Product and method for building structures from pipe

Abstract

A corner fitting includes a sleeve body having a hollow inner space and configured to coaxially fit over a pipe member of a predetermined size. An edge of the sleeve body at a second distal end has a corner cut portion, a protruding tab, and two recesses, the protruding tab being diametrically opposed to the corner cut portion in the radial direction of the sleeve body, and the recesses being diametrically opposed to each other in the radial direction of the sleeve body. The corner cut portion is configured and shaped such that the sleeve body fits together with an identical sleeve body on the pipe member of the predetermined size with the corner cut portions of the two sleeve bodies contacting each other and with the pipe being nested between the protruding tabs of the second distal ends of the two sleeve bodies.

1 . A corner fitting comprising:
 a sleeve body having a hollow inner space and configured to coaxially fit over a pipe member of a predetermined size;   wherein the sleeve body has a first distal end and a second distal end spaced apart from the first distal end in a longitudinal direction,   wherein an edge of the sleeve body at the first distal end has two protruding tabs and two recesses, the protruding tabs protruding farther than the recesses in the longitudinal direction, the protruding tabs being diametrically opposed to each other in a radial direction of the sleeve body, and the recesses being diametrically opposed to each other in the radial direction of the sleeve body, such that the protruding tabs and the recesses are arranged alternately around a circumferential direction of the sleeve body,   wherein the two protruding tabs and the two recesses of the first distal end of the sleeve body are configured and arranged such that the first distal end of the sleeve body fits over the pipe member of the predetermined size with the sleeve body contacting an outer periphery of the pipe member at the protruding tabs and at the recesses in a state in which a longitudinal axis of the pipe member is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve body and the pipe member is nested in the recesses and between the two protruding tabs of the first distal end,   wherein an edge of the sleeve body at the second distal end has a corner cut portion, a protruding tab, and two recesses, the protruding tab protruding farther than the recesses in the longitudinal direction, the protruding tab being diametrically opposed to the corner cut portion in the radial direction of the sleeve body, and the recesses being diametrically opposed to each other in the radial direction of the sleeve body, such that the recesses are arranged between the protruding tab and the corner cut portion in the circumferential direction of the sleeve body, and   wherein the corner cut portion is configured and shaped such that the sleeve body fits together with an identical sleeve body on the pipe member of the predetermined size in an arrangement with the longitudinal axes of the two sleeve bodies being transverse with respect to each other with the corner cut portions of the two sleeve bodies contacting each other and with the pipe being nested between the protruding tabs of the second distal ends of the two sleeve bodies.   
     
     
         2 . The corner fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the two recesses, the protruding tab, and the corner cut portion of the second distal end of the sleeve body are configured and arranged such that the second distal end of the sleeve body fits over the pipe member of the predetermined size with the sleeve body contacting an outer periphery of the pipe member at the recesses and the protruding tab in a state in which a longitudinal axis of the pipe member is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve body and the pipe member is nested in the recesses of the second distal end,
 wherein the corner cut portion includes two knobs and an arcuate recess extending inwardly in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve body between the two knobs,   wherein one of the two knobs is contiguous with one of the recesses at the second distal end of the sleeve body and the other of the two knobs is contiguous with the other of the recesses at the second distal end of the sleeve body, and   wherein the arcuate recess of the corner cut portion is configured such that the sleeve body fits together with an identical sleeve body at a predetermined angle with the corner cut portions contacting each other over an entirety of each corner cut portion.   
     
     
         3 . The corner fitting of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined angle is selected from a group consisting of 90 degrees, 45 degrees, and 22.5 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The corner fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the inner diameter of the sleeve body is configured to fit over the pipe member of the predetermined size with a clearance of not more than ¼ of an inch,
 wherein the recesses of the first and second distal ends of the sleeve body are configured to fit over the pipe member of the predetermined size such that an entirety of the edge of the sleeve body contacts the outer periphery of the pipe member in a state in which a longitudinal axis of the pipe member is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve body and the pipe member is nested in the recesses of the second distal end, and 
 wherein the predetermined size of the pipe member is a diameter of the pipe member. 
 
     
     
         5 . The corner fitting of  claim 1 , wherein an entirety of the sleeve body from the first distal end to the second distal end has a circular cross section. 
     
