Metal seal fitting for use on a pipeline

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11098802-B2
Application number	US-201816040599-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2018
Priority date	Sep 23, 2014
Publication date	Aug 24, 2021
Grant date	Aug 24, 2021

Abstract

A metal seal fitting for use on a pipe or pipeline includes at least one metal seal ring having a C-profile which houses a spring and is arranged concentric to, and outside of, a tap diameter of the access connection. The seal ring is double-curved so that it conforms to a pipe-facing side of the fitting. A surface of the pipe is prepared to receive the seal and, as the fitting is being secured to the pipe, the seal is activated and spring-energized. In its final sealing state, the seal is not compressed passed its deformation point and maintains its spring-back capability. After the fitting is removed from the pipe, the seal may be re-used. The metal seal fitting is suited for applications requiring a high integrity seal and can be used in high pressure, high temperature, and highly corrosive environments which are not well-suited for elastomeric seals.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A system for use on a pipe, the system including a fitting having a flanged access opening, the fitting further comprising:
a first metal seal ring having a C-profile, a spring located within the C-profile, and being shaped to conform to an arcuate pipe-facing side of the fitting, the first metal seal ring being larger in diameter than a tap diameter of the flanged access opening and arranged concentric to the tap diameter;
a first support plate located adjacent the first metal seal ring, an outer periphery of the first metal seal ring being in contact with the first support plate when the first metal seal ring is in a final sealing state.

2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a second metal seal ring having a C-profile, a spring located within the C-profile and-being shaped to conform to an arcuate pipe-facing side of the fitting, the second metal seal ring being larger in diameter than the first metal seal ring and arranged concentric to the tap diameter.

3. A system according to claim 2 further comprising an inner periphery of the second metal seal ring being in contact with the first support plate when the first and second metal seal rings are in the final sealing state.

4. A system according to claim 3 further comprising a second support plate located outside of the second metal seal ring, an outer periphery of the second metal seal ring being in contact with the second support plate when the second metal seal ring is in a final sealing state.

5. A system according to claim 4 , wherein, the first support plate is ring-shaped and the second support plate is saddle-shaped.

6. A system according to claim 2 further comprising means for securing the fitting to the pipe, the securing means placing the first and second metal seal rings in a final sealing state between the pipe-facing side of the fitting and the pipe.

7. A system according to claim 2 wherein the second metal seal when in a final sealing state is not in permanent deformation.

8. A system according to claim 2 , wherein, the first and second metal seal rings are double-curved.

9. A system according to claim 1 further comprising means for securing the fitting to the pipe, the securing means placing the first metal seal ring in a final sealing state between the pipe-facing side of the fitting and the pipe.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein no elastomeric seal is used to seal between the pipe-facing side of the fitting and the pipe to which the fitting is secured.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein the first metal seal when in a final sealing state is not in permanent deformation.

12. A system for use on a pipe, the system including a fitting having a flanged access connection, the fitting further comprising:
a first and a second metal seal ring each having a C-profile, a spring located within the C-profile, and being double curved shaped to conform to an arcuate pipe-facing side of the fitting, the first metal seal ring being larger in diameter than a tap diameter of the flanged access connection, the second metal seal ring being larger in diameter than the first metal seal ring; each metal seal ring being arranged concentric to the flanged access connection;
a first and a second support plate, the first support plate being located between the first and second metal seal rings, an outer periphery of the first metal seal ring and an inner periphery of the second metal seal ring being in contact with the first support plate when the first and second metal seal rings are in a final sealing state, the second support plate being located outside of the second metal seal ring, an outer periphery of the second metal seal ring being in contact with the second support plate when the second metal seal ring is in a final sealing state.

13. A method of double block sealing a pipe access connection provided by a fitting, the method comprising:
activating a first and a second metal seal ring of the fitting between an initial non-sealing state and a final sealing state, each metal seal ring having a C-profile housing a spring and being arranged concentric to, and outside of, a tap diameter of the pipe access connection, each metal seal ring being double-curved shaped to conform to an arcuate pipe-facing side of the fitting;
wherein the first metal seal ring is larger in diameter than the tap diameter of the pipe access connection, the second metal seal ring being larger in diameter than the first metal seal ring; and
wherein the fitting further includes a first and a second support plate, the first support plate being located between the first and second metal seal rings, an outer periphery of the first metal seal ring and an inner periphery of the second metal seal ring being in contact with the first support plate when the first and second metal seal rings are in a final sealing state, the second support plate being located outside of the second metal seal ring, an outer periphery of the second metal seal ring being in contact with the second support plate when the second metal seal ring is in a final sealing state.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein when in the final sealing state each metal seal ring is not in permanent deformation.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein no elastomeric seal is used to seal between the curved pipe-facing side of the fitting and the pipe to which the fitting is secured.

Assignees

• Tdw Delaware Inc

Inventors

• Bjorsvik Vigmund

Classifications

• F16L17/08 Primary

  Metal sealing rings · CPC title

• F16L41/021

  T- or cross-pieces (F16L41/025, F16L41/026, F16L41/028 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16L41/06

  making use of attaching means embracing the pipe · CPC title

• F16L41/12 Primary

  using attaching means embracing the pipe · CPC title

• F16J15/0893 Primary

  the packing having a hollow profile · CPC title