Coated Pipe End Protection That Preserves Collar Roughness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current protective systems for coated pipes fail to provide comprehensive protection against corrosion and mechanical damage to the ends/bevel, collar, and internal surfaces, leading to recurring losses, increased costs, and environmental impacts during storage, transport, and use in the field.

Innovation Solution

A protective system comprising a cup, spacer, external coating, external ring, and cap, which are integrated into the pipe coating process to protect the ends/bevel, collar, and internal surfaces, using the external coating itself as a protective mechanism and maintaining the necessary roughness profile.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional protective systems are used for pipe ends, then mechanical protection is provided, but corrosion protection and complete coverage are not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidcorrosion damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective system is divided into multiple functional components: a cup for end protection, a collar for lateral protection, and an internal plug for interior protection. Each component addresses specific vulnerability zones, providing comprehensive coverage that conventional single-component systems cannot achieve.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective system serves multiple functions simultaneously: mechanical impact protection, corrosion prevention, water accumulation blocking, and surface roughness preservation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate protective measures for each hazard.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If sandblasting is performed in the field to restore collar surface, then corrosion is removed, but time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion removalVSAvoidsurface preparation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The protective collar is applied at the factory before shipping, preserving the sandblasted surface roughness profile in advance. This preliminary protection eliminates the need for time-consuming field sandblasting to restore the collar surface, as the protective system maintains the surface integrity throughout transport and storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If protective films are used during coating, then collar protection is provided, but residue is left on the surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollar protectionVSAvoidsurface roughness quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The protective collar uses a disposable paper-based material that is intentionally designed to be consumed during the coating process. The collar is placed on the pipe before coating, and the coating material penetrates through it. After coating, the collar is removed and discarded, leaving no residue on the sandblasted surface, thus maintaining the required roughness profile.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Reliability

If comprehensive protection is implemented, then all pipe areas are protected, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplete protectionVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective system is divided into multiple functional components: a cup for end protection, a collar for lateral protection, and an internal plug for interior protection. Each component addresses specific vulnerability zones, providing comprehensive coverage that conventional single-component systems cannot achieve.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4006401B1System for protecting coated pipes for on-land and subsea pipelines and method for protecting pipes
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 PETROLEO BRASILEIRO SA PETROBRAS
  • EP4006401B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4006401B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4006401B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

This invention encompasses a system and a method used in the petrochemical and mechanical engineering area, more specifically in the area of protecting pipes or similarly shaped objects against external or internal damage or wear, which comprises a protective system for the ends and the inside of coated pipes, using the coating itself and other additional devices. The system is comprised of a cup (1), spacer (2), coating (3), external ring (4), and cap (5) used in the production line of the pipe-coating process, using the external coating itself, preventing corrosion and mechanical damage at the ends/bevel, in the sandblasted area of the collar and internal surface, from storage and transport to the location where it will be used, and welding in the field or on the vessel.