WO2020172057A1

WO2020172057A1 - Load member for flanged pipe assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2020172057A1
Application number: PCT/US2020/018254
Authority: WO
Inventors: Theodore T. Amling
Original assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
Priority date: 2019-02-19
Filing date: 2020-02-14
Publication date: 2020-08-27

Abstract

A pipe assembly including a pipe, a flange that is discrete with respect to the pipe and is coupled radially outwardly of the pipe, and a load member that is interposed between the pipe and the flange. The load member is configured to couple the pipe to the flange by restricting relative movement and transmitting forces between the pipe and the flange. The load member may be a monolithic structure and/or have continuous and uniform interfaces that respectively engage a mating face of the pipe and a mating face of the flange.

Description

LOAD MEMBER FOR FLANGED PIPE ASSEMBLY

Related Applications

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/807,303 filed February 19, 2019, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to flanged pipe assemblies, and more particularly to a load member for use in assembling a flange to a pipe.

Background

Flange fittings are common components in piping systems for various applications. Typically the flange fitting is used to fluidly connect together different segments of the pipe system, such as by coupling the flange fitting on one pipe to a mating flange of a corresponding pipe.

One conventional design for such flanged pipes includes welding the flange to the pipe. However, welded designs are limited by the inherent strength of the weld and can be prone to failure. In particular, such welded connections rely heavily on the skill of the welder to produce a quality weld. In addition, welded connections are usually inspected for defects in the weld to reduce the risk of failure, which increases production costs and time.

Non-welded designs are also common for flanged pipe assemblies, and have solved the aforementioned quality and inspection issues by eliminating the weld. One conventional non-welded design uses a composite retaining ring that is located between the flange and the pipe, and is used as a load transfer device. Such composite retaining ring designs typically use an inner core wire wrapped with an outer spring wire to form a retaining ring that is captive on the pipe. Such current designs, however, are limited by the relatively low overall strength of the composite retaining ring, and more particularly the outer spring wire, which therefore limits the shear loading capacity of the assembly. In addition, such composite retaining ring designs may complicate the assembly process due to movement of the retaining ring that may cause misalignment of the joint between the flange and pipe.

Summary of Invention

The present invention provides an improved load member for coupling a flange to a pipe. The load member simplifies current flanged pipe assembly designs while improving flange joint performance. For example, the load member is an improvement over conventional composite retaining ring designs, whereby the outer wound spring wire is eliminated and the inner ring core is modified, thereby improving shear load capacity and load uniformity, while also improving alignment of the flange joint. Such a load member provides improved performance over conventional flanged pipe assemblies without the need to change the underlying design of the connection geometry.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a pipe assembly includes: a pipe extending in an axial direction and having an end portion; a flange that is discrete with respect to the pipe and is coupled radially outwardly of the pipe proximal the end portion; and a load member that is disposed in a gap between the pipe and the flange; wherein the flange has a radially inward shoulder portion that is supported by a radially outer surface of the pipe, and has a radially inward forward portion that extends from the shoulder portion in the axial direction toward the end portion of the pipe, the radially inward forward portion of the flange being spaced apart from the radially outer surface of the pipe to form an annular space therebetween that opens outwardly toward the end portion of the pipe; wherein the radially inward forward portion of the flange extends in the axial direction beyond the load member; and wherein the load member is formed as a monolithic structure and is configured to couple the pipe to the flange by restricting relative movement and transmitting forces between the pipe and the flange when the pipe assembly is in use.

According to another aspect of the invention, a pipe assembly includes: a pipe extending in an axial direction and having an end portion; a flange that is discrete with respect to the pipe and is disposed radially outwardly of the pipe proximal the end portion; and a load member that is interposed between the pipe and the flange; wherein the flange has a radially inward shoulder portion that is supported by a radially outer surface of the pipe, and has a radially inward forward portion that extends from the shoulder portion in the axial direction toward the end portion of the pipe, the radially inward forward portion of the flange being spaced apart from the radially outer surface of the pipe to form an annular space therebetween that opens outwardly toward the end portion of the pipe; wherein the radially inward forward portion of the flange extends in the axial direction beyond the load member; and wherein the load member has a continuous and uniform interface on one side of the load member that directly engages with a mating face of the flange, and the load member has a continuous and uniform interface on another side of the load member that directly engages with a mating face of the pipe, such that the load member restricts relative movement between the flange and the pipe when the pipe assembly is in use.

