US 12,292,153 B2
Pipe repair and the methods for operational fixing and definitive welding thereof
Fabio Correia Do Rosário, Serra (BR); and Tatyana Soriano De Oliveira, Serra (BR)
Assigned to ENDSERV INSPECÃO DE EQUIPAMENTOS E MATERIAIS LTDA, Serra (BR); and PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.—PETROBRAS, Rio de Janeiro (BR)
Appl. No. 17/278,784
Filed by ENDSERV INSPECÃO DE EQUIPAMENTOS E MATERIAIS LTDA ME, Serra (BR); and PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.—PETROBRAS, Rio de Janeiro (BR)
PCT Filed Sep. 11, 2019, PCT No. PCT/BR2019/050389
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 23, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/061664, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 2, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1020180694480 (BR), filed on Sep. 24, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0034441 A1, Feb. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. F16L 55/17 (2006.01); B23K 37/053 (2006.01); F16L 55/168 (2006.01); F16L 55/172 (2006.01); F16L 55/178 (2006.01); F16L 55/18 (2006.01); B23K 9/035 (2006.01); B23K 37/0533 (2025.01); B23K 37/0535 (2025.01)
CPC F16L 55/17 (2013.01) [B23K 37/053 (2013.01); F16L 55/1683 (2013.01); F16L 55/172 (2013.01); F16L 55/18 (2013.01); B23K 9/0358 (2013.01); B23K 37/0533 (2013.01); B23K 37/0535 (2013.01); F16L 55/178 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for repairing or reinforcing a pipe wall, said system comprising:
a split ring and a compression unit;
the split ring comprising two circumferentially extending split ring parts configured to be joined together at two fitting regions, the split ring parts configured such that, in each fitting region, a first circumferential end of one of the split ring parts is configured to be welded to a second circumferential end of the other split ring part in order to form a complete ring about an outer surface of the pipe wall;
the split ring comprising a circumferentially extending sealant accommodation channel along a radially inner side of the split ring whereby a sealant disposed within said sealant accommodation channel is configured to form a seal between the split ring and the outer surface of the pipe wall;
wherein at each fitting region,
the first circumferential end comprises an integral backing strip positioned radially outward of an end portion of the sealant accommodation channel, the backing strip having a reduced outer diameter relative to a nominal outer diameter of the split ring, wherein a first tapered edge provides a transition from the reduced outer diameter of the backing strip to the nominal outer diameter of the split ring in a direction away from the first circumferential end, and
the second circumferential end comprises an extension having a second tapered edge providing a transition from a reduced outer diameter substantially corresponding to the reduced outer diameter of the backing strip of the first circumferential end to the nominal outer diameter of the split ring in a direction away from the second circumferential end, the extension circumferentially extending from the respective split ring part so as to form a radially inner recess configured to accept the backing strip and the end portion of the sealant accommodation channel of the first circumferential end;
wherein the first tapered edge and second tapered edge form a V-shaped welding channel therebetween configured to accommodate a weld bead to join the first circumferential end and second circumferential end, wherein the backing strip is positioned radially between the welding channel and the sealant accommodation channel to protect the sealant within the channel during welding;
wherein a combined radial thickness of the end portion of the sealant accommodation channel and backing strip of the first circumferential end plus a radial thickness of the extension of the second circumferential end is equal to a total thickness of the split ring, said total thickness of the split ring being greater than or equal to a nominal thickness of the pipe wall;
wherein the split ring further comprises two lateral widths defining sides of the sealant accommodation channel, wherein a combined width of the sealant accommodation channel and the two lateral widths is equal to a total width of the split ring;
the compression unit comprising a connector and two rectangular pieces, wherein the connector and the two rectangular pieces are interconnected by chains; the compression unit configured such that each rectangular piece is positionable over a respective one of the two fitting regions of the split ring, wherein each rectangular piece comprises an aperture to enable the respective weld bead to be deposited in the respective welding channel while the compression unit compresses the split ring and the sealant against the outer surface of the pipe wall;
wherein the connector of the compression unit comprises two connector parts, a screw, and two guide pins, wherein the screw is configured to adjust a distance between the two connector parts, whereby drawing the connector parts together via the screw tightens the compression unit about the split ring and pipe;
wherein the two guide pins are arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis of the screw and configured to guide the two connector parts such the relative movement between the two connector parts is restricted to movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the screw, preventing damage to the screw from transverse bending as the compression unit is tightened.