     
         6 . The corner fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve body is made of carbon steel, and the inner diameter of the sleeve body is configured to fit over the pipe member of the predetermined size with a clearance of not more than 1/32nd of an inch 
     
     
         7 . A system comprising:
 the corner fitting of  claim 1 ; and   a splice fitting,   wherein the splice fitting includes a sleeve body having a hollow inner space and configured to coaxially fit over a pipe member of a predetermined size,   wherein the sleeve body of the splice fitting has a first distal end and a second distal end spaced apart from the first distal end in a longitudinal direction,   wherein an edge of the sleeve body of the splice fitting at the first distal end has two protruding tabs and two recesses, the protruding tabs protruding farther than the recesses in the longitudinal direction, the protruding tabs being diametrically opposed to each other in a radial direction of the sleeve body, and the recesses being diametrically opposed to each other in the radial direction of the sleeve body, such that the protruding tabs and the recesses are arranged alternately around a circumferential direction of the sleeve body,   wherein the two protruding tabs and the two recesses of the first distal end of the sleeve body of the splice fitting are configured and arranged such that the first distal end of the sleeve body fits over the pipe member of the predetermined size with the sleeve body contacting an outer periphery of the pipe member at the protruding tabs and at the recesses in a state in which a longitudinal axis of the pipe member is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve body and the pipe member is nested in the recesses and between the two protruding tabs of the first distal end,   wherein an edge of the sleeve body of the splice fitting at the second distal end has two protruding tabs and two recesses, the protruding tabs protruding farther than the recesses in the longitudinal direction, the protruding tabs being diametrically opposed to each other in a radial direction of the sleeve body, and the recesses being diametrically opposed to each other in the radial direction of the sleeve body, such that the protruding tabs and the recesses are arranged alternately around a circumferential direction of the sleeve body, and   wherein the two protruding tabs and the two recesses of the second distal end of the sleeve body of the splice fitting are configured and arranged such that the second distal end of the sleeve body fits over the pipe member of the predetermined size with the sleeve body contacting an outer periphery of the pipe member at the protruding tabs and at the recesses in a state in which a longitudinal axis of the pipe member is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve body and the pipe member is nested in the recesses and between the two protruding tabs of the second distal end.   
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 providing a first corner fitting including
 (i) a sleeve body having a hollow inner space and configured to coaxially fit over a pipe member of a predetermined size, 
 (ii) wherein the sleeve body has a first distal end and a second distal end spaced apart from the first distal end in a longitudinal direction, 
 (iii) wherein an edge of the sleeve body at the first distal end has two protruding tabs and two recesses, the protruding tabs protruding farther than the recesses in the longitudinal direction, the protruding tabs being diametrically opposed to each other in a radial direction of the sleeve body, and the recesses being diametrically opposed to each other in the radial direction of the sleeve body, such that the protruding tabs and the recesses are arranged alternately around a circumferential direction of the sleeve body, 
 (iv) wherein the two protruding tabs and the two recesses of the first distal end of the sleeve body are configured and arranged such that the first distal end of the sleeve body fits over the pipe member of the predetermined size with the sleeve body contacting an outer periphery of the pipe member at the protruding tabs and at the recesses in a state in which a longitudinal axis of the pipe member is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve body and the pipe member is nested in the recesses and between the two protruding tabs of the first distal end, 
 (v) wherein an edge of the sleeve body at the second distal end has a corner cut portion, a protruding tab, and two recesses, the protruding tab protruding farther than the recesses in the longitudinal direction, the protruding tab being diametrically opposed to the corner cut portion in the radial direction of the sleeve body, and the recesses being diametrically opposed to each other in the radial direction of the sleeve body, such that the recesses are arranged between the protruding tab and the corner cut portion in the circumferential direction of the sleeve body, and 
 (vi) wherein the corner cut portion is configured and shaped such that the sleeve body fits together with an identical sleeve body on the pipe member of the predetermined size in an arrangement with the longitudinal axes of the two sleeve bodies being transverse with respect to each other with the corner cut portions of the two sleeve bodies contacting each other and the pipe being nested between the protruding tabs of the second distal ends of the two sleeve bodies; 
   providing a second corner fitting identical or substantially identical to the first corner fitting;   providing a first pipe member; and   creating a corner joint by welding the cut corner portions of the first corner fitting and the second corner fitting to each other and welding the first corner fitting and the second corner fitting to the first pipe member with the pipe member being disposed between the protruding tabs of the second distal ends of the first corner fitting and the second corner fitting.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the two recesses, the protruding tab, and the corner cut portion of the second distal end of the sleeve body are configured and arranged such that the second distal end of the sleeve body fits over the pipe member of the predetermined size with the sleeve body contacting an outer periphery of the pipe member at the recesses and the protruding tab in a state in which a longitudinal axis of the pipe member is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve body and the pipe member is nested in the recesses of the second distal end,
