Pipe protector with perforated metal sheet insert

Claim 2

In a well pipe protector, a. a C-shaped unit sized to fit laterally about axially elongated well pipe, and including an elastomer body and a core in the form of a metallic sheet embedded in the body, b. terminals on the unit to be drawn together in interfitting relation for retention after lateral application of the body about a pipe, and c. the metallic sheet containing rows of through perforations characterized in that the sheet is made resiliently stretchable when the unit is applied about the well pipe, the rows extending in the general direction of said axis, the perforations in each row being spaced apart in said direction, the perforations in all circumferentially adjacent rows being staggered, and d. the perforations in each row being elongated in the general direction of said axis and defining axially elongated slots, the slot length dimensions exceeding the slot width dimensions, the sheet defining axially elongated flexible metal bars between adjacent rows of slots, the bars having minimum widths less than the slot widths, there being webs formed between slots in each row, the webs interconnecting the bars, the web minimum dimensions in an axial direction being less than the slot widths, whereby the bars will flex and the core sheet will resiliently stretch circumferentially to limited extent as said terminals are forcibly drawn together after said lateral application of the body about a pipe.

Claim 3

The protector of claim 1 wherein the tErminals include metallic loops integral with the sheet and embedded in elastomer terminals defined by the body, the metallic loops and elastomer terminals defining openings to receive a retainer pin.

Claim 4

The protector of claim 1 wherein the length dimension of each slot is at least twice the slot width dimension.

Claim 5

The protector of claim 3 wherein elastomer body material projects through said slots.

Claim 6

The protector of claim 1 wherein the bars extending in straight paths between the top and bottom edges of the sheet.

Claim 7

The protector of claim 1 wherein the sum of the areas of the slots is about half the total area of the sheet slotted extent.

Claim 8

The protector of claim 1 wherein body elastomer material substantially fills the perforations.

Claim 9

In a well pipe protector, a. a C-shaped unit sized to fit laterally about axially elongated well pipe, and including an elastomer body and a core in the form of a metallic sheet embedded in the body, b. terminals on the unit to be drawn together in interfitting relation for retention after lateral application of the body about a pipe, and c. the metallic sheet containing rows of through perforations characterized in that the sheet is made resiliently stretchable when the unit is applied about the well pipe, the rows extending in the general direction of said axis, the perforations in each row being spaced apart in said direction, the perforations in circumferentially adjacent rows being staggered, and d. the perforations in each row being elongated in the general direction of said axis and having diamond configuration with elongation in the general direction of said axis, the sheet defining linearly elongated flexible metal bars of substantially uniform width extending at opposite sides of the perforations and angularly with respect to said axis, the bars having widths which are less than the maximum widths of the diamond shaped perforations, the bars at laterally opposite sides of the perforations intersecting at junctions between longitudinally spaced perforations, whereby the bars will flex and the core sheet will resiliently stretch circumferentially to limited extent as said terminals are forcibly drawn together after said lateral application of the body about a pipe.

Claim 10

In a well pipe protector, a. a C-shaped unit sized to fit laterally about axially elongated well pipe, and including an elastomer body and a core in the form of a metallic sheet embedded in the body, b. terminals on the unit to be drawn together in interfitting relation for retention after lateral application of the body about a pipe, and c. the metallic sheet containing rows of through perforations characterized in that the sheet is made resiliently stretchable when the unit is applied about the well pipe, the rows extending in the general direction of said axis, the perforations in each row being spaced apart in said direction, the perforations in circumferentially adjacent rows being staggered, and d. the perforations in each row being elongated in the general direction of said axis and having diamond configuration with elongation in the general direction of said axis, the sheet defining linearly elongated flexible metal bars of substantially uniform width extending at opposite sides of the perforations and angularly with respect to said axis, the bars having widths which are less than the maximum widths of the diamond shaped perforations, the bars at laterally opposite sides of the perforations intersecting at junctions between longitudinally spaced perforations, whereby the bars will flex and the core sheet will resiliently stretch circumferentially to limited extent as said terminals are forcibly drawn together after said lateral application of the body about a pipe.

Claim 11

The protector of claim 8 wherein elastomer body material projects through said perforations.

Claim 12

The protector of claim 2 clamped on a pipe with said terminals held in drawn together relation by a pin received through aligned terminal openings and metallic loops as defined.