Intrinsically conduct joint for metallic pipe and method of using the same

Abstract

A mechanical joint and method for controlling stray current in a buried or submerged pipeline made of ductile iron, cast iron and / or steel that includes a gasket arrangement having an annular gasket body with a radially inward and outward edge portions and first and second longitudinal edge portions, the radially outward edge portion and the radially inner edge portion being generally coaxial witha gasket axis, the radially inner edge portion having an inner engagement surface and the radially outer edge portion having an outer engagement surface, when in an installed condition, the outer surface directly engaging a first pipe and the inner engagement surface directly engaging a second pipe wherein the gasket forms a seal between the first and second pipes, the annular gasket includes anintrinsically conductive polymer material having a resistivity below 700 ohm-cm wherein the gasket provides the seal and electrical conductivity between the pipes thereby allowing stray current to freely pass through the polymer material and between the first and second pipes to reduce and / or eliminate corrosion-induced holes.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62 / 278,240, filed January 13, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference. [0002] The present invention relates to electrically conductive joints for metal pipelines, and more particularly by using inherently conductive gasket arrangements for joints of metal pipes for buried or submerged pipelines, usually made of ductile iron, cast iron and / or steel. Conductivity is created between and within the joints. These metal tubes are joined together by mechanical devices to create pipelines. The invention also relates to methods of use thereof. [0003] Introduced as a reference [0004] The present invention relates to the use of electrical conductivity between and in metal pipeline joints, and more particularly, by using inherently conductive gaskets for metal pipes (which are buried or submerged as pipelines and are most often made of ductile iron, cast iron and and / or steel) to create suc...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Fourth, because usually only a single jumper wire is used, which can create arcing points when installed incorrectly

Second, mechanical current flow paths can create leaks if they prevent adequate bonding of the elastomeric material to the two pipe segments

Furthermore, even though it is very expensive to lose billions of gallons of water and to repair these leaks after installation, there are still not enough solutions in the industry for this problem

Therefore, there is a clear industry need to reduce "electrolytic," "stray current," or "electrolytic" corrosion through effective electrical bonding of mechanical joints, and prior art attempts have been ineffective

Images