions 2 and 4, so the respective nipples 48 and 50 may threadably engage the

respective flanges

44 and 46, to enable

flexible hose members

52 and 54 to be connected to the respective nipples 48 and 50. The opposite end of hose 52 is connected to a filter 56, with the hose 54 being connected to a pump 58. A conduit 60 interconnects the filter 56 with a storage reservoir 62.

A conduit 64 leads from storage reservoir 62 to the suction side of pump 58, so the coating fluid may be circu- Iated, filtered and reused.

The end member 22 of the housing 1 has a boss 23 formed centrally thereof, which boss surrounds aper ture 26 and strengthens the end member against distortion. The end member 24 of the housing 1 has a boss 25 thereon in which an aperture 30 is formed, which boss strengthens the end member 24.

The

respective hose

52 and 54 may be secured to the respective nipples 48 and 50 by means of the respective hose clamps 53 and 55.

The present device is shown to be cylindrical in form, as will best be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, with internal bracing ribs 18 and 20, so as to properly support the

end members

22 and 24.

It is preferable to have the

hose

52 and 54 connected to the housing I, one above and one below one of the cables 34 so, upon rotation of the housing 1, a minimum length of

hose

52 and 54 is required to perform the operation.

MODIFIED FORM OF THE INVENTION FIG. 4 discloses a fragmentary portion of a modified form of the above described embodiment of the invention, in which a housing 101 is made of metal and has inwardly projecting annular ribs 102 and 104 secured thereto as by welding to form shoulders, which shoulders are circumferentially apertured with screw threaded apertures. The shoulders receive removable and replaceable

elastomer end members

106 and 108 respectively, which end members have complementary circumferential apertures formed therein. The respective rings 112 and 114 are fitted around the outer periphery of the respective

elastomer end members

106 and 108, which rings have complemental, circumferential apertures formed therein for the passage of the screw threaded bolts or

cap screws

116 and 118 therethrough to threadably engage the respective rings 112 and 114 so as to bindingly engage

elastomer end members

106 and 108 in sealing relation with the respective inwardly extending shoulders 102 and 104.

The end member 106 has an aperture 105 formed therein, the edge of which aperture is serrated at 107. The serrations act as wiper fingers to deposit coating material on the pipe or the like, as set forth in the above described form of the invention.

The end member 108 is apertured at 109 to form a wiping member, to remove foreign matter from the pipe, shafting or the like that is being coated with protective material, in the manner set forth in the above described form of the invention. A nipple is weldably secured to the lower portion of housing 101 for connection of hose 54 thereto, as shown in the above described form of the invention. A screw threaded member 1124 is welded, or otherwise secured to the housing 101 mediate

nipples

120 and 122 to receive a screw threaded eye 126 to enable a cable, such as cable 34, to be attached thereto.

-In this modified form of the invention, the

elastomer end members

106 and 108, which surround the pipe or shafting 32, may be removed and replaced, should they become worn, without the necessity of discarding the body portion of the housing.

This form of the invention functions in the same manner as the above described form of the invention, and may be supported beneath the derrick floor of a drilling rig, to allow pipe to pass vertically therethrough, as

shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, for coating pipe or drill stem as it passes either into or out of the well, furthermore,

the device made be used in a horizontal position for 5 coating pipe, shafting, or other linear elements as such elements are fed thereinto and therethrough.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for coating a linear element, which device comprises;

a. a housing forming a chamber,

b. an elastomer member fitted in each end of said housing,

I. each said elastomer end member having an aperture formed therein, which apertures are in axial alignment,

2. a conduit connected in fluid communication with said housing near each end thereof,

0. pump means connected in fluid communication with said conduits to circulate a coating of liquid into and out of said housing, and

d. the linear element adapted to be passed through said apertures in said elastomer end members to receive a coating of liquid thereon.

2. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; wherein a. the edges of said apertures in said elastomer end members act as wiper elements to wipe foreign matter from the linear element to prevent the foreign matter passing into the chamber of said hous- 3. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1;'wherein a. at least one of said apertures in said elastomer end members has an opening formed between the edge of the aperture and the linear element so as to deposit a gauged amount of coating material on said linear element.

4. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 3; wherein a. said opening between the edge of said aperture and the linear element is a plurality of spaced apart serrations in said elastomer end member.

5. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; wherein a. said elastomer end members are formed integrally with a portion of said housing.

6. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; wherein a. said elastomer end members are joined with said housing to fonn a unitary elastomer unit.

7. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1.; wherein a. the body portion of said housing is of elastomer material,

b. the body portion of said housing is formed of two portions, each having an open side,

1. an out-turned flange on each openside of body portion, and

c. means securing said flanges on said open sides together in fluid tight relation.

8. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 7', wherein 65 a. said out-turned flanges as secured together as by vulcanizing. 9. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; wherein each a. said out-turned flanges are secured together as by bolts passing therethrough.

10. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 9; wherein a. each said out-turned flanges is apertured,

1. an apertured metal ring complementally fitted on each out-turned flange,

b. said bolts adapted to pass through said apertured rings and said apertures in said flanges to bindingly engage said flanges in fluid tight relation.

11. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 7; wherein a. said housing has circumferentially spaced braces made integral with each open side portion, which braces extend throughout the greater length of the side of each open side portion.

12. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; wherein a. said housing has circumferentially spaced support members secured thereto to hold said housing in supported relation for the passage of a linear element therethrough.

13. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; wherein a. said housing is cylindrical,

b. an inwardly extending shoulder formed a spaced distance downward from each end portion of said housing,

c. said elastomer end member adapted to seat on said shoulder,

l. circumferentially spaced, screw threaded apertures formed within said shoulder, and

2. bolt means passing through said elastomer member and said shoulder to threadably bind said elastomer member and said shoulder in fluid tight relation.

14. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1;'wherein a. a ring having circumferentially spaced apertures formed therein is fitted within said housing to be in bearing relation with said elastomer member,

1. said bolts adapted to pass through said circumferentially spaced apertures to threadably engage screw threaded apertures in said shoulders.

Claims

1. A device for coating a linear element, which device comprises; a. a housing forming a chamber, b. an elastomer member fitted in each end of said housing, 1. each said elastomer end member having an aperture formed therein, which apertures are in axial alignment, 2. a conduit connected in fluid communication with said housing near each end thereof, c. pump means connected in fluid communication with said conduits to circulate a coating of liquid into and out of said housing, and d. the linear element adapted to be passed through said apertures in said elastomer end members to receive a coating of liquid thereon.

2. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; wherein a. the edges of said apertures in said elastomer end members act as wiper elements to wipe foreign matter from the linear element to prevent the foreign matter passing into the chamber of said housing.

2. a conduit connected in fluid communication with said housing near each end thereof, c. pump means connected in fluid communication with said conduits to circulate a coating of liquid into and out of said housing, and d. the linear element adapted to be passed through said apertures in said elastomer end members to receive a coating of liquid thereon.

3. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; wherein a. at least one of said apertures in said elastomer end members has an opening formed between the edge of the aperture and the linear element so as to deposit a gauged amount of coating material on said linear element.

6. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; wherein a. said elastomer end members are joined with said housing to form a unitary elastomer unit.

7. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; wherein a. the body portion of said housing is of elastomer material, b. the body portion of said housing is formed of two portions, each having an open side,

8. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 7; wherein a. said out-turned flanges as secured together as by vulcanizing.

9. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; wherein a. said out-turned flanges are secured together as by bolts passing therethrough.

13. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; wherein a. said housing is cylindrical, b. an inwardly extending shoulder formed a spaced distance downward from each end portion of said housing, c. said elastomer end member adapted to seat on said shoulder,

14. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; wherein a. a ring having circumferentially spaced apertures formed therein is fitted within said housing to be in bearing relation with said elastomer member,