According to another aspect of the invention, a pipe assembly includes: a pipe extending in an axial direction and having a radially outer surface with a radial groove toward an end portion of the pipe; a load member that is discrete with respect to the pipe and is disposed in the radial groove; and a flange that is discrete with respect to the pipe and the load member and is disposed radially outwardly of the pipe and the load member; wherein the load member is configured to withstand forces exerted between the pipe and the flange to restrict relative movement between the pipe and the flange when the pipe assembly is in use; wherein the load member does not extend in the axial direction toward the end portion of the pipe beyond the radial groove of the pipe; and wherein the load member is a rigid structure that is free of an outer wound resilient member.

The following description and the annexed drawings set forth certain illustrative embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. Other objects, advantages and novel features according to aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The annexed drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, show various aspects of the invention. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary pipe assembly according to an embodiment of the invention, which is coupled to an exemplary opposing coupling.

Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the exemplary pipe assembly and opposing coupling.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective cutaway view of a portion of the exemplary pipe assembly shown coupled to the opposing coupling.

Fig. 4 is a side view of a portion of an exemplary pipe of the pipe assembly.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the exemplary pipe assembly, which shows only the exemplary pipe, an exemplary flange, and an exemplary load member according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the pipe assembly taken from section 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the exemplary load member of the pipe assembly.

Fig. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the load member taken about the line 8-8 in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view of the load member taken from section 9-9 in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of another exemplary pipe assembly, which shows only a portion of an exemplary pipe, an exemplary flange, and an exemplary load member according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the pipe assembly taken from section 11 -11 in Fig. 10.

Detailed Description

The principles and aspects of the present disclosure have particular application to flanged pipe assemblies such as for use in fluidly connecting different sections of pipe in a fluid pipe system, and thus will be described below chiefly in this context. It also is understood, however, that the principles and aspects of this invention may be applicable to other flanged assemblies where desirable. Referring initially to Figs. 1 -3, an exemplary pipe assembly 10 is shown including a pipe 12, a flange 14 that is discrete with respect to the pipe 12 and is coupled radially outwardly of the pipe 12 at an end portion 16 of the pipe 12, and an exemplary load member 18 that is interposed between the pipe 12 and the flange 14. As will be discussed in further detail below, the load member 18 is configured to couple the pipe 12 to the flange 14 by restricting relative movement and transmitting forces between the pipe 12 and the flange 14.

The pipe assembly 10 (also referred to as a flanged pipe assembly 10) may be utilized for connection to another suitable coupling 20 to form a portion of a pipe system in a well-known manner. In exemplary embodiments, the flange 14 of the assembly may be coupled to the flange of another pipe section, for example. Alternatively or additionally, the flanged pipe assembly 10 may be connected to a pump, valve, actuator, or other like device. It is understood that these examples are for illustration, and that the pipe assembly 10 may be fluidly connected to any suitable structure as may be desirable for a particular application. For example, in the illustrated embodiment the flanged pipe assembly 10 is coupled to the opposing coupling 20 in the form of a cap flange that seals an axial end 22 of the pipe 12 to terminate fluid flow therethrough, such that the pipe forms a pressure vessel, for example.

Still referring to Figs. 1 -3, and in addition to Fig. 4, the pipe 12 is shown as a pipe section that is suitably constructed for containing and/or transferring pressurized fluids, such as hydraulic fluids, for example. As shown, the pipe 12 includes a radially inner surface 24 and a radially outer surface 26 that together define a pipe sidewall. The section of pipe 12 also includes opposite end portions 16 (one end portion is not shown in the figures), which have

corresponding openings 28 for providing a fluid connection to the opposing coupling, such as other sections of pipe, for example. It is understood that that the diameter of the pipe 12, thickness of the pipe sidewall, and/or length of the pipe 12 may be suitably constructed for a desired application. For example, in extreme service conditions such as subsea applications, the pipe 12 may have a relatively large diameter of 12 inches and may be exposed to fluid pressures of 6,000 psi. In exemplary embodiments, the pipe 12 may have a generally cylindrical construction as shown, although other configurations are possible. It is also understood that the pipe 12 may have bent sections as may be desirable in the pipe system.

