Method of securing a sleeve within a tube

Abstract

A method is disclosed for securing a repair sleeve within a tubular fluid conveying conduit. The sleeve is positioned within the tube so that it extends coextensive with a region of degraded tube wall and partially beyond the axial extremes of the degraded area. A radially outwardly directed force is then applied to the tubular sleeve from within along a portion of the sleeve at each end, extending beyond the degraded area. The force is sufficient to cause outward plastic deformation of both the sleeve and the tube resulting in an interference mechanical joint therebetween.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of securing a coaxially disposed tubular sleeve within a fluid conduit comprising the steps of: a. inserting said sleeve into an open end of said conduit;   b. positioning said sleeve in a desired axial position with respect to said conduit;   c. applying a radially outwardly directed uniform force from within said sleeve along a selected axial portion thereof having a magnitude sufficient to cause said portion of sleeve to expand outwardly into contact with the inner wall of said conduit.Iadd., but not sufficiently to permanently increase the outer diameter of said fluid conduit.Iaddend.; and   d. applying .[.an.]. .Iadd.a second .Iaddend.additional radially outwardly directed uniform force .Iadd.controlled .Iaddend.through a limited distance from within said sleeve along said selected portion having a magnitude sufficient to cause said portion of sleeve and the wall of said conduit in contact therewith to concurrently radially outwardly expand a predetermined and limited distance.   
     
     
       2. A method of repairing a metal tube having a degraded wall section comprising the steps of: a. inserting an open ended tubular metal sleeve into an open end of said tube, said sleeve being of a length greater than the axial extent of said degraded wall section;   b. positioning said sleeve at a location in which said sleeve is entirely coextensive with and each end extends axially beyond the degraded area of said tube;   c. applying a radially outwardly directed uniform force from within a selected portion of a first end of said sleeve having a magnitude sufficient to cause said portion of sleeve to expand outwardly into substantially circumferentially uniform contact with the inner wall of said conduit, but not sufficient to permanently increase the outer diameter of said tube;   d. applying an additional radially outwardly directed uniform force from within said selected portion of the first end of said sleeve having a magnitude sufficient to cause said portion of sleeve and wall of said tube in contact therewith to concurrently radially outwardly expand a predetermined and limited distance;   e. applying a radially outwardly directed uniform force from within a selected portion of the other end of said sleeve having a magnitude sufficient to cause said portion of sleeve to expand outwardly into substantially circumferentially uniform contact with the inner wall of said tube, but not sufficient to permanently increase the outer diameter of the tube; and   f. applying an additional radially outwardly directed uniform force from within said selected portion of the other end of said sleeve having a magnitude sufficient to cause said portion of sleeve and wall of said tube in contact therewith to concurrently radially outwardly expand a predetermined and limited distance.   
     
     
       3. A method of securing a coaxially disposed tubular sleeve within a fluid conduit comprising the steps of: a. inserting said sleeve into an open end of said conduit;   b. positioning said sleeve in a desired axial position with respect to said conduit; and   c. applying .[.a.]. .Iadd.an unopposed .Iaddend.radially outwardly directed uniform force from within said sleeve along a selected axial portion thereof having magnitude sufficient to cause said portion of sleeve to outwardly expand .Iadd.by confining a pressurized hydraulic fluid within said sleeve along said selective sleeve portion, and thereafter supplying an additional predetermined and controlled fixed volumetric quantity of hydraulic fluid to cause a limited expansion of said conduit .Iaddend.including .[.applying the force.]. .Iadd.controlling the application of the force by internally limiting the distance of application .Iaddend.through .[.a.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.predetermined and limited radial distance .[.thereby also.]. .Iadd.including .Iaddend.causing said conduit to .Iadd.permanently .Iaddend.expand a limited distance.   
     
     
       4. A method of repairing a metal conduit having a degraded wall section comprising the steps of: a. inserting an open-ended tubular metal sleeve having a length greater than the axial extent of the degraded wall section into an open end of said conduit;   b. positioning said sleeve at a location in which said sleeve is entirely coextensive with and each end extends axially beyond the degraded area of said conduit;   c. applying a radially outwardly directed uniform force from within a selected portion of a first end of said sleeve having a magnitude sufficient to cause said portion of sleeve to radially outwardly expand including applying the force through a predetermined and limited distance thereby causing said conduit in contact therewith to expand a limited distance; and   d. applying a radially outwardly directed uniform force from within a selected portion of the other end of said sleeve having a magnitude sufficient to cause said portion of sleeve to radially outwardly expand including applying the force through a predetermined and limited distance thereby also causing said conduit in contact therewith to expand a limited distance. .Iadd. 5. The method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein:   a. the step of applying a radially outwardly directed uniform force along said selected sleeve portion includes supplying a pressurized hydraulic fluid within said sleeve along said selected sleeve portion to a predetermined pressure level; and   b. the step of applying the additional radially outward directed uniform force includes supplying additionally a predetermined fixed volumetric quantity of hydraulic fluid to cause the predetermined and limited expansion of said sleeve and conduit portions. .Iaddend..Iadd. 6. The method according to claim 4 wherein: the step of applying a radially outwardly directed uniform force along said selected sleeve portion includes confining a pressurizable hydraulic fluid within said sleeve along said selected sleeve portion, and thereafter supplying an additional predetermined and controlled fixed volumetric quantity of hydraulic fluid to cause the limited expansion of said conduit. .Iaddend..Iadd. 7. A method according to claim 3 or 4 wherein: the step of supplying the radially outwardly directed uniform force along said selected sleeve portion through a predetermined and limited radial distance includes:   a. compressing an elastomer within said sleeve adjacent said selected sleeve portion through a limited axial distance to cause a limited radial expansion of said elastomer and thereby cause the limited expansion of said conduit. .Iaddend.