 wherein the corner cut portion includes two knobs and an arcuate recess extending inwardly in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve body between the two knobs,   wherein one of the two knobs is contiguous with one of the recesses at the second distal end of the sleeve body and the other of the two knobs is contiguous with the other of the recesses at the second distal end of the sleeve body, and   wherein said creating the corner joint includes fitting the first corner fitting and the second corner fitting together at a predetermined angle with the corner cut portions contacting each other over an entirety of each corner cut portion.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said welding is performed such that a capillary action is created by magnetism and the weld is sucked into the first corner fitting and the second corner fitting. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the inner diameter of the sleeve body fits over the first pipe member of the predetermined size with a clearance of not more than ¼ of an inch,
 wherein the recesses of the first and second distal ends of the first and second corner fittings are configured to fit over the pipe member of the predetermined size such that an entirety of the edge of the sleeve body contacts the outer periphery of the pipe member in a state in which a longitudinal axis of the pipe member is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve body and the pipe member is nested in the recesses of the second distal end, and 
 wherein the predetermined size of the pipe member is a diameter of the pipe member. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein an entirety of the sleeve body from the first distal end to the second distal end has a circular cross section. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sleeve body is made of carbon steel and the pipe member is made of steel, and the inner diameter of the sleeve body fits over the first pipe member of the predetermined size with a clearance of not more than 1/32nd of an inch. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first pipe member, the second pipe member, and the third pipe member is a piece of used drill pipe. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first pipe member is a piece of used drill pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 providing a splice fitting including   (i) a sleeve body having a hollow inner space and configured to coaxially fit over a pipe member of a predetermined size,   (ii) wherein the sleeve body of the splice fitting has a first distal end and a second distal end spaced apart from the first distal end in a longitudinal direction,   (iii) wherein an edge of the sleeve body of the splice fitting at the first distal end has two protruding tabs and two recesses, the protruding tabs protruding farther than the recesses in the longitudinal direction, the protruding tabs being diametrically opposed to each other in a radial direction of the sleeve body, and the recesses being diametrically opposed to each other in the radial direction of the sleeve body, such that the protruding tabs and the recesses are arranged alternately around a circumferential direction of the sleeve body,   (iv) wherein the two protruding tabs and the two recesses of the first distal end of the sleeve body of the splice fitting are configured and arranged such that the first distal end of the sleeve body fits over the pipe member of the predetermined size with the sleeve body contacting an outer periphery of the pipe member at the protruding tabs and at the recesses in a state in which a longitudinal axis of the pipe member is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve body and the pipe member is nested in the recesses and between the two protruding tabs of the first distal end,   (v) wherein an edge of the sleeve body of the splice fitting at the second distal end has two protruding tabs and two recesses, the protruding tabs protruding farther than the recesses in the longitudinal direction, the protruding tabs being diametrically opposed to each other in a radial direction of the sleeve body, and the recesses being diametrically opposed to each other in the radial direction of the sleeve body, such that the protruding tabs and the recesses are arranged alternately around a circumferential direction of the sleeve body, and   (vi) wherein the two protruding tabs and the two recesses of the second distal end of the sleeve body of the splice fitting are configured and arranged such that the second distal end of the sleeve body fits over the pipe member of the predetermined size with the sleeve body contacting an outer periphery of the pipe member at the protruding tabs and at the recesses in a state in which a longitudinal axis of the pipe member is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve body and the pipe member is nested in the recesses and between the two protruding tabs of the second distal end;   providing a second pipe member;   providing a third pipe member; and   creating a T-joint by welding the splice fitting on the second pipe member such that the longitudinal axis of the splice fitting is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second pipe member and welding the third pipe member to the splice fitting with the longitudinal axis of the third pipe member being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second pipe member and with the third pipe member being nested between the protruding tabs of one of the first distal end and the second distal end of the splice fitting.