Corrosion-free welded connection for reinforced thermoplastic pipes (RTP)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12276358-B2
Application number	US-202318164031-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2023
Priority date	Feb 3, 2023
Publication date	Apr 15, 2025
Grant date	Apr 15, 2025

Abstract

A connection system for reinforced thermoplastic polymer (RTP) pipe includes a first pipe with a first end and a reinforced thermoset resin (RTR) coupler positioned adjacent to the first end of the first pipe. The RTR coupler has an annular body with a first socket extension extending into the first end of the first pipe and a first thermoplastic tie layer provided between the first socket extension and the first end of the first pipe. A first set of wedges is positioned around an outer surface of the first end of the first pipe, and a first flange is fitted around the first set of wedges, wherein the first set of wedges is wedged between the first end and the first flange.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A connection system, comprising:
a first pipe having a first end;
a reinforced thermoset resin (RTR) coupler positioned adjacent the first end of the first pipe,
the RTR coupler, comprising:
an annular body having a first socket extension extending into the first end of the first pipe, wherein the annular body comprises an RTR material,
wherein the annular body of the RTR coupler comprises a radial extension extending in a direction perpendicular from the first socket extension,
wherein a first flange is connected to the radial extension of the RTR coupler via at least one connector extending through the radial extension; and

a first thermoplastic tie layer provided between the first socket extension and the first end of the first pipe;

a first set of wedges positioned circumferentially around an outer surface of the first end of the first pipe; and
the first flange fitted around the first set of wedges, wherein the first set of wedges is wedged between the first end and the first flange.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of wedges and the first flange are non-metallic.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first pipe comprises an inner liner made of a thermoplastic material, and wherein the first thermoplastic tie layer is made with the thermoplastic material of the inner liner.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first thermoplastic tie layer comprises susceptor material.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second pipe having a second end, wherein the second end is fitted onto a second socket extension of the annular body of the RTR coupler;
a second thermoplastic tie layer provided between the second socket extension and the second end of the second pipe;
a second set of wedges positioned circumferentially around an outer surface of the second end of the second pipe; and
a second flange fitted around the second set of wedges, wherein the second set of wedges is wedged between the second end and the second flange.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the annular body of the RTR coupler forms an intersection between multiple branch flow paths, wherein:
a first flow path is formed through the first socket extension,
a second flow path is formed through the second socket extension, and
an additional flow path is formed through an additional branch of the annular body.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein a second side of the annular body is connected to an equipment connection to provide a terminal connection for the first pipe.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a vent port extending through the first flange, wherein the vent port fluidly connects an exterior of the first flange to an interface between the first flange and the annular body.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co
• Twi Ltd

Inventors

• Traidia Abderrazak
• Villette Thibault
• Al Shahrani Abdullah
• Parvez Anwar
• Asiri Abdulaziz Y
• Worrall Chris
• Verge Nicholas Iain

Classifications

• B29C66/723

  being multi-layered (B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence) · CPC title

• B29C66/52297

  said socket comprising slip-off prevention means (B29C66/52296 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C66/52296

  said socket comprising sealing elements, e.g. gaskets · CPC title

• B29C65/34

  using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" · CPC title

• B29C65/72

  by combined operations {or combined techniques}, e.g. welding and stitching · CPC title