As shown with particular reference to Figs. 3 and 4, and also to Figs. 5 and 6, the pipe 12 includes a mating face 30 that is configured to engage a corresponding mating face 32 of the load member 18. The mating face 30 of the pipe member may be located proximal to the end 22 of the pipe 12, such that the flange 14 may be coupled with the load member 18 at the end portion 16 of the pipe 12. In exemplary embodiments, the pipe mating face 30 is configured as a radial groove (also referred to with reference numeral 30 for clarity) in the radially outer surface 26 of the pipe 12 which is configured to receive a portion of the load member 18. It is understood, however, that other suitable pipe mating faces may be utilized, such as a radially outwardly protruding shoulder, for example.

As shown, the radial groove 30 includes a bottom surface 34 extending in the axial direction, and opposing upright side surfaces 36, 38 extending in the radial direction. As discussed in further detail below, the first upright side surface 36 (and/or the bottom surface 34) exerts a load against the load member 18 when the pipe assembly 10 is in use. The bottom surface 34 supports the load member, and the opposite upright side surface 38 facilitates containment of the load member 18 on the pipe 12. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the opposite upright side surface 38 of the radial groove 30 is configured as an inclined surface. The inclined surface of the side surface 38 locks the load member in place radially when the pipe moves axially.

In exemplary embodiments, the radial groove 30 may be contoured to provide a close fit with the contour of the load member mating face 32. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the bottom 34 and first upright side surface 36 of the radial groove 30 are curved surfaces that are configured to engage the curved surfaces of the load member mating face 32. For example, the radius of curvature of those portions of the radial groove may match the radius of curvature of the corresponding load member mating face 32. It is understood that the configuration of the radial groove 30 in the illustrated embodiment is exemplary, and other configurations of the radial groove 30 are possible, as would be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art. Referring again to Figs. 1 -3, the flange 14 may be any suitable flange that is used as a connector for the pipe 12. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the flange 14 includes receivers 40 for receiving fasteners 42 which are coupled to the opposing coupling structure 20 (e.g., opposing cap flange, or any other suitable structure) via corresponding receivers 46. As shown, the fasteners 42 are configured as bolts and the receivers 40 are configured as through holes in the flange 14, in which the bolts are coupled to the opposing coupling (e.g., cap flange) with nuts 47. It is understood, however, that other suitable fasteners 42 and/or receivers 40, or a different number of fasteners 42 and/or receivers 40, may be utilized.

As shown with particular reference to Fig. 3, and also to Figs. 5 and 6, the flange 14 is disposed radially outwardly of the pipe 12 and includes a mating face 48 that is configured to engage a corresponding mating face 50 of the load member 18. In this manner, a gap is formed between the flange mating face 48 and the pipe mating face 30 that permits the load member 18 to be disposed within and fill the gap for connecting the flange 14 to the pipe 12. In exemplary embodiments, the flange mating face 48 is configured as a shoulder (also referred to with reference numeral 48 for clarity) at a radially inner portion 52 of the flange 14. It is understood, however, that other suitable flange mating faces may be utilized, such as a radially inwardly recessed groove, for example.

In exemplary embodiments, the shoulder 48 may be contoured to provide a close fit with the contour of the load member mating face 50. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the shoulder 48 has a curved surface 54 that is configured to engage the curved surface of the load member mating face 50.

For example, the radius of curvature of portions of the shoulder 48 may match the radius of curvature of the corresponding load member mating face 50. It is understood, however, that the configuration of the shoulder 48 in the illustrated embodiment is exemplary, and other configurations of the shoulder 48 are possible, as would be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art.

As shown, the flange 14 is supported by the radially outer surface 26 of the pipe at an axially rearward portion 56 (e.g., further from the pipe end 22) of the radially inner portion 52 of the flange 14. In addition, an axially forward portion 58 (e.g., closer to the pipe end 22) of the radially inward portion 52 of the flange 14 may be configured to be spaced apart from the radially outer surface 26 of the pipe to form an annular space 60. Such a configuration may permit the flange 14 to be slid over the load member 18 during installation of the flange 14 on the pipe 12.

