Open-Ended Pipe Thread Protector Seal for Clean Drifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pipe thread protectors are removed during the drifting process, leading to contamination of threads with dirt and debris, which requires reapplication of protective grease or dope after the process, and there is a need for a solution that keeps the threads sealed during drifting to prevent contamination.
Innovation Solution
A pipe thread protector with a tubular body and a seal that remains on the pipe during drifting, featuring a tubular seal that tapers from the outer surface to the inner surface, providing a secure seal and protection against contamination, and is designed to couple with a male threaded end of a pipe, inhibiting inward bulging and accommodating variations in make-up tolerance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pipe thread protectors are removed during drifting process, then drift mandrel can pass through the pipe, but threads become contaminated with dirt and debris
Solution Approach 1:
The drift mandrel is designed with a hollow interior that receives and contains the pipe thread protector during the drifting process. The thread protector is nested within the mandrel's bore, allowing the mandrel to pass through the pipe while the protector remains enclosed and protected, preventing contamination of the threads it safeguards.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe thread protector is installed on the pipe threads before the drifting process begins. This preliminary installation ensures that the threads are protected from contamination before any drifting operations occur, eliminating the need to remove the protector and reapply protective coatings afterward.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If pipe thread protectors remain on during drifting, then threads are protected from contamination, but protector must accommodate drift mandrel passage
Solution Approach 1:
The thread protector is designed to be received within the hollow bore of the drift mandrel, creating a nested configuration. This allows the protector to maintain its protective function while accommodating the passage of the mandrel through the pipe during drifting operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The thread protector serves multiple functions: it protects the pipe threads from contamination during handling and installation, and simultaneously accommodates the passage of the drift mandrel through its hollow interior. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components.
3Reliability
If seal is added to thread protector, then sealing performance improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is integrated directly into the thread protector body, merging the sealing function with the protective function. The seal forms part of the protector's structure, creating a unified component that both protects the threads and provides sealing, rather than being a separate attached element.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible sealing element is incorporated into the thread protector to provide effective sealing against the pipe threads. The flexible nature of the seal allows it to conform to the thread surfaces and maintain sealing under varying conditions without adding significant structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a pipe thread protector having first and second ends, threading extending from the first end towards the second end thereof, and a bore extending from the first end to the second end thereof. A seal couples to the first end of the pipe thread protector and is tubular. The seal tapers in a direction extending from a proximal end thereof towards a distal end thereof, and tapers in a direction extending from an outer surface thereof to an inner surface thereof.There is additionally provided a pipe thread protector assembly including a pipe thread protector, a coupling via which the pipe thread protector and a male threaded end of a pipe threadably couple together, and a seal coupled to an inner end of the pipe thread protector. The seal is shaped to protect and extend along an outer end surface of the pipe.