Seal for lined pipe

Claim 2

In a string of pipe having individual lined joints thereof joined together by a collar, with adjacent ends of adjacent pipe joints being spaced apart to expose a portion of the inside peripheral surface of the collar, the improvement comprising: a seal for protecting the exposed collar threads, said seal including a first and second seal member with each member of the seal having a flange portion and an insert portion, said flange having a face and a shoulder, said insert portion being in the form of a cylindrical body having one end attached to said flange and a trailing end portion; the outer major diameter of said insert portion adapted to be received within the marginal end of the pipe, the inside wall surface of said insert portion being a continuation of the inside wall surface of said flange portion; the outside diameter of said flange portion being smaller than the minimum inside diameter of the collar and larger than the outside diameter of said insert portion to thereby enable the insert portion to be received within the pipe with said shoulder of said flange being received in abutting relationship against the terminal end of the pipe; means associated with the seal for forcing the flange of each member into sealing engagement with the exposed portion of the inside peripheral surface of the collar, the last said means including a groove circumferentially disposed about the inside peripheral wall surface of said flange, whereby; the face of each seal member, when subjected to an axial force by the action of the collar being made up with adjacent pipe joints causes the flanges of the seal members to expand radially outward into sealing engagement with the exposed portion of the inside peripheral surface of the collar.

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said groove has a width of less than the distance between said flange face and shoulder, said groove having a depth less than the wall thickness of said insert portion; and said insert portion is provided with a series of spaced apart longitudinally extending ribs.

Claim 4

In a string pipe having individual lined joints thereof joined together by a collar, with adjacent ends of adjacent pipe joints being spaced apart to expose a portion of the inside peripheral surface of the collar, the improvement comprising: a seal for protecting the exposed collar threads, said seal being comprised of a first and second seal member with each member of the seal having a flange portion and an insert portion, said flange having a face and a shoulder, said insert portion being in the form of a cylindrical body having one end attached to said flange and a trailing end portion; the outer major diameter of said insert portion adapted to be received within the marginal end of the pipe, the inside wall surface of said insert portion being a continuation of the inside wall surface of said flange portion; the outside diameter of said flange portion being smaller than the minimum inside diameter of the collar and larger than the outside diameter of said insert portion to thereby enable the insert portion to be received within the pipe with said shoulder of said flange being received in abutting relationship against terminal end of the pipe; means associated with the seal for forcing the flange of each member into sealing engagement with the exposed portion of the inside peripheral surface of the collar, the last said means including a series of spaced Apart apertures radially disposed about the marginal outer edge portion of said flange; whereby: the face of each seal member, when subjected to an axial force by the action of the collar being made-up with adjacent pipe joints, causing the flanges of the seal members to expand radially outward into sealing engagement with the exposed portion of the inside peripheral surface of the collar.

Claim 5

In a string pipe having individual lined joints thereof joined together by a collar, with adjacent ends of adjacent pipe joints being spaced apart to expose a portion of the inside peripheral surface of the collar, the improvement comprising: a seal for protecting the exposed collar threads, said seal being comprised of a first and second seal member with each member of the seal having a flange portion and an insert portion, said flange having a face and a shoulder, said insert portion being in the form of a cylindrical body having one end attached to said flange and a trailing end portion; the outer major diameter of said insert portion adapted to be received within the marginal end of the pipe, the inside wall surface of said insert portion being a continuation of the inside wall surface of said flange portion; the outside diameter of said flange portion being smaller than the minimum inside diameter of the collar and larger than the outside diameter of said insert portion to thereby enable the insert portion to be received within the pipe with said shoulder of said flange being received in abutting relationship against terminal end of the pipe; means associated with the seal for forcing the flange of each member into sealing engagement with the exposed portion of the inside peripheral surface of the collar, the last said means including a series of spaced Apart apertures radially disposed about the marginal outer edge portion of said flange; whereby: the face of each seal member, when subjected to an axial force by the action of the collar being made-up with adjacent pipe joints, causing the flanges of the seal members to expand radially outward into sealing engagement with the exposed portion of the inside peripheral surface of the collar.

