Device for connection of two double-wall pipes and hydrogen line including said connection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12209697-B2
Application number	US-202318152312-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2023
Priority date	Jan 25, 2022
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

A device for connection of double-wall pipes including an interior connection system connecting the first and second interior pipes and an exterior connection system including a first part that cooperates with an end section of the first exterior pipe and a second part that cooperates with an end section of the second exterior pipe. The exterior connection system is configured so that at a first temperature at least one of the first and second parts exerts a contact force on the end section of the corresponding first or second exterior pipe greater than at a second temperature higher than the first temperature.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for connection of a first pipe and a second pipe, both being double-wall pipes, the first pipe including a first interior pipe that has an end section and an end surface and a first exterior pipe spaced from the first interior pipe that has an end section and an end surface, the second pipe including a second interior pipe that has an end section and an end surface and a second exterior pipe spaced from the second interior pipe that has an end section and an end surface, the connection device comprising: an interior connection system for connecting the first and second interior pipes, and an exterior connection system for connecting the first and second exterior pipes, including a first part that cooperates with the end section of the first exterior pipe and a second part that cooperates with the end section of the second exterior pipe, the exterior connection system being made of a first material different from those of the first and second exterior pipes, the first material having a coefficient of expansion greater than those of the first and second exterior pipes, wherein the exterior connection system is configured so that at a first temperature at least one of the first and second parts exerts a contact force on the end section of the corresponding first or second exterior pipe greater than at a second temperature higher than the first temperature, wherein the connection device includes an annular space around the interior connection system and around at least a portion of each of the first and second interior pipes situated on either side of the interior connection system and at least one thermal insulation element positioned in the annular space and at least partly filling the annular space, wherein the insulation element occupies at least 75% of the annular space, the annular space having a remaining volume subjected to a vacuum, wherein the insulation element includes at least one mattress filled with microballs.

2. The connection device as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the end surfaces of the first and second exterior pipes are spaced by a distance allowing access to the interior connection system and
wherein the exterior connection system includes a sleeve that has a first part positioned around the end section of the first exterior pipe, a second part positioned around the end section of the second exterior pipe and an intermediate part situated between the first and second parts.

3. The connection device as claimed in claim 2 ,
wherein the end sections of the first and second exterior pipes each have a male thread and an outside diameter greater than the outside diameters of the first and second exterior pipes apart from in the male threaded end sections, and
wherein the first and second parts of the sleeve each have a female thread matching the male thread of the end section of the corresponding first or second exterior pipe, an intermediate part of the sleeve having an inside diameter greater than the greatest outside diameter of the first or second exterior pipe to allow the sleeve to slide relative to said first or second exterior pipe.

4. The connection device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the male thread of at least one end section of the first and second exterior pipes is made of a sacrificial material.

5. The connection device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the sleeve is made of a first material different from those of the first and second interior pipes, the first material having a coefficient of expansion greater than those of the first and second interior pipes.

6. The connection device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection device includes at least one sacrificial material inserted between the exterior connection system and the end section of the corresponding first or second exterior pipe.

7. The connection device as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the interior connection system includes a sleeve that has a first part positioned around the end section of the first interior pipe and a second part positioned around the end section of the second interior pipe.

8. The connection device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the insulation element includes layers of mattresses filled with microballs, each mattress having a semi-cylindrical shape, interstices between the mattresses of a first layer being offset relative to interstices between the mattresses of a second layer adjacent to the first layer.

9. A hydrogen line including at least one connection device as claimed in claim 1 .

10. A device for connection of a first pipe and a second pipe, both being double-wall pipes, the first pipe including a first interior pipe that has an end section and an end surface and a first exterior pipe spaced from the first interior pipe that has an end section and an end surface, the second pipe including a second interior pipe that has an end section and an end surface and a second exterior pipe spaced from the second interior pipe that has an end section and an end surface, the connection device comprising:
an interior connection system for connecting the first and second interior pipes, and
an exterior connection system for connecting the first and second exterior pipes, including a first part that cooperates with the end section of the first exterior pipe and a second part that cooperates with the end section of the second exterior pipe, the exterior connection system including a sleeve that has a first part positioned around the end section of the first exterior pipe, a second part positioned around the end section of the second exterior pipe and an intermediate part situated between the first and second parts,
wherein the exterior connection system is configured so that at a first temperature at least one of the first and second parts exerts a contact force on the end section of the corresponding first or second exterior pipe greater than at a second temperature higher than the first temperature,
wherein the end sections of the first and second exterior pipes each have a male thread and an outside diameter greater than the outside diameters of the first and second exterior pipes apart from in the male threaded end sections,
wherein the first and second parts of the sleeve each have a female thread matching the male thread of the end section of the corresponding first or second exterior pipe, an intermediate part of the sleeve having an inside diameter greater than the greatest outside diameter of the first or second exterior pipe to allow the sleeve to slide relative to said first or second exterior pipe, and
wherein the connection device includes at least one sacrificial material inserted between the male thread of the exterior connection system and female thread of the end section of the corresponding first or second exterior pipe.

11. The connection device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the sacrificial material is indium.

Assignees

• Airbus Sas
• Airbus Operations Sas

Inventors

• Laverne Julien
• Landolt Jonathan

Classifications

• F16L59/182 Primary

  Joints with sleeve or socket · CPC title

• F16L59/147

  the insulation being located inwardly of the outer surface of the pipe · CPC title

• F16L59/065

  using vacuum (F16L59/075 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16L39/005 Primary

  for concentric pipes · CPC title