The pipe assembly 10 also includes one or more seals 62 or gaskets for providing a sealed connection between the flange 14 and opposing coupling structure 20 (shown in Fig. 3, for example). The one or more seals 62 may be carried on a seal carrier 64, which may be used in the flanged joint connection between the flange 14 and the opposing coupling structure 20. As shown, the seal carrier 64 may include opposite grooves within which the seals 62 are disposed for sealingly engaging against the pipe end 22 on one side of the connection and the opposing coupling structure 20 (e.g., face of the cap flange) on the other side of the connection. In exemplary embodiments, the seal carrier 64 may have an axially protruding portion 66 that is configured to be inserted into the annular space 60 between the flange 14 and the pipe 12.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, the exemplary pipe assembly 10 is shown with only the pipe 12, flange 14, and load member 18 for simplicity in explaining the load distribution amongst these components when the pipe assembly 10 is in use. As discussed above, the load member 18 is disposed in the gap between flange mating face 48 and pipe mating face 30, and is configured to couple the pipe 12 to the flange 14 by restricting relative movement and transmitting forces between the pipe 12 and flange 14. More particularly, when in use, fluid pressure within the pipe 12 will urge the pipe 12 away from the corresponding coupling structure 20 to which the flange 14 is connected (e.g., the cap flange in Figs. 1 -3), thereby urging the pipe 12 to be separate from the flange 14 in the axial direction. Such separation forces are shown with arrows F in Figs. 5 and 6. These opposing separation forces F generate a shear force between the pipe 12 and flange 14 which is exerted on the load member 18.

The load member 18 is therefore configured to withstand these shear forces without plastic deformation or fracture to thereby restrict the relative movement between the pipe 12 and the flange 14.

Referring to Figs. 7-9, the exemplary load member 18 is shown in further detail. As shown, in exemplary embodiments the load member 18 is configured as a load ring, which has an inner diameter sufficient to encompass at least a majority, and preferably the entirety, of the diameter of the pipe 12 on which the load member 18 is disposed (e.g., the diameter at the radial groove 30). In the illustrated embodiment, the load member 18 has a split-ring design that is composed of two discrete segments 68, 69 for facilitating insertion into the radial groove 30, although the load member 18 could be unitary or have more than two segments as may be desired. In exemplary embodiments, the load member 18 has a circular shape 70 in transverse cross-section (as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, for example). Such a circular cross-sectional shape 70 may enable a more even distribution of the load forces across the components when the pipe assembly 10 is in use. In alternative embodiments, however, the load member 18 may have other suitable shapes and/or configurations, as would be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art.

As discussed above, the exemplary load member 18 is configured to improve flange joint performance compared to conventional composite retaining ring designs. More specifically, as noted above, conventional composite retaining ring designs that have an inner core wire wrapped with an outer spring wire are limited by the relatively low overall strength of the composite structure, and in particular the outer spring wire, which therefore limits the shear loading capacity of the pipe assembly. In addition, such composite retaining ring designs complicate the assembly process due to movement of the retaining ring that may cause misalignment of the joint between the flange and the pipe. The exemplary load member 18, however, improves over these conventional designs by eliminating the outer wound spring wire and increasing the size of the inner core, thereby improving shear load capacity and load uniformity, while also improving alignment of the flange joint.

Accordingly, unlike conventional composite retaining ring designs that are limited by the weakest link in the composite structure, the exemplary load member 18 may be formed as a monolithic (non-composite) structure that constitutes an undifferentiated and uniform whole, even when the load member 18 is configured as a split-ring design with discrete segments 68, 69.

Additionally or alternatively, unlike conventional composite retaining ring designs with the outer spiral wound spring which can cause misalignment of the flange joint and/or non-uniform load distribution, the mating face(s) 32, 50 of the exemplary load member 18 may form a continuous and uniform interface as the load member 18 extends around the circumference of the pipe 12, such that the continuous and uniform interface directly engages with both the flange mating face 48 and the pipe mating face 30 in the manner described above.

Additionally or alternatively, unlike conventional composite retaining ring designs with the outer spiral wound resilient spring, the exemplary load member 18 may be a rigid structure that is free of an outer wound resilient member and in which the rigid load member is suitably sized to withstand the forces exerted on it without plastic deformation or fracture when the pipe assembly is in use.

