US 12,259,075 B2
Method and system for automated installation of welded reinforced thermosetting resin pipe joints
Thibault Villette, Belfort (FR); Abderrazak Traidia, Lussan (FR); and Abdullah Al Shahrani, Dammam (SA)
Assigned to SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Jan. 26, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/160,045.
Prior Publication US 2024/0255088 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29C 65/32 (2006.01); F16L 47/02 (2006.01); F16L 47/10 (2006.01); B29L 23/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 47/02 (2013.01) [B29C 65/32 (2013.01); F16L 47/10 (2013.01); B29L 2023/22 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for coupling pipes comprising:
a first pipe having a socket end;
a second pipe having a spigot end, wherein the spigot end is inserted into the socket end to form a socket/spigot interface,
wherein the first pipe and the second pipe are made from a reinforced thermosetting resin (RTR) and a thermoplastic material is disposed between an interior of the first pipe and an exterior of the second pipe;
an inductor disposed around the socket end, wherein, upon application of induction heating from induction coils of the inductor, heat thereby generated between the first pipe and the second pipe is sufficient to melt the thermoplastic material such that, when the heat is removed, the thermoplastic material hardens and seals the first pipe to the second pipe; and
a pig having a frame disposed in the first pipe and the second pipe, the pig comprising:
a piston with a first telescopic arm extending axially outward from one end of the piston and a second telescopic arm extending axially outward from an opposite end of the piston;
a first pneumatic wheel on the first telescopic arm, wherein the first pneumatic wheel is positioned in the first pipe;
a second pneumatic wheel mounted on the piston, wherein the second pneumatic wheel is positioned in the spigot end; and
a third pneumatic wheel mounted on the second telescopic arm, wherein the third pneumatic wheel is positioned in the second pipe.