FLEXIBLE HOSE END ACCESSORY SET

Abstract

A flexible hose end fitting assembly includes a first portion defining a first fluid passage and having a first end configured for coupling to a fluid conduit, a second portion defining a second fluid passage and having a first end configured for coupling to a second end of the first portion, and a second end configured for secure attachment to a flexible hose. A gasket is disposed in a groove formed at an interface between the first portion and the first end of the second portion of the assembly, and the first portion and the first end of the second portion of the assembly are securely fastened together by a plurality of threaded fasteners to form a continuous fluid passage between the fluid conduit and the flexible hose.A flexible hose end fitting assembly includes a first portion defining a first fluid passage and having a first end configured for coupling to a fluid conduit, a second portion defining a second fluid passage and having a first end configured for coupling to a second end of the first portion, and a second end configured for secure attachment to a flexible hose. A gasket is disposed in a groove formed at an interface between the first portion and the first end of the second portion of the assembly, and the first portion and the first end of the second portion of the assembly are securely fastened together by a plurality of threaded fasteners to form a continuous fluid passage between the fluid conduit and the flexible hose.

Description

HOSE END ACCESSORY SET FLEXIBLE QPQ7 ίη / ΖΖΩΖ / Ε / ΥΙΛΙ FIELD OF INVENTION This description refers to a set of flexible hose end fittings for oil and gas fracturing and production operations. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Flexible hoses have been used to transport high-pressure fluids in oil and gas applications. In existing technology, the end coupling to the hammer / safety plate joint is integrated into the flexible hose end coupling. This end coupling is machined as a two-part assembly that is butt-welded together. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first example modality of a flexible hose end fitting assembly according to the teachings of the present description; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a first example modality of a flexible hose end fitting assembly according to the teachings of the present description; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a second example of a set of accessories of Ref. 339359 flexible hose end in accordance with the teachings of this description; Figures 4 and 5 are side and perspective views of the first and second example modes of a flexible hose end fitting set according to the teachings of the present description; Figures 6 and 7 are perspective and cross-section views of a third example modality of a flexible hose end fitting assembly according to the teachings of the present description; Figures 8-10 are perspective, exploded, and cross-sectional views of a fourth example modality of a flexible hose end fitting assembly according to the teachings of the present description; and Figures 11-13 are perspective, exploded, and cross-sectional views of a fifth example modality of a flexible hose end fitting assembly according to the teachings of the present description. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Most premature failures associated with flexible hoses used in hydraulic fracturing applications occur at the end fittings. These types of failures result from leaks, washout / jetting, threaded connection failures, etc. When an end fitting fails, the entire assembly is at risk. QPQ7 ίη / ZZΖΠZ / E / YΙΛΙ of flexible hose must be replaced because it is constructed as a single unit. The inventive concept described herein involves separating the end coupling to the hammer / safety plate joint from the flexible hose coupling, so that when the flexible hose assembly fails at the safety plate connector, it is not necessary to replace the entire assembly. The flexible hose may be constructed of a plurality of layers made from reinforced materials and structural components that give the flexible hose tensile and compressive strength so that it can convey fluids at high pressures. For example, the flexible hose may include a reinforcing layer constructed of a composite tape helically wound around a tube. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first example embodiment of a flexible hose end fitting assembly 10 according to the teachings of the present description. The flexible hose end fitting assembly 10 has two main parts: a flexible hose coupling portion 12 and a safety iron / hammer union connecting coupling (also called a connecting coupling) 14. The flexible hose coupling portion 12 is configured to secure to one end of the hose. QPQ7 ίΠ / 77Ω7 / Β / YΙΛΙ flexible 16 by means of mechanical gripping, joining, adhesive, and / or other suitable means. With reference also to Figure 2, the flexible hose coupling portion 12 defines a cylindrical or tubular cavity 20 that is in axial alignment with the flexible hose 16. The second part of the flexible hose end fitting, the connection coupling portion 14, includes a standard connector interface 18 that is designed to couple to another fluid conduit such as a safety plate or hammer joint. The connection coupling portion 14 also defines a cylindrical or tubular cavity 22 that is in axial alignment with the cylindrical cavity 20 of the flexible hose coupling portion 12 when the two parts 12 and 14 are assembled together.The connection coupling portion 14 includes an annular flange 24 that is designed to interface with an enlarged end 25 of the flexible hose end fitting 12, and the two portions can be secured together by a plurality of threaded fasteners 26 such as socket head cap screws (SHCS). As shown in Figure 2, one or more metal annular gaskets or sealing O-rings 28 can be arranged in a machined or formed groove on the axial faces of the flexible hose coupling and / or the connection coupling portions 12 and 14 of the assembly. QPQ7 ίη / 77Π7 / E / YΙΛΙ flexible hose end fittings 10. To provide a barrier against corrosive and abrasive fracturing fluid, a protective coating can be applied to all internal surfaces 21 (Figure 2) that would be exposed to the fracturing fluid. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative design for a flexible hose end fitting assembly 30 according to the teachings of the present description. The flexible hose end fitting assembly 30 also has two main parts: a flexible hose coupling portion 32 and a safety plate / hammer union connection coupling (a connection coupling) 34. The flexible hose coupling portion 32 is configured to be secured to a flexible hose end by mechanical gripping means, joining means, adhesive means, and / or other suitable means. The flexible hose coupling portion 32 defines a cylindrical or tubular cavity 35 that is in axial alignment with the flexible hose.The second part of the flexible hose end fitting, the 34 connection coupling portion, includes a standard connector interface designed to couple to another fluid conduit such as a safety plate or hammer union. The 34 connection coupling portion also defines a cavity. QPQ7 ίη / 77Ω7 / B / YILI cylindrical or tubular 36 that is in axial alignment with the cylindrical cavity 35 of the flexible hose coupling portion 32 when the two parts 32 and 34 are assembled together. The coupling portion 34 includes an annular flange 38 that is designed to interface with an enlarged end 39 of the flexible hose end fitting 32, and the two portions can be secured together by a plurality of threaded fasteners 40 such as socket head cap screws (SHCS). The interface contours of the two portions include a cylindrical cavity 42 at the end of the flexible hose coupling portion 32 that is sized and formed to receive the cylindrical end 43 of the coupling portion 34.One or more rod / piston seals 44 may be arranged in a machined or formed groove in the cylindrical faces of the connecting coupling and / or coupling portions of the flexible hose end fitting assembly. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a protective coating can be applied to all internal surfaces 21 (Figure 2) and 33 (Figure 3) of the flexible hose coupling that would be exposed to corrosive and abrasive fracturing fluids to reduce and eliminate corrosion / erosion in these areas. The protective coating can be a tungsten carbide coating applied using, for example, HVOF spray technology. The application of the protective coating is not limited to the coupling surfaces of the flexible hose but can also be applied to the internal surfaces of the connecting coupling to extend the service life of this component.Figures 4 and 5 are side and perspective views of a flexible hose end fitting assembly 10, 30 that connects to a large-diameter manifold 50 via a check valve 52. The connecting coupling portion 14, 34 is attached to the check valve 52 using a safety plate clamp 54. The narrow neck portion of the connecting coupling 14, 34 is sized to allow a conventional pipe clamp or stauff clamp 56 to support the weight of the flexible hose end fitting assembly. For example, the narrow neck portion of the connecting coupling may be approximately nine inches long from the standard connector interface 18 to the annular flange 24. The pipe clamp 56 may be secured to a support structure or skid 58.The coupling portion of the flexible hose 12, 32 is secured to a flexible hose 16 that is coupled to a fracturing pump or a conventional flow plate in the. QPQ7 iP / 77Ω7 / B / YILI other end. The fracturing pump pumps the fracturing fluid into the wellbore through the large-diameter manifold via the 16-inch flexible hose and flexible hose end fitting assembly. To provide a barrier against the corrosive and abrasive fracturing fluid, a protective coating can be applied to all internal surfaces that would be exposed to the fracturing fluid. Figures 6 and 7 provide perspective and cross-sectional views of another example embodiment of a flexible hose end fitting assembly 60 according to the teachings of the present description. This example flexible hose end fitting assembly 60 has a flexible hose coupling 62 and a connecting coupling 64, with a two-part ring clamp 66. The coupling portion of the flexible hose 62 is configured to be secured to an end of the flexible hose 68 by mechanical gripping means, joining means, adhesive means, and / or other suitable means. The coupling portion of the flexible hose 62 defines a cylindrical or tubular cavity that is in axial alignment with the flexible hose 68. The second part of the flexible hose end fitting assembly, the connecting coupling portion 64, includes an interface QPQ7 Ln / 77Ω7 / B / YILI standard connector 70 to another fluid conduit such as a safety plate or hammer joint. The connecting coupling portion 64 also defines a cylindrical or tubular cavity that is in axial alignment with the cylindrical cavity of the flexible hose coupling portion 62 when the