Rotatable Submarine Pipe Coupling With Pressure-Activated Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for installing submarine pipes face challenges with twisting forces during laying, which affect pipe positioning and stability, and require complex operations to switch sealing elements to ensure tightness and rotation, often involving costly submarine operations.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable coupling with interposed sealing elements that automatically switch between configurations of minimum and maximum tightness based on fluid pressure, allowing for rotation during installation and ensuring tightness post-laying without the need for submarine operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing elements are configured to guarantee tightness before laying, then tightness is ensured, but mutual rotation is not guaranteed and twisting forces cannot be compensated
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is designed with a resilient body that can dynamically change its state between allowing rotation and ensuring tightness. The resilient nature allows the sealing element to deform and adapt to different operational phases: during installation it permits rotation, and after installation it ensures tightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element exploits parameter changes in fluid pressure to transition between functional states. When fluid pressure is applied after installation, it causes the resilient sealing element to deform and seal, transitioning from a rotation-permitting state to a tightness-guaranteeing state.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sealing elements are configured to allow rotation during laying, then twisting forces are compensated, but tightness is not guaranteed and fluid leakage may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element transitions from a flexible, rotation-permitting configuration during installation to a sealed, rigid configuration after installation. This dynamic transformation is triggered by fluid pressure applied after the coupling is in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling is initially configured to allow rotation and compensate for twisting forces during the laying process. The tightness-sealing action is performed subsequently by applying fluid pressure, separating the rotation function from the sealing function in time.
3Reliability
If complex operations are used to switch sealing elements, then tightness can be ensured, but operational complexity and costs increase due to submarine operations
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is designed to automatically transition to its sealing configuration through the application of fluid pressure, without requiring external intervention or complex switching mechanisms. The system serves itself by using the installed fluid pressure to activate the sealing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical switching systems or submarine intervention operations with a simple fluid-pressure-activated resilient sealing mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for complex operations while ensuring reliable tightness.
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 coupling effectively compensates for twisting forces during installation, ensures stable pipe positioning, and maintains tightness without requiring additional submarine operations, reducing costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first elastic annular sealing element being interposed between said first and said second abutment surface
Implementation Method 2
the surface areas of the portions of the external surface of said elastic sealing element respectively in contact with said first and said second abutment surface are minimal if no fluid is present and increase when said elastic sealing element is subjected to pressure by a fluid flowing inside said interspace
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention concerns a rotatable coupling (60) for connecting pipes, comprising a first hollow female clement (61) suited to be connected, for example, to a first pipe portion (51) or to a pipe fitting (202) and a second tubular male element (6) with a first end portion at least partially housed inside the first female element (61) so as to define a common inner space for the passage of a fluid, and with a second end portion suited to be connected to a second pipe portion (52). Said first element and said second element (61, 6) are suited to be rotated with respect to each other and respectively comprise a first abutment surface (1S) and a second abutment surface (6S) adjacent to the first abutment surface (1S). A first elastic annular sealing element (B1) is interposed between the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface (1S, 6S). The first abutment surface and the second abutment surface (1S, 6S) are placed at a mutual distance from each other so as to define an interspace (I) and the surface areas of the portions of the external surface of the elastic sealing element (B1) respectively in contact with the first and with the second abutment surface (1S, 6S) are minimal in the absence of a fluid and increase when the elastic sealing element (B1) is subjected to pressure exerted by a fluid inside the interspace (I).