Claim 6

In a string of pipe having individual lined joints thereof joined together by a collar, with adjacent ends of adjacent pipe joints being spaced apart, the improvement comprising: a seal for protecting the exposed collar threads, said seal including a first and second seal member with each member of the seal having a flange portion and an insert portion, said flange having a face and a shoulder, said insert portion being in the form of a cylindrical body having one end attached to said flange and a trailing end portion; the outer major diameter of said insert portion adapted to be received within the marginal end of the pipe, the inside wall surface of said insert portion being a continuation of the inside wall surface of said flange portion the outside diameter of said flange portion being smaller than the minimum inside diameter of the collar and larger than the outside diameter of said insert portion to thereby enable the insert portion to be received within the pipe with said shoulder of said flange being received in abutting relationship against the terminal end of the pipe; means forming a converging taper on the inside peripheral wall of a said seal member with the major diameter of the taper being located near the face of said flange; a removable means for forcing the flange of each member into sealing engagement with the exposed portion of the collar; said expander having a flange from which there depends a tubular body portion said tubular body portion having an outer peripheral wall surface which reduces in diameter in a direction away from the last said flange, the last stated taper being complementary with respect to the recited taper of said seal member, the last said flange having a major diameter equal to that of the first recited flange, whereby: said seal, when subjected to an axial force brought about by the action of the collar being made-up with adjacent pipe joints, causes the flanges of the seal to sealingly isolate the exposed portion of the inside peripheral surface of the collar.

Claim 7

In a string of pipe having individual lined joints thereof joined together by a collar, with adjacent ends of adjacent pipe joints being spaced apart, the improvement comprising: a seal for protecting the exposed collar threads, said seal including a first and second seal member with each member of the seal having a flange portion and an insert portion, said flange having a face and a shoulder, said insert portion being in the form of a cylindrical body having one end attached to said flange and a trailing end portion; the outer major diameter of said insert portion adapted to be received within the marginal end of the pipe, the inside wall surface of said insert portion being a continuation of the inside wall surface of said flange portion the outside diameter of said flange portion being smaller than the minimum inside diameter of the collar and larger than the outside diameter of said insert portion to thereby enable the insert portion to be received within the pipe with said shoulder of said flange being received in abutting relationship against the terminal end of the pipe; means forming a converging taper on the inside peripheral wall of a said seal member with the major diameter of the taper being located near the face of said flange; a removable means for forcing the flange of each member into sealing engagement with the exposed portion of the collar; said expander having a flange from which there depends a tubular body portion said tubular body portion having an outer peripheral wall surface which reduces in diameter in a direction away from the last said flange, the last stated taper being complementary with respect to the recited taper of said seal member, the last said flange having a major diameter equal to that of the first recited flange, whereby: said seal, when subjected to an axial force brought about by the action of the collar being made-up with adjacent pipe joints, causes the flanges of the seal to sealingly isolate the exposed portion of the inside peripheral surface of the collar.

Claim 8

The improvement of claim 4 wherein said removable expander means includes a groove circumferentially disposed about the inside wall surface of the flange thereof.

Claim 9

The improvement of claim 4 wherein said insert portion of said first and second seal member includes a series of a series of longitudinally disposed radially spaced apart ribs circumferentially disposed about the outer surface thereof to thereby present a scalloped cross-sectional area.

Claim 10

In a string of pipe having individual lined joints thereof joined together by a threaded connector means, with adjacent pipe joints being made up in a manner to expose a portion of the inside peripheral surface of the connector means, the improvements comprising: a seal for protecting the exposed threads of the connector means, said seal includes means forming a first and second seal member with each member of the seal having a flange portion and an insert portion said flange having a face and a shoulder, said insert portion being in the form of a cylindrical body having one end attached to said flange and a trailing end portion; the outer major diameter of said insert portion to be received within the marginal end of the pipe, the inside wall surface of said insert portion being a continuation of the inside wall surface of said flange portion; the outside diameter of said flange portion being smaller than the minimum inside portion of the threaded connector means and larger than the outside diameter of said insert portion to thereby enable the insert portion to be received within the pipe with said shoulder of said flange being received in abutting relationship against the terminal end of the pipe; means forming a taper on the inside peripheral wall surface of one said seal member, said taper converging in a direction away from said flange; a removable expander for forcing the flange of each said seal member into sealing engagement with at least part of the exposed portion of the inside peripheral surface of the connector means, said removable expander having a tubular body and a flange circumferentially disposed thereabout, at least part of said tubular body of said expander adapted to be received within one seal member, whereby: the seal, when subjected to an axial force by the action of the threaded connector means being made-up with adjacent pipe joints, causes the removable expander to move into sealing engagement with the first and second seal members and the flanges of each said seal member into sealing engagement with said exposed portion of the connector means.

