Polymeric Stepped Bushing for Pipe Coupling Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for protecting pipe couplings and threaded connections in the oil and gas industry are inadequate due to issues like pipeline cross-section narrowing, complex assembly-disassembly, unreliable O-ring performance, and thread wear, leading to corrosion and fluid leakage.
Innovation Solution
A polymeric device with a stepped bushing design featuring a middle section with increased diameter and end sections with smaller diameters, equipped with elastomer O-rings and additional stepped bushings with specific diameter matches and spiral annular ridges, allowing for self-adjusting alignment and maintaining tight contact during screwing and unscrewing, reducing wear and turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single stepped bushing with O-rings is used to protect the coupling, then the internal surface is insulated from aggressive substances, but the pipeline cross-section is narrowed and the assembly-disassembly becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device is divided into two separate bushings (first and second bushings) that can be independently installed and removed. Each bushing has simplified structure with fewer O-rings, making assembly and disassembly easier while maintaining comprehensive protection of the coupling internal surface and threaded connections
2Reliability
If O-rings are installed on smaller diameter sections to provide sealing, then sealing is achieved, but the O-rings become unreliable and require replacement during frequent assembly-disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
O-rings are strategically positioned only at critical sealing locations rather than distributed along the entire bushing length. The first bushing has an O-ring at its end section, and the second bushing has an O-ring at its end section, providing adequate sealing with fewer components that are less prone to failure during repeated assembly-disassembly operations
3Ease of operation
If the bushing structure is simplified for easier assembly, then assembly becomes easier, but the device cannot compensate for thread wear during frequent screwing and unscrewing
Solution Approach 1:
The two bushings are designed with relative movement capability along the axial direction. As the threaded connection experiences wear and the pipes are repeatedly screwed and unscrewed, the bushings can shift relative to each other to maintain proper sealing contact and accommodate dimensional changes, thereby compensating for thread wear while keeping the overall structure simple
4Reliability
If the protective device is installed to seal the coupling, then corrosion is prevented, but the pipeline flow area is narrowed and hydraulic efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is segmented between two bushings with staggered positioning. The first bushing protects one portion of the coupling while the second bushing protects another portion, allowing the flow area to remain more open compared to a single solid bushing, thereby reducing hydraulic resistance and energy loss while maintaining comprehensive corrosion protection
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 extends the service life of threaded connections by preventing corrosion, reducing power losses, and ensuring hydraulic efficiency through reduced friction and turbulence, while maintaining leak-tightness despite thread wear.
Implementation Method 1
O-rings of elastomer plastics located at the sections of the bushing with smaller diameter
Implementation Method 2
the surfaces the interaction of the first and the second bushings occurs on may have spiral annular ridges and troughs of semicircular profile providing their tight contact and preventing their detachment during disassembly of the threaded connection
Data Source
AI summary
A polymeric device for protection of the connecting pipe coupling contains a stepped bushing having a medium part with an increased diameter and two lateral parts with a smaller outside diameters, which is installed between end faces of pipes with a conic thread, and connected by means of a coupling and having sealing rings made of an elastomer, which are on parts of the bushing with the small diameter. The device has an additional stepped bushing, and the first stepped bushing has a constant outside diameter and two parts with small and large internal diameters, and the second stepped bushing has a constant internal diameter and two parts with small and large diameters.