Composite pipe to metal joint

• US 9,689,514 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2014
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Composite Products & Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Composite Products & Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Heard, James, Josephson, Marvin, Leslie, II, James C., Leslie, James C., Truong, Liem V.
• Primary Examiner(s): DUNWOODY, AARON M
• Application Number:
  US14/251,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20140217722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 2852941, 2852931, 285239, 285390, 2852221-2225
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/003 with electrically conducting or insulating means E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/0285 characterised by electrically insulating elements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/20 Flexible or articulated drilling pipes , e.g. flexible or articulated rods, pipes or cables
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/206 with conductors, e.g. electrical, optical
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 13/103 Adhesive joints for hoses F16L33/34
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 15/08 with supplementary elements F16L15/04, F16L41/00 and F16L43/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 25/0018 Abutment joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 31/00 Arrangements for connecting hoses to one another or to flexible sleeves F16L33/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A method for making a metal to composite tube joint including selecting an elongated interior fitting constructed with an exterior barrel, reduced in exterior diameter to form a distally facing annular shoulder and then projecting still further distally to form an interior sleeve having a radially outwardly facing bonding surface. Selecting an elongated metal outer sleeve formed proximally with a collar constructed for receipt over the barrel and increased in interior diameter and projecting distally to form an exterior sleeve having a radially inwardly facing bonding surface cooperating with the first bonding surface to form an annulus receiving an extremity of a composite tube and a bond bonding the extremity of the tube to the bonding surfaces.

Claims

1. A composite pipe to metal end fitting joint comprising:

a discrete metal inner sleeve formed proximally with an annular outwardly projecting stop flange and projecting distally with an annular shell formed with a distally extending, continuous inwardly tapering conical inner sleeve bonding surface;

a discrete metal outer sleeve received over the inner sleeve abutted on one end with the stop flange and further formed with a distally projecting outer shell concentric with the inner shell and formed with a distally radially outwardly expanding continuous outer shell bonding surface cooperating with the inner sleeve bonding surface to form an annulus distally expanding in thickness;

a composite pipe formed on one extremity with a peripheral wall having a thickness narrowing proximally to form a proximally narrowing connector ring received complementarity in the annulus; and

a bond on the interface between the connector ring and shell surfaces to form respective bonds; and

a metal connector flange between the inner and outer sleeves and connecting the sleeves together at the proximal end to form the shells and connector flange as a rigid torque unit so torque loads on the pipe will be carried through the bonds to the inner and outer bonding surfaces.

2. The joint of claim 1 wherein:

the inner sleeve includes a proximal end including a mechanical connector.

3. The joint of claim 2 wherein:

the connector is formed with threads.

4. The joint of claim 1 wherein:

the inner sleeve is formed at the proximal extremity with a barrel; and

the outer sleeve is formed at its proximal extremity with a collar engaged over the barrel.

5. The joint of claim 1 wherein:

the outer sleeve is welded to the inner sleeve.

6. A composite pipe to metal end fitting joint comprising:

a discrete metal inner sleeve formed with a first proximal extremity and a distally projecting annular inner shell formed with a distally extending continuous inwardly tapering conical inner bonding surface;

a discrete metal outer sleeve received over the inner sleeve and proximally formed with a radially inwardly projecting annular flange connected to the proximal extremity for carrying terminal loads between the inner and outer sleeves, and further formed with a distally projecting outer shell concentric with the inner shell and formed with a distally radially outwardly expanding continuous outer bonding surface cooperating with the inner bonding surface to form an annulus distally expanding in thickness;

a composite pipe formed with a wall narrowing proximally inwardly at one extremity to form a connector ring received complementarily in the annulus; and

a bond on the interface between the connector ring and bonding surfaces.

7. The joint of claim 6 wherein:

the inner sleeve includes a mechanical connector on its proximal end.

8. The joint of claim 7 wherein:

the connector is formed with threads.

9. The joint of claim 6 wherein:

the inner sleeve is formed at its proximal extremity with a barrel of a predetermined length; and

the outer sleeve is formed with a collar of the predetermined length and received in close fit relationship over the barrel.

10. The joint of claim 6 wherein:

the outer sleeve is welded to the inner sleeve.

