PRESSURE REGULATION MECHANISM FOR PIPE.

Abstract

A pressure balancing or regulating device is presented that may have a compression collar for coupling with a component comprising a seal, and a fastener for anchoring it to a tube and the compression collar. The compression collar is used to apply an axial force to the tube to relieve shear stress in the adjacent seals. The method may include coupling a compression collar to a component comprising a seal, anchoring a fastener to a tube, coupling the fastener to the compression collar, and using the compression collar to apply an axial force to the tube.

Description

PRESSURE REGULATION MECHANISM FOR CONNECTOR Cross-reference to related applications This application claims priority and benefit from the co-pending non-provisional United States patent application serial no. 16 / 101.067 filed on August 10, 2018, entitled “PRESSURE REGULATING MECHANISM FOR CONNECTOR”. This reference is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Field of invention These modalities refer, in general, to a balancing or pressure regulation mechanism and a method of use. Background of the invention Connectors are often used for sections of tubing that carry fluid. These connectors may use seals to prevent fluid leakage. Depending on the application, the tubing may be subjected to backpressure from the process or system to which it is connected. Back pressure can cause shear stresses to be applied to the seals and may require large and expensive seals for many applications. Therefore, there is a need for a mechanism that can balance or regulate the pressure of a tube against the pressure of the process and / or system, allowing smaller seals to be used. This disclosure fulfills these needs. Brief description of the drawings The detailed description will be best understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, as follows: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one modality of a high-pressure energizable connector of the prior art. Figure 2A shows a side view of the high-pressure energizable connector of the prior art in Figure 1. Figure 2B shows a cross-sectional view of the high-pressure energizable connector of the prior art in Figure 2A along line 1-1. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of one type of pressure regulation mechanism. These modalities are detailed below with reference to the listed figures. Detailed description of the modalities Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details of the particular modalities described and that it can be practiced, interpreted, or carried out in various ways. While the methods of dissemination have been shown and described, modifications can be made to them by a person expert in the technique without departing from the spirit and teachings. IVIA / t / ZUZ I / U4OOOZ of the disclosure. The modalities described herein are only examples and are not intended to be limiting. The specific structural and functional details described herein are not intended to be limiting, but are intended only as the basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching persons of ordinary skill in the art the various applications of these embodiments. Many variations and modifications of the embodiments described herein are possible and fall within the scope of this disclosure. Where numerical ranges or limitations are expressly indicated, it should be understood that these express ranges or limitations include iterative ranges or limitations of similar magnitude that fall within the expressly indicated ranges or limitations. The use of the words “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and / or specification could mean “one”, although it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more”, “at least one”, and “one or more than one”. The word “around” means approximately 5% of the stated number. The optional use of the term with respect to any element of a claim is intended to mean that the subject element is required, or alternatively, that it is not required. It is intended that both alternatives are within the scope of the claim. The use of broader terms such as comprises, includes, having, etc., is to be construed as providing support for narrower terms such as consists of, consists essentially of, substantially comprising, and the like. When methods are described or discussed, the order of the steps is not intended to be limiting, but only as an example unless otherwise indicated. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited by the description herein, but is limited only by the claims that follow, which include all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims. Each and every claim is incorporated herein into the specification as a modality of this disclosure. Thus, the claims are a further description and are also an addition to the modalities of this disclosure. The inclusion or discussion of a reference does not constitute an admission that it is prior art for the purposes of this disclosure, particularly any reference that may have a publication date after the priority date of this application. The disclosures of all patents, patent applications, and publications cited herein are incorporated by reference to the extent that they provide background knowledge; or exemplary details, procedural details, or other supplementary details to those noted herein. These modalities refer to a pressure balancing or regulating mechanism for a pipe. The pressure regulator can reduce or eliminate shear stresses on the seals within the sealed components in contact with the pipe due to process or system pressure in the pipe. A tube can be any conduit used for the flow of fluids and / or suspensions. Tubulars IVIA / t / ZUZ I / U4OOOZ used in wells, large sections of pipe, plastic pipe, and the like can all be used for the purposes of this disclosure. The pressure regulator may have a compression collar that couples with a component comprising a seal and a fastener for anchoring to a tube. The compression collar engages with the component comprising a seal and the fastener via a threaded clutch. However, any mechanism, such as a ratchet connection, that can axially position the fastener relative to the component comprising a seal may be used. The fastener can utilize any method known to persons with ordinary experience in the technique for anchoring it to the tube. The method shown uses a compressible and deformable splint. The splint can be deformed inside the tube when compressed, thereby anchoring the fastener to the tube. These modalities also refer to a method for pressure balancing a tube component comprising a seal. The method may include the steps of coupling a compression collar to a sealed component, anchoring a fastener to a tube, coupling the fastener to the compression collar, and rotating the compression collar to apply an axial force to the tube. In some embodiments, the method may include the steps of sliding a compression collar onto a tube and engaging a component comprising a seal with the compression collar. In some embodiments, the component comprising a seal and the compression collar are threaded together to allow easy adjustment of the axial distance between the two. The method may then include the step of sliding a fastener onto the tube and engaging the fastener with the compression collar. In some versions, the fastener and compression collar are threaded together to allow easy adjustment of the axial distance between the two. The method may then include the stage of clamping the tube. In some versions, this can be achieved by sliding a splint through the tube into the clamp and then compressing the splint, where the compression of the splint shapes and anchors it to the tube. The compression collar can then be used to apply an axial force to the tube. When threaded, this can be achieved by rotating the compression collar. Those with ordinary experience in the art can determine the magnitude and direction of the force based on whether the tube is under vacuum or positive pressure in the specific application. The following figures, specifically Figure 1, show a perspective view of one embodiment of a prior art high-pressure energizable connector. This disclosure may be coupled with any sealed component (i.e., a connector such as this) to release shear elongation in the seals. Tube 2 is shown inserted into an inverted lock nut 12. The inverted lock nut 12 can be any type of nut or connector capable of being positioned around tube 2 and is engaged, so that IVIA / t / ZUZ I / U4OOOZ threaded, with adjacent connectors. The inverted locknut 12 is shown threaded into a first nipple 6. The first nipple 6 may have a test port 8 located on it. A second nipple 10 may be threaded tightly into the first nipple 6, forming an adjustable threaded clutch 32. The second nipple 10 is shown threaded into a female profile 4. Figure 2A shows a side view of a prior art high-pressure energizable connector. Tube 2 is shown inserted into the inverted locknut 12. The inverted locknut 12 is threaded into the first nipple 6, which has a test port 8. The first nipple is threaded into the second nipple 10, forming an adjustable threaded coupling 32. The second nipple 10 is threaded into the female profile 4. Figure 2B shows a cross-section of the high-pressure energizable connector of the prior art in Figure 2A along line 1-1. Tube 2 is shown inserted inside the inverted locknut 12. The inverted locknut 12 is shown threaded into the first nipple 6, forming a second threaded coupling 30. The first nipple 6 may have a test port 8. A second front splint 18 and a second rear splint 20 are positioned around the tube 2 between the inverted locknut 12 and the first nipple 6. A secondary seal 36 is formed by compressing the second rear splint 20 and the second front splint 18 towards the inverted locknut 12 and the tube 2 using pressure applied through a test port 8. The first nipple 6 is also shown to have a third seal 26, which may be an O-ring or a similar type of seal, located between the first nipple 6 and the inverted locknut 12. The first nipple 6 is shown in a tight, threaded manner with the second nipple 10, forming an adjustable threaded clutch 32. It is contemplated that the adjustable threaded clutch 32 can be tightened or loosened as necessary to compensate for the tightness in the tube 2 after the application of pressure through the test port 8. The first nipple 6 is shown to have a second seal 24, which may be an O-ring or a similar type of seal, located between the first nipple 6 and the second nipple 10. The second nipple 10 is shown to have a first seal 22, which may also be an O-ring or a similar type of seal, located between the second nipple 10 and a female profile 4. The female profile 4 is shown positioned around the tube 2 and threaded together with the second nipple 10, forming a first threaded clutch 28. A first front ferrule 14 and a first rear ferrule 6 are positioned around the tube 2 between the second nipple 10 and the female profile 4. A primary seal 34 is formed by compressing the first rear ferrule 6 and the first front ferrule 14 towards the female profile 4 and the tube 2 using pressure applied through the test port 8. As can be seen from both designs of the previous technique, the seals formed by the splints will be subjected to a shear stress depending on the pressure of the application process ML / t / ZUZ I / U4OOOZ specifies that it applies axial force to the tube. This disclosure, shown in Figure 3, allows for seals that do not need to be subjected to the full shear stresses of the specific application for which they will be used due to pressure regulation. If the tube is subjected to vacuum or positive pressure, this disclosure can reduce or eliminate this stress on the seals. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of one type of pressure regulation mechanism. A compression collar 110 is shown threaded and connected to a sealed component 120, such as the connector shown in Figures 1, 2A, and 2B. A fastener 130 is in mechanical communication with the compression collar 110. A ferrule 132 can be used to anchor the fastener to a tube 140. In the embodiment shown, a nut 134 is used to deform the ferrule 132 and to anchor it to the tube 140. As the compression collar 110 is rotated, an axial force is applied to the tube, allowing pressure regulation as desired. The axial force can be directed toward or away from the sealed component 120 as needed. While the disclosure emphasizes the modalities and figures presented, it should be understood that within the scope of the attached claims, the disclosure may be different from that specifically permitted herein.

