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JP-7856564-B2 - Pipe end protector

JP7856564B2JP 7856564 B2JP7856564 B2JP 7856564B2JP-7856564-B2

Inventors

  • エッガー，パブロ
  • カルバリヨ，アンヘル・アンドレス

Assignees

  • テナリス・コネクシヨンズ・ベー・ブイ

Dates

Publication Date
20260511
Application Date
20201127
Priority Date
20191129

Claims (20)

  1. A pipe end protector for protecting pipe threads provided on the pipe end of a pipe component for hydrocarbon well exploration and production, wherein the pipe end protector comprises: - A body having a longitudinal axis, a support portion having an annular seal support surface that extends at least partially radially, and a tubular portion provided with a protector thread configured to cooperate with a pipe thread at the pipe end, - Including an annular, flexible axial lip seal provided on the seal support surface; -- The main body is formed from a first polymer material having a first elastic modulus, -- The axial lip seal is formed from a second polymer material having a second elastic modulus lower than the first elastic modulus. -- The axial lip seal includes an annular lip base, the annular lip base extends radially along at least a portion of the seal support surface and is attached to the seal support surface by overmolding. -- The axial lip seal includes an annular lip, the annular lip extending from the lip base to the free edge of the lip, the free edge being axially spaced from the lip base; --- The pipe end protector is configured for a female pipe end, and the lip is configured to bend toward the longitudinal axis by the female protruding surface of the female pipe end when the support portion and the female pipe end move toward each other in the axial direction during rotation of the pipe end protector on the female pipe end, in order to position the free edge between the female pipe end and the longitudinal axis when the pipe end protector reaches its final configuration position on the female pipe end, or --- The pipe end protector is configured for a male pipe end, and the lip is configured to bend toward the longitudinal axis by the male protruding surface of the male pipe end when the support portion and the male pipe end move toward each other in the axial direction during rotation of the pipe end protector on the male pipe end, in order to position the male pipe end between the free edge and the longitudinal axis when the pipe end protector reaches its final configuration position on the male pipe end,
  2. The pipe end protector according to claim 1, wherein the lip includes an annular outer lip surface, and the axial lip seal is configured to maintain contact between the outer lip surface and the pipe end when the pipe end protector reaches its final configuration position on the pipe end.
  3. The pipe end protector according to claim 2, wherein the axial lip seal is configured to apply a lip force to the pipe end by its outer lip surface when it reaches the final configuration position of the pipe end protector on the pipe end.
  4. The pipe end protector according to claim 3, wherein the lip force applied to the pipe end has an axial force component and a radial force component.
  5. The aforementioned lip force is formed by the rigidity of the axial lip seal, as described in claim 3 or 4.
  6. - The body includes an annular body contact surface located between the lip and the longitudinal axis, and the axial lip seal is configured to contact the body contact surface when it reaches the final configuration position of the pipe end protector on the female pipe end, or - The body includes an annular body contact surface, the lip is located between the body contact surface and the longitudinal axis, and the axial lip seal is configured to contact the body contact surface when it reaches the final configuration position of the pipe end protector on the male pipe end, the pipe end protector according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
  7. The pipe end protector according to claim 6, wherein the free edge is in contact with the main body contact surface when it reaches the final configuration position of the pipe end protector on the female pipe end or male pipe end.
  8. The pipe end protector according to claim 6, wherein the lip includes an annular inner lip surface that contacts the main body contact surface when it reaches the final configuration position of the pipe end protector on the female or male pipe end.
  9. The pipe end protector according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the main body contact surface extends at an angle α between 35° and 55° with respect to the longitudinal axis.
  10. The pipe end protector according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the main body contact surface extends at an angle α between 40° and 50° with respect to the longitudinal axis.
  11. - The lip includes a first lip contact area configured to contact the female pipe end when it reaches the final configuration position of the pipe end protector on the female pipe end, and a second lip contact area configured to contact the main body contact surface when it reaches the final configuration position of the pipe end protector on the female pipe end, wherein the first lip contact area and the second contact area are located between the female pipe end and the longitudinal axis when it reaches the final configuration position of the pipe end protector on the female pipe end, or - The lip includes a first lip contact area configured to contact the male pipe end when it reaches the final configuration position of the pipe end protector on the male pipe end, and a second lip contact area configured to contact the main body contact surface when it reaches the final configuration position of the pipe end protector on the male pipe end, wherein the male pipe end is located between the first and second lip contact areas and the longitudinal axis when it reaches the final configuration position of the pipe end protector on the male pipe end, according to any one of claims 6 to 10.
  12. The pipe end protector according to claim 11, wherein the first lip contact area is located on the outer lip surface and the second lip contact area is located on the inner lip surface.
  13. - The axial lip seal is configured to first make contact between the free edge and the female projection surface of the female end during the rotation configuration of the end protector on the female end, and then move the free edge along the female projection surface toward the longitudinal axis as the rotation configuration continues, or - The axial lip seal is configured to first make contact between the free edge and the male projection surface of the male end during the rotation configuration of the end protector on the male end, and then move the free edge along the male projection surface toward the longitudinal axis as the rotation configuration continues, according to any one of claims 1 to 12.
  14. - The axial lip seal is configured to move its free edge along a female projection surface extending at an angle β between 70° and 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis, or - The axial lip seal is configured to move its free edge along a male projection surface extending at an angle β between 70° and 90°, according to claim 13.
  15. - The axial lip seal is configured to move its free edge along a female projection surface extending at an angle β between 70° and 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis, or - The axial lip seal is configured to move its free edge along a male projection surface extending at an angle β between 80° and 90°, according to claim 13.
  16. - The axial lip seal is configured to move its free edge along a female projection surface extending at an angle β between 80° and 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis, or - The axial lip seal is configured to move its free edge along a male projection surface extending at an angle β between 70° and 90°, according to claim 13.
  17. - The axial lip seal is configured to move its free edge along a female projection surface extending at an angle β between 80° and 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis, or - The axial lip seal is configured to move its free edge along a male projection surface extending at an angle β between 80° and 90°, according to claim 13.
  18. - The axial lip seal is configured to contact the inner edge of the female pipe end when it reaches the final configuration position of the pipe end protector on the female pipe end, or - The axial lip seal is configured to contact the outer edge of the male pipe end when it reaches the final configuration position of the pipe end protector on the male pipe end, according to any one of claims 1 to 17.
  19. - The axial lip seal is configured to contact the inner edge of the female pipe end when it reaches the final configuration position of the pipe end protector on the female pipe end, and the inner edge is located between the female projection surface and the longitudinal axis, or - The axial lip seal is configured to contact the outer edge of the male pipe end when it reaches the final configuration position of the pipe end protector on the male pipe end, and the male projection surface is located between the outer edge and the longitudinal axis, as described in claims 13 to 17.
  20. The pipe end protector according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the axial lip seal is configured to make annular line contact with the female or male pipe end along its longitudinal axis when it reaches the final configuration position of the pipe end protector on the pipe end.

