Multi-annuli pipe fitting systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12000511-B2
Application number	US-202117542782-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2021
Priority date	Feb 25, 2021
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

Techniques for implementing a pipeline system that includes a segment and a pipe fitting. The pipe segment includes an inner barrier layer, a first intermediate layer in an inner tubing annulus, an intermediate barrier layer disposed around the inner tubing annulus, a second intermediate layer in an outer tubing annulus, and an outer barrier layer disposed around the outer tubing annulus. The pipe fitting includes a fitting body that defines a fitting bore, a fitting jacket secured to the fitting body to define a tubing cavity, in which the fitting jacket is conformally deformed around the outer barrier layer of the pipe segment, and an annulus divider ring secured to the fitting jacket to divide the tubing cavity into an outer fitting annulus and an inner fitting annulus, in which the annulus divider ring is conformally deformed around the intermediate barrier layer of the pipe segment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pipe fitting configured to be secured to a pipe segment, comprising:
a fitting body that defines a fitting bore that is configured to be fluidly connected to a pipe bore defined by an inner barrier layer of the pipe segment;
a fitting jacket secured to the fitting body to define a tubing cavity;
an annulus divider ring that divides the tubing cavity into:
an outer fitting annulus that is configured to be fluidly connected to an outer tubing annulus defined between an outer barrier layer and an intermediate barrier layer of the pipe segment; and
an inner fitting annulus that is configured to be fluidly connected to an inner tubing annulus defined between the intermediate barrier layer and the inner barrier layer of the pipe segment; and

a load transfer ring disposed around the annulus divider ring within the outer fitting annulus, wherein:
the fitting jacket is configured to be conformally deformed around the outer barrier layer of the pipe segment to facilitate securing the pipe fitting to the pipe segment;
the annulus divider ring is configured to be conformally deformed around the intermediate barrier layer of the pipe segment to facilitate blocking fluid flow directly between the inner fitting annulus and the outer fitting annulus; and
the load transfer ring is configured to transfer a portion of force applied to the fitting jacket to conformally deform the fitting jacket around the outer barrier layer of the pipe segment to the annulus divider ring to facilitate conformally deforming the annulus divider ring around the intermediate barrier layer of the pipe segment.

2. The pipe fitting of claim 1 , comprising a vent port formed through the fitting jacket to the outer fitting annulus, wherein the load transfer ring comprises:
a central opening that enables the load transfer ring to be disposed circumferentially around the annulus divider ring; and
a fluid opening that enables fluid flow through the load transfer ring to the vent port.

3. The pipe fitting of claim 2 , comprising another vent port formed through the fitting jacket to the inner fitting annulus.

4. The pipe fitting of claim 1 , wherein the fitting body comprises:
a fitting tube that defines the fitting bore; and
a grab ring secured circumferentially around the fitting tube, wherein the grab ring comprises a grab notch configured to matingly interlock with a grab tab on a swage machine that is to be operated to apply the force to the fitting jacket to facilitate securing the swage machine to the pipe fitting.

5. The pipe fitting of claim 1 , comprising a vent port formed through the fitting jacket, wherein the vent port is configured to be fluidly connected to the outer tubing annulus of the pipe segment via an opening formed through the outer barrier layer of the pipe segment.

6. The pipe fitting of claim 1 , comprising:
a vent port fluidly connected to the outer fitting annulus or the inner fitting annulus; and
an external fluid conduit connected to the vent port.

7. The pipe fitting of claim 1 , comprising a one-way valve that extends through the annulus divider ring, wherein the one-way valve is configured to:
block fluid flow from the inner fitting annulus to the outer fitting annulus; and
allow fluid flow from the outer fitting annulus to the inner fitting annulus.

8. The pipe fitting of claim 1 , wherein the fitting body comprises a fluid path formed therethrough to facilitate fluidly connecting the inner fitting annulus or the outer fitting annulus to a vent port.

9. The pipe fitting of claim 1 , wherein the annulus divider ring is secured to the fitting jacket or the fitting body.

10. The pipe fitting of claim 1 , wherein:
the pipe fitting is configured to be secured to another pipe segment;
the fitting bore is configured to be fluidly connected to another pipe bore defined by another inner barrier layer of the another pipe segment; and
the pipe fitting comprises:
another fitting jacket secured to the fitting body to define another tubing cavity;
another annulus divider ring that divides the another tubing cavity into:
another outer fitting annulus that is configured to be fluidly connected to another outer tubing annulus defined between another outer barrier layer and another intermediate barrier layer of the another pipe segment; and
another inner fitting annulus that is configured to be fluidly connected to another inner tubing annulus defined between the another intermediate barrier layer and the another inner barrier layer of the pipe segment; and

another load transfer ring disposed around the another annulus divider ring within the another outer fitting annulus, wherein:
the another fitting jacket is configured to be conformally deformed around the another outer barrier layer of the another pipe segment to facilitate securing the pipe fitting to the another pipe segment;
the another annulus divider ring is configured to be conformally deformed around the another intermediate barrier layer of the another pipe segment to facilitate blocking fluid flow directly between the another inner fitting annulus and the another outer fitting annulus; and
the another load transfer ring is configured to transfer another portion of other force applied to the another fitting jacket to conformally deform the another fitting jacket around the another outer barrier layer of the another pipe segment to the another annulus divider ring to facilitate conformally deforming the another annulus divider ring around the another intermediate barrier layer of the another pipe segment.

11. A pipe fitting configured to be secured to a pipe segment, comprising:
a fitting body that defines a fitting bore that is configured to be fluidly connected to a pipe bore defined by an inner barrier layer of the pipe segment;
a fitting jacket secured to the fitting body to define a tubing cavity, wherein the fitting jacket is configured to be conformally deformed around an outer barrier layer of the pipe segment to facilitate securing the pipe fitting to the pipe segment;
an annulus divider ring that divides the tubing cavity into:
an outer fitting annulus that is configured to be fluidly connected to an outer tubing annulus defined between the outer barrier layer and an intermediate barrier layer of the pipe segment; and
an inner fitting annulus that is configured to be fluidly connected to an inner tubing annulus defined between the intermediate barrier layer and the inner barrier layer of the pipe segment, wherein the annulus divider ring is configured to be conformally deformed around the intermediate barrier layer of the pipe segment to facilitate blocking fluid flow directly between the inner fitting annulus and the outer fitting annulus; and

a vent port fluidly connected to the inner fitting annulus to facilitate venting the inner tubing annulus of the pipe segment.

12. The pipe fitting of claim 11 , comprising another vent port fluidly connected to the outer fitting annulus to facilitate venting the outer tubing annulus of the pipe segment.

13. The pipe fitting of claim 12 , wherein:
the another vent port is formed through the fitting jacket to the outer fitting annulus; and
the vent port is formed through the fitting jacket to the inner fitting annulus.

14. The pipe fitting of claim 11 , comprising a load transfer ring disposed within the outer tubing annulus, wherein the load transfer ring is configured to transfer a portion of force applied to the fitting jacket to conformally deform the fitting jacket around the outer barrier layer of the pipe segment to the annulus divider ring to facilitate conformally deformi

Assignees

• Trinity Bay Equipment Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Francis Kirk Spencer

Classifications

• F16L33/01 Primary

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

• F16L11/083

  three or more layers · CPC title

• F16L13/142

  with a sealing element inserted into the female part before crimping or rolling · CPC title

• F16L39/02

  for hoses · CPC title

• F16L11/08 Primary

  with reinforcements embedded in the wall (F16L11/11 takes precedence) · CPC title