Tapered Threaded Pipe Connection for Drift Passage Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Threaded pipe connections in natural gas and oil extraction often experience radial inward deformation at terminal ends, leading to issues with drift passage during quality checks, resulting in operational costs and potential damage to connections.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates tubular couplings with first and second female threaded zones on opposing halves, featuring tapered trapezoidal threads that reduce in diameter towards the terminal ends, with specific portions having reduced or no radial interference to minimize deformation and enhance stabbing capability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If tapered threads with radial interference are used to achieve strong mechanical engagement, then connection strength is improved, but radial inward deformation at terminal ends increases causing drift passage failures
Solution Approach 1:
The threaded zone is segmented into two distinct portions: a first portion with complete threads providing full radial interference for strength, and a second portion with reduced-height threads providing minimal radial interference. This segmentation allows the connection to achieve both strong mechanical engagement and reduced terminal end deformation that would cause drift passage failures.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the threaded zone are given different thread heights to serve different functions. The first portion has complete thread height for maximum engagement strength, while the second portion has reduced thread height to minimize radial interference and prevent inward deformation at the terminal end, allowing drift to pass successfully.
2Strength
If complete thread sections are used throughout the threaded zone, then mechanical engagement strength is maximized, but manufacturing complexity and precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing complete threads throughout the entire threaded zone, the invention uses partial threads (reduced height) in the second portion where full thread engagement is not necessary for primary load bearing. This partial action reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining sufficient mechanical engagement strength through the complete threads in the first portion.
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
This configuration reduces radial interference, minimizes deformation under torque, and allows for easier manufacturing by eliminating the need for precise sealing surfaces, thereby reducing operational costs and improving connection reliability.
Implementation Method 1
In a second portion of the female threaded zone there is reduced or no radial interference
Implementation Method 2
the elasticity of the pins results in desired axial compression along with associated radial expansion
Implementation Method 3
the crest of one of the male and female threads radially interferes with the root of the other
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a threaded pipe connection. A threaded pipe connection comprising a tubular coupling with first and second female threaded zones formed in opposing sections; and first and second pipes, each comprising a male threaded zone and a shoulder surface at its terminal end, wherein each female threaded zone includes a female thread that tapers radially within the female threaded zone from a maximum diameter at the outer end of the female threaded zone, wherein each male threaded zone includes a male thread that tapers radially so as to reduce in diameter towards the terminal end of the pipe, wherein the threaded pipe connection is configured to enable the first and second pipes to be engaged with the tubular coupling in a made-up configuration in which: the shoulder surfaces of the first and second pipes abut; the entire male threaded zone of the first pipe engages the entire first female threaded zone; the entire male threaded zone of the second pipe engages the entire second female threaded zone; and for each of the first and second female threaded zones. The crest of one of the male and female threads radially interferes with the root of the other of the male and female threads in a first portion of the female threaded zone and does not interfere or interferes by a smaller amount in a second portion of the female threaded zone; the second portion is located at the inner end of the female threaded zone.