Description

This invention relates to a pipe end protector for protecting pipe threads provided on the pipe end of pipe components for hydrocarbon well exploration and production, and to an assembly comprising such a pipe end protector and pipe component. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a pipe end protector. After the pipe components for hydrocarbon well exploration and production are manufactured, they need to be transported to the site where the hydrocarbon well exploration and production take place. During this transport, there is a high risk of damage to the pipe threads at the pipe ends. To reduce this risk, pipe end protectors are screwed onto the pipe ends and cover the pipe threads. At least one seal is provided on the pipe end protector to prevent moisture or small solid particles, such as dust accumulating on the pipe threads. Generally, the pipe end protector has an internal seal and an external seal, with the pipe threads positioned between the internal and external seals. A known pipe end protector includes a body having a longitudinal axis and a tubular portion provided with a protector thread configured to cooperate with the pipe threads at the pipe end. A groove is provided within the body, and internal and external seals are manually positioned within the groove. This pipe end protector has the disadvantage of being relatively expensive to manufacture. This is primarily due to the fact that the seal is manually placed into the groove. In addition, the seal may come loose from the groove when the pipe end protector is reused. As a result, the average sealing capacity of the pipe end protector deteriorates relatively quickly when it is reused. Therefore, pipe end protectors are generally only reused a relatively limited number of times. Pipe end protectors can be divided into two distinct groups: pipe protectors for male pipe ends and pipe protectors for female pipe ends. Due to the differences in design between male and female pipe ends, each of these two groups of pipe end protectors may have its own unique challenges. A schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the pipe end protector according to the present invention is shown.A schematic enlargement of part B of Figure 1A is shown.A schematic enlargement of section C in Figure 1A is shown.A schematic enlarged view of an alternative embodiment of part C in Figure 1A is shown.A schematic enlarged view of another alternative embodiment of part C in Figure 1A is shown.Figure 1A schematically shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the female pipe end of a pipe component relative to the pipe end protector.The cross-sectional views of the pipe end protector in Figure 1A and the female pipe end in Figure 2 during the rotation configuration are schematically shown.A schematic enlarged view of part B of Figure 3A is shown.A schematic enlarged view of section C in Figure 3A is shown.A schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention is shown, including the pipe end protector and female pipe end shown in Figure 3A.A schematic enlargement of part B of Figure 4A is shown.A schematic enlarged view of section C of Figure 4A is shown.A schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the pipe end protector and female pipe end according to the present invention in a rotating configuration is shown.A schematic enlargement of part B of Figure 5A is shown.A schematic enlarged view of section C in Figure 5A is shown.A schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention is shown, including the pipe end protector and female pipe end shown in Figure 5A.A schematic enlargement of part B of Figure 6A is shown.A schematic enlarged view of section C of Figure 6A is shown.One embodiment of the method according to the present invention is schematically shown.One embodiment of the method according to the present invention is schematically shown.One embodiment of the method according to the present invention is schematically shown.One embodiment of the method according to the present invention is schematically shown.One embodiment of the method according to the present invention is schematically shown.One embodiment of the method according to the present invention is schematically shown.One embodiment of the method according to the present invention is schematically shown.One embodiment of the method according to the present invention is schematically shown.A schematic cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the pipe end protector according to the present invention is shown.A schematic enlarged view of part B of Figure 8A is shown.Figure 8A schematically shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative configuration for the female end of a pipe component relative to the pipe end protector.A schematic cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention is shown, includin