Device for Slip Engagement of Large Tolerance Pipe and Method of Use

Abstract

A coupling for a pipe comprises a housing adapted to accept a pipe within an interior portion of the housing and a cone disposed within the housing where, in embodiments, the cone is further adapted to accept the pipe and be allowed to yield rather than the pipe.

1 . A coupling for a pipe, comprising: 
 a. a housing adapted to accept a pipe within an interior portion of the housing; and    b. a cone disposed within the housing, the cone further adapted to accept the pipe and be disposed about an outer portion of the pipe within the housing, the cone comprising a material having a yield characteristic matched to a predetermined yield characteristic of the pipe.    
   
   
       2 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a seal disposed about an interior surface of the housing, the seal adapted to conform to an outer surface of the pipe inserted at least partially into the housing.  
   
   
       3 . The coupling of  claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises a limit ring disposed about the interior surface of the housing intermediate the seal and the cone.  
   
   
       4 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the cone is preloaded in the housing under tension.  
   
   
       5 . The coupling of  claim 4 , wherein the wherein the cone is in stable hoop tension.  
   
   
       6 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the cone is adapted to tolerate high dilation strain.  
   
   
       7 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the cone material comprises steel having an elongation property in excess of 20%.  
   
   
       8 . The coupling of  claim 1 , further comprising a slip, the slip further comprising internal teeth disposed about a predetermined surface of the slip to engage a predetermined portion of the pipe when the slip is disposed about the predetermined portion of the pipe.  
   
   
       9 . The coupling of  claim 8 , wherein the slip teeth further comprise at least one angled grip surface portion.  
   
   
       10 . The coupling of  claim 9 , wherein the angle of the angled grip portion is substantially equivalent to a friction angle sufficient to keep an axial load produced by the pipe from exerting a radial load on the cone past setting after the coupling is set.  
   
   
       11 . The coupling of  claim 1 , further comprising a slip ring adapted to slidably engage an exterior surface of the pipe when the pipe is inserted into a predetermined portion of the housing.  
   
   
       12 . The coupling of  claim 11 , wherein the slip ring is disposed intermediate the cone and the exterior surface of the pipe.  
   
   
       13 . The coupling of  claim 1  wherein the cone is disposed at a predetermined position within the housing sufficient to be disposed proximate an area of likely pipe buckling of the pipe when the pipe is inserted into the housing.  
   
   
       14 . A method of slip engaging a pipe, comprising: 
 a. manipulating material strength of a cone portion of a flange to its yield point;    b. manipulating a predetermined strain characteristic of the cone to balance a pipe to be engaged using the flange;    c. making up the flange to the pipe; and    d. allowing the cone to yield rather than the pipe.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising loading the cone in tension.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising positioning a slip in-between the cone and the pipe.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a. determining an angle for the slip which is substantially equivalent to a friction angle sufficient to keep an axial load produced by the pipe from exerting a radial load on the cone past setting; and    b. positioning the slip to engage the pipe at the friction angle.    
   
   
       18 . A method of slip engaging a pipe, comprising: 
 a. determining a buckling position within an interior of a housing at which a pipe is likely to buckle when the pipe is inserted into the housing and the pipe is under a predetermined load;    b. disposing a cone adapted to accept the pipe within the interior of the housing proximate the buckling position, the cone comprising a material having a yield characteristic matched to a yield characteristic of the pipe;    c. inserting a pipe into an insertion portion of the housing, the insertion portion being at least to the buckling position;    d. engaging the cone about an exterior surface of the pipe proximate the buckling position;    e. manipulating a material strength of the cone to its yield point;    f. manipulating a predetermined strain characteristic of the cone to balance the engaged pipe; and    g. allowing the cone to yield rather than the pipe.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising positioning a slip in-between the cone and the pipe.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a. determining an angle for the slip which is substantially equivalent to a friction angle sufficient to keep an axial load produced by the pipe from exerting a radial load on the cone past setting; and    b. positioning the slip to engage the pipe at the friction angle.