Claims

1. A pressure regulator for a tube comprising: a compression collar that engages with a component comprising a seal; and a fastener that is anchored to the tube and engages with the compression collar; wherein rotation of the compression collar applies an axial force to the tube.

2. The pressure regulator according to claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a ferrule located on the tube, wherein the ferrule anchors the fastener to the tube when it is compressed.

3. The pressure regulator according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the compression collar in one direction applies axial force towards the component comprising the seal and rotation of the compression collar in the other direction applies axial force away from the component comprising the seal.

4. A method for making a pressure-regulated connection with a component comprising a seal, wherein the method comprises the steps of coupling a compression collar with the sealed component; anchoring a fastener to a tube near the compression collar; coupling the fastener with the compression collar; and rotating the compression collar to apply an axial force to the tube.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the anchoring of the fastener to the tube comprises the step of deforming a fastening splint.

6. A method for making a pressure-regulated connection with a component comprising a seal, wherein the method comprises the steps of sliding a compression collar onto a tube; engaging the component comprising the seal with the compression collar; sliding a fastener onto the tube; engaging the fastener with the compression collar; clamping the tube; and rotating the compression collar to apply an axial force to the tube.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the clamping of the tube comprises: sliding a splint through the tube into the clamp; and compressing the splint.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein compression of the splint deforms the splint and anchors it to the tube.

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