Additionally or alternatively, the exemplary load member 18 may be the only structure between the pipe 12 and the flange 14 that is used to restrict relative movement and transmit a majority of the forces between the pipe 12 and the flange 14.

In exemplary embodiments, such a load member 18 may provide one or more of these improvements without the need to change the underlying connection geometry (e.g., mating faces) of the pipe 12 and the flange 14. This further enables the ability to retrofit existing pipe assemblies by simply replacing the conventional composite retaining ring design with the exemplary load member 18.

The pipe assembly 10, including each of the flange 14, pipe 12 and load member 18, may be made of any suitable material, such as metals, plastics and/or composites, which may be selected in a well-known manner to

accommodate the pressures, flow rate, temperature, fluid types, external environment, size, configuration, assembly and other factors. For example, one or more of the pipe 12, flange 14, and load member 18 may be made of materials such as stainless steel, cast iron, forged carbon steel, aluminum, brass, bronze, Inconel, and plastic such as PVC or the like.

Turning to Figs. 10 and 11 , another exemplary embodiment of a pipe assembly 110 is shown, which similarly to Figs. 5 and 6, is shown only with an exemplary pipe 112, flange 114, and load member 118 for simplicity. As shown, the pipe assembly 110 is substantially similar to the above-referenced pipe assembly 10, and consequently the same reference numerals but indexed by 100 are used to denote structures that correspond to similar structures between the pipe assemblies 10, 110. In addition, the foregoing description of the pipe assembly 10 is equally applicable to the pipe assembly 110, and it is understood that aspects of the pipe assemblies 10, 110 may be substitute for one another or used in conjunction with one another where applicable.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 10 and 11 , the pipe assembly 110 is similar to the pipe assembly 10, except that the load member 118 has a generally parallelepiped cross-section. More particularly, the transverse cross-section of the load member 118 is rectangular with rounded corners. In addition, the corresponding flange mating face 148 (e.g., shoulder 148) and pipe mating face 130 (e.g., radial groove 130) are configured to compliment this parallelepiped construction of the load member 118. For example, the radial groove 130 has upright side surfaces 136, 138 in the radial direction that are at a 90-degree angle relative to the bottom surface 134 that extends in the axial direction. In addition, the shoulder 148 of the flange 114 has a radially extending surface 154 that is 90-degrees relative to the radially inner surface 158 of the flange 114. Such a parallelepiped (e.g., rectangular or square) construction of the load member 118 may facilitate maintaining the load member 118 in the radial groove 130 of the pipe 112 during installation;

however, such a design might not as evenly distribute the load as the round cross-section design of the exemplary load member 18 shown in Fig. 5 and 6.

An exemplary pipe assembly including a pipe, a discrete flange, and an exemplary load member that couples the pipe to the flange has been described herein. As discussed, the load member is configured to couple the pipe to the flange by restricting relative movement and transmitting forces between the pipe and the flange. The exemplary load member provides for improved

performance, preferably without changes to the design of the connection geometry (e.g., flange shoulder, pipe groove, etc.). Moreover, using the exemplary load member may allow for a single component change without the need to modify the remaining mating components. The exemplary load member transfers loads more uniformly over the mating surfaces, provides a better fit in the joint, while the higher shear load rating will result in improved performance over composite ring and/or welded designs. According to an aspect of the present invention, a pipe assembly includes: a pipe having an end portion; a flange that is discrete with respect to the pipe and is coupled radially outwardly of the pipe at the end portion; and a load member that is disposed in a gap between the pipe and the flange; wherein the load member is formed as a monolithic structure and is configured to couple the pipe to the flange by restricting relative movement and transmitting forces between the pipe and the flange when the pipe assembly is in use.

According to another aspect of the invention, a pipe assembly includes: a pipe having an end portion; a flange that is discrete with respect to the pipe and is disposed radially outwardly of the pipe at the end portion; and a load member that is interposed between the pipe and the flange; wherein the load member has a continuous and uniform interface on one side of the load member that directly engages with a mating face of the flange, and the load member has a continuous and uniform interface on another side of the load member that directly engages with a mating face of the pipe, such that the load member restricts relative movement between the flange and the pipe when the pipe assembly is in use.