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said welding is performed such that a capillary action is created by magnetism and the weld is sucked into the splice fitting between the splice fitting and the second pipe member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 providing a first splice fitting including   (i) a sleeve body having a hollow inner space and configured to coaxially fit over a pipe member of a predetermined size,   (ii) wherein the sleeve body of the splice fitting has a first distal end and a second distal end spaced apart from the first distal end in a longitudinal direction,   (iii) wherein an edge of the sleeve body of the splice fitting at the first distal end has two protruding tabs and two recesses, the protruding tabs protruding farther than the recesses in the longitudinal direction, the protruding tabs being diametrically opposed to each other in a radial direction of the sleeve body, and the recesses being diametrically opposed to each other in the radial direction of the sleeve body, such that the protruding tabs and the recesses are arranged alternately around a circumferential direction of the sleeve body,   (iv) wherein the two protruding tabs and the two recesses of the first distal end of the sleeve body of the splice fitting are configured and arranged such that the first distal end of the sleeve body fits over the pipe member of the predetermined size with the sleeve body contacting an outer periphery of the pipe member at the protruding tabs and at the recesses in a state in which a longitudinal axis of the pipe member is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve body and the pipe member is nested in the recesses and between the two protruding tabs of the first distal end,   (v) wherein an edge of the sleeve body of the splice fitting at the second distal end has two protruding tabs and two recesses, the protruding tabs protruding farther than the recesses in the longitudinal direction, the protruding tabs being diametrically opposed to each other in a radial direction of the sleeve body, and the recesses being diametrically opposed to each other in the radial direction of the sleeve body, such that the protruding tabs and the recesses are arranged alternately around a circumferential direction of the sleeve body, and   (vi) wherein the two protruding tabs and the two recesses of the second distal end of the sleeve body of the splice fitting are configured and arranged such that the second distal end of the sleeve body fits over the pipe member of the predetermined size with the sleeve body contacting an outer periphery of the pipe member at the protruding tabs and at the recesses in a state in which a longitudinal axis of the pipe member is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve body and the pipe member is nested in the recesses and between the two protruding tabs of the second distal end;   providing a second splice fitting identical or substantially identical to the first splice fitting;   providing a second pipe member;   providing a third pipe member;   providing a fourth pipe member; and   creating an H-joint by welding the first splice fitting and the second splice fitting on the second pipe member such that the longitudinal axes of the first and second splice fittings are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second pipe member, welding the third pipe member to the first splice fitting with the longitudinal axis of the third pipe member being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second pipe member and the third pipe member being nested between the protruding tabs of the first distal end of the first splice fitting, and welding the fourth pipe member to the second splice fitting with the longitudinal axis of the fourth pipe member being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second pipe member and the fourth pipe member being nested between the protruding tabs of the first distal end of the second splice fitting.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 providing a third corner fitting identical or substantially identical to the first corner fitting;   providing a second pipe member;   providing a third pipe member; and   creating a T-joint by welding the third corner fitting on the second pipe member such that the longitudinal axis of the third corner fitting is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second pipe member and welding the third pipe member to the third corner fitting with the longitudinal axis of the third pipe member being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second pipe member and with the third pipe member being nested between the protruding tabs of the first distal end of the third corner fitting.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 providing a third corner fitting identical or substantially identical to the first corner fitting;   providing a fourth corner fitting identical or substantially identical to the first corner fitting;   providing a second pipe member;   providing a third pipe member;   providing a fourth pipe member; and   creating an H-joint by welding the third corner fitting and the fourth corner fitting on the second pipe member such that the longitudinal axes of the third and fourth corner fittings are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second pipe member, welding the third pipe member to the third corner fitting with the longitudinal axis of the third pipe member being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second pipe member and the third pipe member being nested between the protruding tabs of the first distal end of the third corner fitting, and welding the fourth pipe member to the fourth corner fitting with the longitudinal axis of the fourth pipe member being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second pipe member and the fourth pipe member being nested between the protruding tabs of the first distal end of the fourth corner fitting.