Spline-Locking Thread Protector for Tubular Thread Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tubular members used in well systems are prone to corrosion and damage from moisture and debris during storage and transport, as their threaded connectors are not adequately protected.
Innovation Solution
A thread protector with a hub and circumferentially spaced connectors featuring inclined and locking shoulders, which allows for easy insertion and secure locking without full rotation, preventing debris entry and enhancing bending resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional threaded connectors are used during storage and transport, then the tubular members can be easily assembled and disassembled, but the threaded connectors are exposed to moisture and debris causing corrosion and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The thread protector is divided into a hub portion and a connector portion that can be assembled together. The connector portion includes multiple splines that can engage with the threaded connector, allowing the protector to be segmented for easier handling and application while providing comprehensive protection when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector portion is designed to be received within and nested against the hub portion. The splines of the connector engage with the threaded connector, and the entire connector assembly nests within the hub, creating a compact protected structure that fits over the threaded connector.
2Reliability
If a secure locking mechanism is implemented to prevent thread protector removal, then protection integrity is maintained, but the mechanism for insertion and removal becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The splines are designed with inclined surfaces that allow dynamic engagement during insertion. When axial force is applied, the splines naturally guide themselves onto the threaded connector through the inclined surfaces, providing self-aligning dynamic engagement that simplifies the insertion process while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using threads that require rotational engagement for attachment, the invention inverts the approach by using inclined surfaces that convert axial force directly into engagement. The splines engage through axial movement rather than rotation, making insertion and removal simpler while maintaining secure attachment through the geometry of the inclined surfaces.
3Strength
If the connector is made more rigid to increase bending resistance, then structural integrity is improved, but the connector becomes more susceptible to damage during insertion and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed with varying wall thicknesses along its length, creating regions of different structural rigidity. The connector has greater bending resistance in areas where strength is needed while maintaining flexibility in regions that benefit from shock absorption, optimizing the balance between strength and damage resistance through parameter variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector includes features designed to absorb and dissipate impact forces before they can cause damage. The varying wall thickness and geometric features are positioned to provide cushioning effect during insertion and removal operations, protecting the connector from damage while maintaining adequate bending resistance for structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A thread protector for coupling with an end of a tubular member includes a hub, a connector extending from the hub, and a plurality of splines formed on an outer surface of the connector and configured to releasably couple with a threaded connector of the tubular member, wherein each spline includes an inclined shoulder disposed at an acute angle to a central axis of the thread protector, and a locking shoulder disposed orthogonal to the central axis of the thread protector.