According to another aspect of the invention, a pipe assembly includes: a pipe having a radially outer surface with a radial groove toward an end portion of the pipe; a load member that is discrete with respect to the pipe and is disposed in the radial groove; and a flange that is discrete with respect to the pipe and the load member and is disposed radially outwardly of the pipe and the load member; wherein the load member is configured to withstand forces exerted between the pipe and the flange to restrict relative movement between the pipe and the flange when the pipe assembly is in use; and wherein the load member is a rigid structure that is free of an outer wound resilient member.

Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the foregoing aspects, separately or in any combination, which may be combined with one or more of the following additional features, which may be added separately or in any combination.

In some embodiments, the pipe has a pipe mating face, and the flange has a flange mating face, and wherein the load member has respective interfaces that directly engage with the flange mating face and the pipe mating face.

In some embodiments, the respective interfaces of the load member are continuous and uniform as the respective interfaces extend around at least a majority of a circumference of the pipe.

In some embodiments, the pipe mating face is formed as part of a radial groove in a radially outer surface of the pipe.

In some embodiments, the radial groove has one or more contoured surfaces that are configured to complementarily interface with one or more corresponding surfaces of the load member.

In some embodiments, the load member has a round shape in transverse cross-section, and wherein the one or more contoured surfaces of the radial groove are curved.

In some embodiments, the load member has a parallelepiped shape in transverse cross-section, and wherein at least one of the one or more contoured surfaces of the radial groove is at a 90-degree angle relative to another one of the one or more contoured surfaces of the radial groove.

In some embodiments, the flange mating face is formed as part of a shoulder at a radially inner portion of the flange.

In some embodiments, the shoulder has one or more contoured surfaces that are configured to complementarily interface with one or more corresponding surfaces of the load member.

In some embodiments, the load member has a round shape in transverse cross-section, and wherein the one or more contoured surfaces of the shoulder are curved.

In some embodiments, the load member has a parallelepiped shape in transverse cross-section, and wherein at least one of the one or more contoured surfaces of the shoulder is at a 90-degree angle relative to another one of the one or more contoured surfaces of the shoulder.

In some embodiments, the flange includes a radially inward forward portion that is axially forward of the shoulder, the radially inward forward portion being spaced apart from a radially outer surface of pipe to form an annular space, such that the flange is slidable over the load member to secure the load member in a radial groove in the radially outer surface of the pipe.

In some embodiments, the load member is a ring that at least partially encompasses a circumference of the pipe.

In some embodiments, the ring is a split-ring having a plurality of discrete segments.

In some embodiments, the load member is a rigid structure that is configured to withstand shear forces exerted on the load member caused by separation forces between the pipe and the flange when the pipe assembly is in use.

In some embodiments, the load member is the only structure between the pipe and the flange that is used to restrict relative movement and transmit a majority of the forces between the pipe and the flange when the pipe assembly is in use.

In some embodiments, the pipe assembly further includes one or more seals.

In some embodiments, the pipe assembly further includes a seal carrier.

In some embodiment, the pipe assembly further includes one or more fasteners and/or one or more fastening receivers.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a "means") used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e. , that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1. A pipe assembly comprising:

a pipe extending in an axial direction and having an end portion;

a flange that is discrete with respect to the pipe and is coupled radially outwardly of the pipe proximal the end portion; and

a load member that is disposed in a gap between the pipe and the flange; wherein the flange has a radially inward shoulder portion that is supported by a radially outer surface of the pipe, and has a radially inward forward portion that extends from the shoulder portion in the axial direction toward the end portion of the pipe, the radially inward forward portion of the flange being spaced apart from the radially outer surface of the pipe to form an annular space therebetween that opens outwardly toward the end portion of the pipe;

wherein the radially inward forward portion of the flange extends in the axial direction beyond the load member; and

wherein the load member is formed as a monolithic structure and is configured to couple the pipe to the flange by restricting relative movement and transmitting forces between the pipe and the flange when the pipe assembly is in use.

2. The pipe assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the pipe has a pipe mating face, and the flange has a flange mating face, and wherein the load member has respective interfaces that directly engage with the flange mating face and the pipe mating face.

3. The pipe assembly according to claim 2, or any other preceding claim, wherein the respective interfaces of the load member are continuous and uniform as the respective interfaces extend around at least a majority of a circumference of the pipe.