Claim 11

In a string of pipe having individual lined joints thereof joined together by a threaded connector means, with adjacent pipe joints being made up in a manner to expose a portion of the inside peripheral surface of the connector means, the improvements comprising: a seal for protecting the exposed threads of the connector means, said seal includes means forming a first and second seal member with each member of the seal having a flange portion and an insert portion said flange having a face and a shoulder, said insert portion being in the form of a cylindrical body having one end attached to said flange and a trailing end portion; the outer major diameter of said insert portion to be received within the marginal end of the pipe, the inside wall surface of said insert portion being a continuation of the inside wall surface of said flange portion; the outside diameter of said flange portion being smaller than the minimum inside portion of the threaded connector means and larger than the outside diameter of said insert portion to thereby enable the insert portion to be received within the pipe with said shoulder of said flange being received in abutting relationship against the terminal end of the pipe; means forming a taper on the inside peripheral wall surface of one said seal member, said taper converging in a direction away from said flange; a removable expander for forcing the flange of each said seal member into sealing engagement with at least part of the exposed portion of the inside peripheral surface of the connector means, said removable expander having a tubular body and a flange circumferentially disposed thereabout, at least part of said tubular body of said expander adapted to be received within one seal member, whereby: the seal, when subjected to an axial force by the action of the threaded connector means being made-up with adjacent pipe joints, causes the removable expander to move into sealing engagement with the first and second seal members and the flanges of each said seal member into sealing engagement with said exposed portion of the connector means.

Claim 12

In a string of pipe having individual lined joints thereof joined together by a means forming a fastener such as a threaded collar, with adjacent ends of adjacent pipe joints being arranged to expose a portion of the inside peripheral threaded surface of the fastener, the improvement comprising: a seal for protecting the exposed threads, said seal being comprised of a first and second seal member and a removable expander; said first and second seal member each having a flange portion and an insert portion, each said flange having a face and a shoulder, said insert portion being in the form of a cylindrical body having one end attached to said flange and a trailing end portion; the outer major diameter of said insert portion adapted to be received within a marginal end portion of the pipe, said insert portion having an inside wall surface which is a continuation of the inside wall surface of the said flange portion; the outside diameter of said flange portion being smaller than the minimum diameter of the collar and larger than the outside diameter of said insert portion to thereby enable the insert portion to be received within the pipe with said shoulder of said flange being received in abutting relationship against a portion of the pipe; said cylindrical body includes an inside diameter of constant dimensions for a major portion of its longitudinal length, with the diameter being increased adjacent the flange thereof; said removable expander having a tubular body and a flange, said tubular body depending from said flange; the outermost portion of said tubular body being of a diameter to enable it to be forced into said cylindrical body in close fitting tolerance; whereby: each seal member, when subjected to an axial force by the action of the fastener being made-up, causes the flanges of the seal members to sealingly engage the exposed portion of the inside peripheral surface of the fastener, while the tubular body of the removable insert is forced into one of the seal members.