two parts are assembled together. The flexible hose coupling and the connecting coupling portions of the flexible hose end fitting 60 each have flanged ends 72 and 73 that are surrounded and held together by the two-part ring clamp 66, which is secured by a plurality of threaded fasteners 74 such as socket head cap screws (SHCS).As shown in Figure 7, one or more O-rings or gaskets 7 6 may be arranged in a grooved interface between the safety plate coupling and the flexible hose coupling portions of the flexible hose end fitting assembly 60. The groove may be formed or machined into one or both portions. To provide a barrier against corrosive and abrasive fracturing fluid, a protective coating may be applied to all internal surfaces that would be exposed to the fracturing fluid. Figures 8-10 are several views of another example of a flexible hose end fitting assembly 80, as described herein. This hose end fitting assembly QPQ7 ii / 77P7 / E / YILI Example flexible hose 80 has a flexible hose coupling 82 and a connecting coupling 84, with a two-part ring clamp 86. The coupling portion of the flexible hose 82 is configured to be secured to one end of the flexible hose 88 by mechanical gripping means, joining means, adhesive means, and / or other suitable means. The coupling portion of the flexible hose 82 defines a cylindrical or tubular cavity that is in axial alignment with the flexible hose 88. The second part of the flexible hose end fitting assembly 80, the connecting coupling portion 84, includes a standard connector interface 90 for another fluid conduit such as a safety plate or hammer union.The coupling portion of the connection 84 also defines a cylindrical or tubular cavity that is in axial alignment with the cylindrical cavity of the coupling portion of the flexible hose 82 when the two parts are assembled together. The coupling portion of the flexible hose coupling and the coupling portions of the flexible hose end fitting each include flanged fingers 92 that are configured to engage and be encircled and held together by the two-part ring clamp 86, which is secured by a plurality of fasteners 94. A conduit. QPQ7 iP / 77Ω7 / B / YILI internal 96 is held within the fingers with latching flanges 94 of both portions and the ring clamp to conduct the fracturing fluid. To provide a barrier against the corrosive and abrasive fracturing fluid, a protective coating may be applied to all internal surfaces that would be exposed to the fracturing fluid. Figures 11-13 are various views of another example embodiment of a flexible hose end fitting assembly 100 according to the teachings of the present description. This example flexible hose end fitting assembly 100 has a flexible hose coupling 102 and a connecting coupling 104, with clamps 106 and an external reaction collar 108. The flexible hose coupling portion 102 is configured to be secured to a flexible hose end by mechanical gripping means, joining means, adhesive means, and / or other suitable means. The flexible hose coupling portion 102 defines a cylindrical or tubular cavity that is in axial alignment with the flexible hose 109.The second part of the flexible hose end fitting assembly, the 104 connection coupling portion, includes a standard 110 connector interface for another fluid conduit such as a safety plate or hammer union. The 104 connection coupling portion also defines a cavity. QPQ7 iP / 77Ω7 / B / YILI cylindrical or tubular that is in axial alignment with the cylindrical cavity of the flexible hose coupling portion 102 when the two parts are assembled together. The flexible hose coupling and the connecting coupling portions of the flexible hose end fitting 100 each include flanged ends 112 and 114 that are configured to be held together by a clamp 106, which is surrounded by the external reaction collar 108 and causes the clamp 106 to fit around the flanged ends 112 and 114 of the two portions. One or more O-rings or gaskets 116 may be disposed in a grooved interface between the connecting coupling and the flexible hose coupling portions of the flexible hose end fitting assembly. The groove may be formed or machined into one or both of the parts.To provide a barrier against corrosive and abrasive fracturing fluid, a protective coating can be applied to all internal surfaces that would be exposed to the fracturing fluid. Although not explicitly shown, all the configurations described herein may incorporate a narrow neck section that allows the use of a pipe clamp to support the weight of the flexible hose end fitting assembly. By using an end fitting assembly with two separable portions, the entire flexible hose assembly does not need to be replaced when the integrity of the coupling to the hammer / safety plate joint is compromised. When it fails, the coupling portion to the hammer / safety plate joint becomes the sacrificial part that can be easily replaced without discarding the entire flexible hose assembly. The novel features of the present invention are set forth below, particularly in the appended claims. However, modifications, variations, and changes to the illustrative embodiments described above will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and the flexible hose end fitting assembly described herein therefore encompasses such modifications, variations, and changes and is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. It is hereby stated that, as of this date, the best method known to the applicant for putting the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