4. The pipe assembly according to claim 2, or any other preceding claim, wherein the pipe mating face is formed as part of a radial groove in a radially outer surface of the pipe.

5. The pipe assembly according to claim 4, or any other preceding claim, wherein the radial groove has one or more contoured surfaces that are configured to complementarily interface with one or more corresponding surfaces of the load member.

6. The pipe assembly according to claim 5, or any other preceding claim, wherein the load member has a round shape in transverse cross-section, and wherein the one or more contoured surfaces of the radial groove are curved.

7. The pipe assembly according to claim 5, or any other preceding claim, wherein the load member has a parallelepiped shape in transverse cross- section, and wherein at least one of the one or more contoured surfaces of the radial groove is at a 90-degree angle relative to another one of the one or more contoured surfaces of the radial groove.

8. The pipe assembly according to claim 4, wherein the load member does not extend in the axial direction toward the end portion of the pipe beyond the radial groove of the pipe.

9. The pipe assembly according to claim 2, or any other preceding claim, wherein the flange mating face is formed as part of the radially inward shoulder portion of the flange.

10. The pipe assembly according to claim 9, or any other preceding claim, wherein the shoulder portion has one or more contoured surfaces that are configured to complementarily interface with one or more corresponding surfaces of the load member.

11. The pipe assembly according to claim 10, or any other preceding claim, wherein the load member has a round shape in transverse cross-section, and wherein the one or more contoured surfaces of the shoulder portion are curved.

12. The pipe assembly according to claim 10, or any other preceding claim, wherein the load member has a parallelepiped shape in transverse cross- section, and wherein at least one of the one or more contoured surfaces of the shoulder portion is at a 90-degree angle relative to another one of the one or more contoured surfaces of the shoulder portion.

13. The pipe assembly according to claim 9, or any other preceding claim, wherein the annular space is configured such that the flange is slidable over the load member in the axial direction toward the end portion of the pipe to secure the load member in a radial groove in the radially outer surface of the pipe.

14. The pipe assembly according to claim 1 , or any other preceding claim, wherein the load member is a ring that at least partially encompasses a circumference of the pipe.

15. The pipe assembly according to claim 14, or any other preceding claim, wherein the ring is a split-ring having a plurality of discrete segments.

16. The pipe assembly according to claim 1 , or any other preceding claim, wherein the load member is a rigid structure that is configured to withstand shear forces exerted on the load member caused by separation forces between the pipe and the flange when the pipe assembly is in use.

17. The pipe assembly according to claim 1 , or any other preceding claim, wherein the load member is the only structure between the pipe and the flange that is used to restrict relative movement and transmit a majority of the forces between the pipe and the flange when the pipe assembly is in use.

18. The pipe assembly according to claim 1 , or any other preceding claim, further including one or more seals.

19. A pipe assembly comprising:

a pipe extending in an axial direction and having an end portion;

a flange that is discrete with respect to the pipe and is disposed radially outwardly of the pipe proximal the end portion; and

a load member that is interposed between the pipe and the flange;

wherein the flange has a radially inward shoulder portion that is supported by a radially outer surface of the pipe, and has a radially inward forward portion that extends from the shoulder portion in the axial direction toward the end portion of the pipe, the radially inward forward portion of the flange being spaced apart from the radially outer surface of the pipe to form an annular space therebetween that opens outwardly toward the end portion of the pipe;

wherein the load member has a continuous and uniform interface on one side of the load member that directly engages with a mating face of the flange, and the load member has a continuous and uniform interface on another side of the load member that directly engages with a mating face of the pipe, such that the load member restricts relative movement between the flange and the pipe when the pipe assembly is in use.

20. A pipe assembly comprising:

a pipe extending in an axial direction and having a radially outer surface with a radial groove toward an end portion of the pipe;

a load member that is discrete with respect to the pipe and is disposed in the radial groove; and

a flange that is discrete with respect to the pipe and the load member and is disposed radially outwardly of the pipe and the load member; wherein the load member is configured to withstand forces exerted between the pipe and the flange to restrict relative movement between the pipe and the flange when the pipe assembly is in use;

wherein the load member does not extend in the axial direction toward the end portion of the pipe beyond the radial groove of the pipe; and

wherein the load member is a rigid structure that is free of an outer wound resilient member.