Claim 13

In a string of pipe having individual lined joints thereof joined together by a means forming a fastener such as a threaded collar, with adjacent ends of adjacent pipe joints being arranged to expose a portion of the inside peripheral threaded surface of the fastener, the improvement comprising: a seal for protecting the exposed threads, said seal being comprised of a first and second seal member and a removable expander; said first and second seal member each having a flange portion and an insert portion, each said flange having a face and a shoulder, said insert portion being in the form of a cylindrical body having one end attached to said flange and a trailing end portion; the outer major diameter of said insert portion adapted to be received within a marginal end portion of the pipe, said insert portion having an inside wall surface which is a continuation of the inside wall surface of the said flange portion; the outside diameter of said flange portion being smaller than the minimum diameter of the collar and larger than the outside diameter of said insert portion to thereby enable the insert portion to be received within the pipe with said shoulder of said flange being received in abutting relationship against a portion of the pipe; said cylindrical body includes an inside diameter of constant dimensions for a major portion of its longitudinal length, with the diameter being increased adjacent the flange thereof; said removable expander having a tubular body and a flange, said tubular body depending from said flange; the outermost portion of said tubular body being of a diameter to enable it to be forced into said cylindrical body in close fitting tolerance; whereby: each seal member, when subjected to an axial force by the action of the fastener being made-up, causes the flanges of the seal members to sealingly engage the exposed portion of the inside peripheral surface of the fastener, while the tubular body of the removable insert is forced into one of the seal members.

Claim 14

In a string of pipe having individual lined joints thereof joined together by a threaded collar, with adjacent ends of the pipe joints being spaced apart to expose a portion of the inside peripheral surface of the collar, the improvement comprising: a seal for protecting the exposed collar threads, said seal including a first member and a second member with each said member having a flange portion and an insert portion, said flange having a face and a shoulder, said insert portion being in the form of a cylindrical body having one end attached to said flange and a trailing end portion; the outer major diameter of said insert portion adapted to be received within the marginal portion of the pipe, the inside wall surface of said insert portion being a continuation of the inside wall surface of said flange portion; the maximum outside diameter of said flange portion being smaller than the minimum inside diameter of of the collar and larger than the outside diameter of Said insert portion to thereby enable the insert to be received within the pipe with the shoulder of said flange being received in abutting relationship against the terminal end of the pipe; a removable expander having a flange from which there depends a tubular body; the tubular body being of an outside diameter at least equal to the smallest outside diameter of said insert to enable said tubular body to be forcibly and telescopingly received within said insert, whereupon tightening the collar axially compresses the flange faces of said first and second members, towards one another and against the flange of the expander to thereby radially expand the flanges of said seals in an outward direction into sealing engagement with at least a portion of said inside peripheral surface of said collar.

Claim 15

In a string of pipe having individual lined joints thereof joined together by a threaded collar, with adjacent ends of the pipe joints being spaced apart to expose a portion of the inside peripheral surface of the collar, the improvement comprising: a seal for protecting the exposed collar threads, said seal including a first member and a second member with each said member having a flange portion and an insert portion, said flange having a face and a shoulder, said insert portion being in the form of a cylindrical body having one end attached to said flange and a trailing end portion; the outer major diameter of said insert portion adapted to be received within the marginal portion of the pipe, the inside wall surface of said insert portion being a continuation of the inside wall surface of said flange portion; the maximum outside diameter of said flange portion being smaller than the minimum inside diameter of of the collar and larger than the outside diameter of Said insert portion to thereby enable the insert to be received within the pipe with the shoulder of said flange being received in abutting relationship against the terminal end of the pipe; a removable expander having a flange from which there depends a tubular body; the tubular body being of an outside diameter at least equal to the smallest outside diameter of said insert to enable said tubular body to be forcibly and telescopingly received within said insert, whereupon tightening the collar axially compresses the flange faces of said first and second members, towards one another and against the flange of the expander to thereby radially expand the flanges of said seals in an outward direction into sealing engagement with at least a portion of said inside peripheral surface of said collar.

Claim 16

The improvement of claim 9 wherein the inside diameter of said removable expander has a marginal end portion which diverges in a direction towards the flange thereof, to thereby present a streamlined end portion to the flow of fluid.

Claim 17

The improvement of claim 9 wherein the inside diameter of said seal member has a diverging marginal edge portion adjacent the flange thereof, and the inside diameter of said removable expander has a marginal end portion which diverges in a direction towards the flange thereof, to thereby present a streamlined end portion to the flow of fluid.