1. A flexible hose end fitting assembly, characterized in that it comprises: a first portion of the assembly defining a first fluid passage and having a first end configured to engage a fluid conduit; a second portion of the assembly defining a second fluid passage and having a first end configured to engage a second end of the first portion and a second end configured to be securely attached to a flexible hose; a gasket disposed in a groove formed at an interface between the first portion and the first end of the second portion of the assembly; and the first portion and the first end of the second portion of the assembly being securely fastened together by a plurality of threaded fasteners to form a continuous fluid passage between the fluid conduit and the flexible hose.

2. The flexible hose end fitting assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the first portion of the assembly has a narrow neck section having a consistent length and outside diameter for coupling with a pipe clamp supported on a manifold structure.

3. The flexible hose end fitting assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that a second end of the first portion incorporates a first annular flange, the first end of the second portion incorporates a second annular flange, and the first and second annular flanges define a plurality of threaded openings for receiving the plurality of threaded fasteners.

4. The flexible hose end fitting assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that a second end of the first portion has a tubular contour configured to interact with a cylindrical cavity defined in the first end of the second portion, and the seal is a rod seal disposed in a groove formed at an interface between the second tubular end and the cylindrical cavity.

5. The flexible hose end fitting assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the fluid passage surfaces of at least one of the first portion and the second portion 16 incorporate a protective tungsten carbide coating.

6. The flexible hose end fitting assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises a two-part clamp configured to securely hold together the flanged ends of the first and second portions of the assembly, the two-part clamp being securely fastened together by a plurality of threaded fasteners.

7. A flexible hose end fitting assembly, characterized in that it comprises: a first portion of the assembly having a first end configured for coupling to an end of a first fluid conduit and a flanged end; a second portion of the assembly having a flanged end configured to engage with the flanged end of the first portion and a second end configured for coupling to a second fluid conduit; an inner conduit segment disposed at an interface of the engaging flanged ends of the first and second portions of the assembly; and a ring clamp configured to encircle and secure the engaging flanged ends of the first and second portions of the assembly, the first and second portions forming a continuous fluid conduit from the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit.

8. The flexible hose end fitting assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the first portion of the assembly has a narrow neck section.

9. The flexible hose end fitting assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the fluid passage surfaces of at least one of the first portion and the second portion incorporate a protective tungsten carbide coating 10. A flexible hose end fitting assembly, characterized in that it comprises: a first portion of the assembly having a first end configured for coupling to an end of a first fluid conduit and a flanged end; a second portion of the assembly having a flanged end configured to engage with the flanged end of the first portion and a second end configured for coupling to a second fluid conduit; a gasket disposed in a groove formed at an interface between the flanged ends of the first and second portions of the assembly; and a clamp disposed around the flanged ends of the first and second portions of the assembly.and an external reaction collar configured to surround and secure the collar around the flanged ends of the first and second portions of the assembly, the first and second portions forming a continuous fluid conduit from the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit.; 11. The flexible hose end fitting assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that the first portion of the assembly has a narrow neck section having a consistent length and outside diameter for coupling with a pipe clamp supported on a manifold structure.

12. The flexible hose end fitting assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that the fluid passage surfaces of at least one of the first portion and the second portion incorporate a protective tungsten carbide coating

Images