11. The joint of claim 6 wherein:

the proximal end of the outer sleeve is affixed to the proximal end of the inner sleeve.

12. A composite pipe to metal fitting joint comprising:

a discrete elongated annular metal inner sleeve having a proximal extremity formed with a radially outwardly projecting stop flange projecting distally to be formed with an inner shell configured with an exterior bonding surface tapering distally inwardly;

a discrete elongated metal outer sleeve having a proximal extremity formed with a radially inwardly projecting flange engaging the radially outwardly projecting flange to cooperate in maintaining the sleeves together, and further formed with a distally projecting outer shell concentric with the inner shell and formed interiorly with a distally radially outwardly expanding conical outer sleeve bonding surface cooperating with the inner bonding surface to form an annulus distally expanding in radial width;

a composite pipe formed on one extremity with a wall narrowing in width in the proximal direction to form narrowing connector ring received complementarily in the annulus;

and a bond on the interface between the connector ring and shell bonding surfaces to bond the ring directly to the respective shells for carrying torque loads form the composite pipe to the respective shells.

13. A composite pipe to metal fitting joint comprising:

a discrete elongated annular metal inner sleeve having proximal and distal extremities, the sleeve being formed distally with a shell formed with an exterior annular bonding surface;

a discrete elongated metal outer sleeve having proximal and distal extremities and formed with a distally projecting annular outer sleeve configured distally with an outer shell concentric with the inner shell and formed interiorly with an outer sleeve bonding surface;

proximal flanges interposed at the proximal extremities between the sleeves and engaging one another;

the respective inner and outer surfaces cooperating to form an annulus projecting distally and expanding in thickness;

a composite pipe formed on one extremity with a concentric ring tapering proximally inwardly to form a connector ring complementing the shape of the annulus; and

a bond on the interface between the connector ring and sleeve surfaces to bond the ring directly to the respective shells for carrying torque loads from the composite pipe to the respective shells.

14. A composite pipe to metal fitting joint comprising:

a discrete elongated annular metal inner sleeve having a proximal extremity formed with a radially outwardly projecting stop flange formed with a distally facing stop shoulder and projecting distally to be formed with a cylindrical barrel and reduced in diameter to form a first distally facing abutment shoulder spaced a predetermined distance from the stop shoulder and further formed with an inner shell configured with an exterior bonding surface tapering distally inwardly;

a discrete elongated metal outer sleeve formed with a proximal extremity formed with a proximally facing stop end abutting the stop shoulder and projecting distally to be formed with a collar received over the barrel, and, further projecting distally to be reduced in diameter to form a distally facing second abutment shoulder spaced the selected distance from the stop end to be aligned radially with the first abutment shoulder, the outer sleeve projecting further distally to be formed with a distally projecting outer shell concentric with the inner shell and formed interiorly with a distally radially outwardly expanding conical outer sleeve surface cooperating with the inner bonding surface to form an annulus distally expanding in thickness;

a composite pipe formed with a wall narrowing proximally on one extremity to form a connector ring received complementarily in the annulus and terminating in a blunt end abutting the first and second abutment shoulders;

and a bond on the interface between the connector ring and shell surfaces to bond the ring directly to the respective shells for carrying torque loads form the composite pipe to the respective shells.

15. A composite pipe to metal end fitting joint comprising:

a discrete elongated metal inner sleeve formed with proximal and distal extremities, the inner sleeve formed proximally with an outwardly projecting flange and projecting distally therefrom to form an inner annular shell formed with an exterior bonding shell surface tapered distally inwardly;

a discrete elongated metal outer sleeve inner sleeve and formed proximally with a radially inwardly projecting flange engaging the outwardly projecting flange and further formed with a distally projecting outer shell concentric with the inner shell and formed interiorly with a distally, radially outwardly expanding conical outer sleeve bonding surface cooperating with the exterior shell bonding surface to form an annulus distally expanding in thickness;

a composite pipe formed at one extremity with a wall narrowing proximally to form a connector ring and received complementarily in the annulus; and

a bond on the interface between the connector ring and bonding surfaces.

16. The joint of claim 15 that includes:

a weld welding the outer sleeve to the inner sleeves.