Tensioner and method of using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12553550-B2
Application number	US-202117526932-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2021
Priority date	Nov 15, 2021
Publication date	Feb 17, 2026
Grant date	Feb 17, 2026

Abstract

A tensioner may assist in coupling two pipe flanges. The tensioner may include a body and a piston. The body may include a central longitudinal axis, a pair of fastener holes extending through the body in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis, and a piston housing having an inner bore disposed about the central longitudinal axis. The piston housing may be provided between the pair of fastener holes. An axial end of the piston housing may define a distal end of the body. The piston may be at least partially disposed in the inner bore of the piston housing. The piston may be axially moveable parallel to the central longitudinal axis through an opening of the inner bore at the distal end of the body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A tensioner for assisting in coupling first and second pipe flanges, comprising:
a body, including:
a central longitudinal axis,
a pair of fastener holes extending through the body in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis, and
a piston housing having an inner bore disposed about the central longitudinal axis, the piston housing being provided between the pair of fastener holes, wherein an axial end of the piston housing defines a distal end of the body opposite to a proximal end of the body, and wherein the body includes a flange, and the fastener holes are formed in the flange at positions which are non-overlapping with the piston housing; and
a piston at least partially disposed in the inner bore of the piston housing, the piston being axially moveable parallel to the central longitudinal axis through an opening of the inner bore at the distal end of the body, the piston comprising a piston rod and a piston saddle axially movable in a direction from the proximal end of the body toward the distal end of the body, the piston saddle disposed at the distal end of the body to contact the first pipe flange, and to push the first pipe flange that is in contact with the piston toward the second pipe flange.

2 . The tensioner of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the body forms a distal planar surface, and the piston is extendable beyond the distal planar surface.

3 . The tensioner of claim 1 , wherein the body includes an extension, and a proximal end of the extension defines the proximal end of the body.

4 . The tensioner of claim 1 , wherein the flange is provided above the piston housing.

5 . The tensioner of claim 1 , wherein the flange includes a side surface including a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being opposite to the first portion, wherein the first portion includes a concave section with respect to the central longitudinal axis.

6 . The tensioner of claim 5 , wherein the second portion includes a convex section with respect to the central longitudinal axis.

7 . The tensioner of claim 5 , wherein centers of the fastener holes are between the first portion and the central longitudinal axis of the piston housing.

8 . The tensioner of claim 1 , wherein:
the body includes a side surface including a first portion connected to a second portion, the second portion being opposite to the first portion, wherein the first portion includes a concave section having a concave curvature with respect to the central longitudinal axis; and the second portion includes a pair of fittings configured to receive hydraulic fluid.

9 . The tensioner of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a hydraulic chamber, and a proximal end of the body includes a valve configured to exhaust at least one of air or gas from inside the hydraulic chamber.

10 . The tensioner of claim 1 , wherein the piston has a diameter larger than a diameter of at least one of the fastener holes.

11 . The tensioner of claim 1 , wherein the piston includes:
a piston rod having an inner bore; and a spring provided in the inner bore to elastically couple the piston rod to the piston housing.

12 . The tensioner of claim 1 , wherein the piston includes a piston saddle coupled to a piston rod, an axial end of the piston saddle defining a distal end of the piston.

13 . The tensioner of claim 12 , wherein the piston saddle is configured to rotate.

14 . The tensioner of claim 13 , wherein the piston saddle has an axis of rotation that is off-set from a center of the piston saddle such that rotation of the piston saddle is eccentric.

15 . A coupling system to couple first and second pipe flanges using a plurality of fasteners, comprising:
a plurality of tensioners, each tensioner including:
a body, including:
a proximal end, a distal end, and a central longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end,
a pair of fastener holes extending through the body in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis, wherein the pair of fastener holes is configured to receive the plurality of fasteners which extends through holes in the first and second pipe flanges, and a piston housing provided between the pair of fastener holes; and
a piston at least partially located in the piston housing and extendable distally from the body, the piston comprising a piston saddle disposed at the distal end of the body, the piston saddle comprising a piston surface to contact the first pipe flange and push the first pipe flange toward the second pipe flange, thereby permitting coupling of the first and second pipe flanges to one another.

16 . The coupling system of claim 15 , wherein:
the plurality of fasteners includes a first stud assembly; the body includes a flange having a first side and a second side, the first and second sides having the pair of fastener holes, respectively; the first side of the flange is coupled to the first stud assembly between a first nut and a second nut; the first stud assembly is coupled to the first and second pipe flanges between the second nut and a third nut; the second nut is provided between the first and second pipe flanges and the flange; the first nut is provided on a side of the flange opposite to a side facing the first and second pipe flanges; and the first nut and the third nut are tightened to the first stud assembly.

17 . The coupling system of claim 16 , wherein the first stud assembly includes a stud and a tensioner stud configured to couple to the stud, wherein:
the first side of the flange is inserted onto the tensioner stud; and the stud is coupled to the first and second pipe flanges between the second nut and the third nut.

18 . A method of tensioning first and second pipe flanges with a plurality of tensioners, comprising:
inserting each tensioner of the plurality of tensioners onto at least two fasteners of a plurality of fasteners, wherein a first nut of each fastener is disposed between the first pipe flange and a corresponding tensioner; coupling a second nut onto each fastener, each tensioner disposed between the first and second nuts of each corresponding fastener; tightening the second nut of each fastener against a proximal end surface of each corresponding tensioner; urging a piston of each tensioner against the first pipe flange to move the first and second pipe flanges from a first axial spacing to a second axial spacing relatively closer together than the first axial spacing; tightening the first nut of each fastener against the first pipe flange to maintain the second axial spacing between the first and second pipe flanges; and removing each tensioner from the corresponding fasteners while the first and second pipe flanges remain at the second axial spacing.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
inserting a plurality of fasteners through the first and second pipe flanges; and coupling a third nut and the first nut onto each fastener of the plurality of fasteners, the first and second pipe flanges being disposed between the third and first nuts of each fastener; wherein urging the piston of each tensioner comprises supplying hydraulic fluid to each tensioner to axially move the piston against the first pipe flange.

Assignees

• Spm Oil & Gas Inc

Inventors

• Hebert Christopher

Classifications

• B25B29/02 Primary

  Bolt tensioners · CPC title

• F16L23/036

  characterised by the tensioning members, e.g. specially adapted bolts or C-clamps · CPC title

• B23P19/067

  Bolt tensioners (for hand tools B25B29/02) · CPC title

• F16L23/003

  Auxiliary devices · CPC title

• F16L23/024 Primary

  characterised by how the flanges are joined to, or form an extension of, the pipes · CPC title