Mechanical Pipe Connector With Metal Seal for Weld-Free Oil Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
The oil industry faces challenges with flanged joints used for connecting oil pipes, as they are vulnerable to uneven bolt tightening, prone to thermal degradation, require skilled labor, and involve time-consuming welding, increasing costs and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical connector system with a metal-to-metal seal and interlock arrangement that locks pipes together without flanges or welding, using a metallic olive and cap mechanism to ensure a strong, corrosion-resistant seal under high pressures and temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If flanged joints with rubber seals are used to connect oil pipes, then the connection can be assembled without welding, but the seals fail due to thermal degradation and are vulnerable to damage from uneven bolt tightening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces durable metal seals with inexpensive rubber seals that are designed to be replaced periodically. The rubber seals are made from affordable materials and are intended to have limited service lives, being replaced before failure occurs to maintain system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters of the seal from metal to rubber, and modifies operational parameters such as bolt tightening sequences and torque specifications to accommodate the softer rubber material. This allows assembly without welding while managing the thermal and mechanical limitations of rubber through controlled installation parameters.
2Strength
If flanged joints require welding for assembly, then the connection strength is improved, but the assembly time increases and fire risk is presented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the welding process (thermal-mechanical system) with a mechanical bolted flange connection system. This substitution eliminates the need for welding operations, reducing assembly time and eliminating fire hazards associated with welding, while maintaining adequate connection strength through properly designed flange and bolt arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the welding operation from the assembly process, removing the thermal processing step entirely. By designing flanged joints that rely solely on mechanical fastening, the welding step is eliminated, thereby reducing assembly time and removing the fire risk associated with welding operations.
3Reliability
If qualified welders are employed to perform repairs, then the welding quality and safety are improved, but the cost of repairs increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces welding operations with mechanical flange connections that can be assembled and disassembled without qualified welders. The bolted flange system allows repairs to be performed by personnel with basic mechanical skills, eliminating the need for expensive certified welding services while maintaining connection reliability through proper mechanical fastening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive rubber seals and standard flange components that can be replaced through simple mechanical operations. These components are designed to be economical and replaceable without specialized welding skills, reducing repair costs by eliminating the need for expensive qualified welder services.
4Reliability
If high precision installation is required for flange joints, then the connection reliability is improved, but highly skilled labor is required which increases repair costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces precision welding operations with mechanical flange assembly that tolerates greater variation in alignment and fit-up. The bolted connection system is more forgiving of installation imperfections, allowing less skilled workers to achieve reliable connections through standard mechanical assembly procedures rather than requiring highly skilled welding expertise.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a reliable, cost-effective, and efficient method for connecting oil pipes, reducing the risk of leakage, minimizing downtime, and eliminating the need for skilled labor and welding, while maintaining high-pressure integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a mechanical seal arrangement for providing a metal-to-metal seal between a pipe inserted into one of said open ends and the connector body
Implementation Method 2
a mechanical interlock arrangement, for preventing or limiting axial movement of the connector body relative to a free end of a pipe
Implementation Method 3
the geometry of the metallic element ensures that the metallic element maintains concentricity with the pipe when being compressed in use
Implementation Method 4
the metallic element is an olive having a tapered portion comprising an angled surface, arranged to contact a corresponding angled surface of the connector body
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for connecting two pipes in fluid communication includes a connector body having opposing open ends, with each open end configured for receiving a free end of a pipe, and a mechanical interlock arrangement for preventing or limiting axial movement of the connector body relative to a free end of a pipe when the free end of the pipe is received in an open end of the connector body. A mechanical seal arrangement provides a metal-to-metal seal between a pipe inserted into one of the open ends and the connector body.