Seal ring element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10364925-B2
Application number	US-201414784894-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2014
Priority date	Apr 24, 2013
Publication date	Jul 30, 2019
Grant date	Jul 30, 2019

Abstract

A seal ring, a method of providing a fluid seal and end fitting are disclosed. The seal ring which provides a fluid seal between a polymer layer and an end fitting of a flexible pipe comprises an annular body that has a cross section comprising a first arm portion ( 500 ) and further arm portion ( 510 ) extending in a spaced apart relationship away from a body end portion ( 530 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A seal ring element for providing a permanent fluid seal between a polymer layer and an end fitting of a flexible pipe, comprising:
an annular body that has a cross section comprising a first arm portion and further arm portion extending in a spaced apart relationship away from a body end portion, wherein the first arm portion comprises an inner surface and the further arm portion comprises an inner surface, and wherein the inner surfaces form abutment surfaces and are progressively spaced apart in a direction away from the body end portion, to provide a flat bottomed V-shaped groove in the annular body facing away from the end portion;
wherein, before the seal ring element is energized, the arm portions are substantially wedge shaped, the first arm portion tapering to a narrow first arm end region distal to the body end portion; and
wherein a thickness of the first arm portion reduces when the seal ring is energized.

2. The seal ring element as claimed in claim 1 wherein an outer pipe body facing surface of the first arm portion is substantially flat.

3. The seal ring element as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outer pipe body facing surface of the first arm portion comprises at least one serration.

4. The seal ring element as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outer pipe body facing surface of the first arm portion extends into a pipe body facing surface of the end portion.

5. The seal ring element as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
the further arm portion tapers to a narrow further arm end region distal to the end portion.

6. The seal ring element as claimed in claim 5 wherein an outer polymer sleeve facing surface of the further arm portion is substantially flat.

7. The seal ring element as claimed in claim 6 wherein the outer polymer sleeve facing surface of the further arm portion comprises at least one serration.

8. The seal ring element as claimed in claim 5 wherein the outer polymer sleeve facing surface of the further arm portion extends into a polymer sleeve facing surface of the end portion.

9. The seal ring element as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
the further arm portion comprises an outer end fitting facing surface comprising a first flat region extending from a point at an end of a tip of the further arm portion, via a bend, to a further flat region extending towards the end portion.

10. The seal ring element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end portion comprises an abutment surface extending between a radially innermost and outermost surface of the annular body.

11. The seal ring element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first arm has a first length and the further arm has a second length shorter than the first length.

12. A method of providing a permanent fluid seal between a polymer layer and an end fitting of a flexible pipe, comprising the steps of:
as an inner end fitting member is secured to an end fitting body of an end fitting, simultaneously urging a first arm portion of an annular body of a seal ring element, located in a recessed region between the inner end fitting member and the end fitting body, radially inwardly and a further arm portion of the annular body radially outwardly;
wherein, before the seal ring element is energized, the first arm portion and the further arm portion are substantially wedge shaped, wherein the first arm portion comprises an inner surface and the further arm portion comprises an inner surface, and wherein the inner surfaces are progressively spaced away from the body end portion, to provide a flat bottomed V-shaped groove in the annular body facing away from the end portion;
wherein the first arm portion tapers to a narrow first arm end region distal to a body end portion of the annular body, and wherein a thickness of the first arm portion reduces when the seal ring is energized; and
wherein permanent deformation of the first arm portion and the further arm portion results in the permanent fluid seal between the polymer layer and the end fitting.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
urging an outer pipe body facing surface of the first arm portion into a polymer layer of flexible pipe body terminated in the end fitting when the first arm is urged radially inwardly.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
urging an outer polymer sleeve facing surface of the further arm portion into a polymer sleeve, located in an annular space, in the recessed region, between the annular body and the inner end fitting member or the end fitting body when the further arm is urged radially outwardly.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
urging an outer end fitting facing surface of the further arm portion into a radially inwards facing surface of the inner end fitting member or the end fitting body when the further arm is urged radially outwardly.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
providing a positive pressure at an interface region between at least one of the first and further arms and the end fitting body;
providing the positive pressure via at least one fluid communication passageway that extends from a respective inlet at an inlet region of the end fitting body, in fluid communication with an inner bore region of flexible pipe body being terminated in the end fitting, to a respective outlet in an annular nose-shaped region protruding from an abutment surface of the end fitting body; and
as the inner end fitting member is secured, driving the inner end fitting member against an abutment surface of the body end portion of the annular body thereby driving the annular body against the nose-shaped region of the end fitting body.

17. The method as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
providing the fluid seal between a polymer layer comprising an internal pressure sheath of a flexible pipe and an end fitting of the flexible pipe.

18. A method of terminating flexible pipe body in an end fitting, further comprising the steps of:
cutting each of one or more layers of the flexible pipe body to a respective pre-determined length;
providing an inner end fitting member over an outer layer of flexible pipe body;
providing a seal ring element over the layer of the flexible pipe body, the seal ring element having a cross section that includes two arms which, before the seal ring element is energized, are substantially wedge shaped, a first arm of the two arms tapering to a narrow first arm end region distal to a body end portion, wherein the first arm comprises an inner surface and a second arm of the two arms comprises an inner surface, and wherein the inner surfaces are progressively spaced away from the body end portion, to provide a flat bottomed V-shaped groove in the annular body facing away from the end portion;
providing an end fitting body at a cut end of the flexible pipe body; and
securing the inner end fitting member to the end fitting body whilst simultaneously energising the seal ring element against a polymer layer of the flexible pipe body and a radially outer body comprising a polymer sleeve or surface of the inner end fitting member or end fitting body, wherein a thickness of the first arm reduces when the seal ring element is energized; and
wherein permanent deformation of the arms of the seal element results in a permanent fluid seal between the polymer layer and the end fitting.

Assignees

• Ge Oil & Gas Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Roberts Andrew Peter
• Tan Zhimin

Classifications

• F16L33/01

  specially adapted for hoses having a multi-layer wall · CPC title

• F16L17/08 Primary

  Metal sealing rings · CPC title

• F16J15/02

  between relatively-stationary surfaces (F16J15/46, F16J15/48 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16L33/18 Primary

  characterised by the use of additional sealing means · CPC title