Specialty Piping Components, Inc.

Other

Taper-lok Corporation

John W Aaron, Iii

George Dawson, Jr

An alignment tool configured to be coupled to a first flange, the alignment tool having an alignment guide extending outward from the periphery of the first flange at an angle of between 0 and 90 degrees from the axis of the first flange. A plurality of such alignment guides are coupled to the first flange so that a second flange which is positioned off-axis from the first flange, but between the alignment guides of the alignment tools will be constrained to move toward an on-axis position as the second flange approaches the first flange. In one embodiment, one or more of the alignment tools includes at least one alignment pin which extends through a bolt hole of the first flange and beyond the face of the flange so that the alignment pin can engage one of the bolt holes of the second flange and thereby maintain rotational alignment of the flanges. In one embodiment, the alignment pin comprises a spring-loaded, telescoping pin which, when the flanges are not rotationally aligned, is compressed and does not extend beyond the face of the first flange, and when the flanges are rotationally aligned, extends beyond the face of the first flange to engage a bolt hole of the second flange.

Alignment tool for pipe couplings

A seal retaining system for retaining a seal ring in a pipe coupling, wherein a plurality of seal ring retainers are connected to a flange around the periphery of a seal seat and wherein the retainers can be moved from an open position in which a seal ring can be placed on or removed from the seal seat to a closed position in which the seal ring is retained in position on the seal seat. In one embodiment, each retainer comprises a rotatable cam having a lip which extends generally around the circumference of the cam, but is truncated on one side. When the truncated portion faces the seal seat, the seal ring can be installed or removed. When the truncated portion faces away from the seal seat, the seal ring is held in position on the seal seat. The cams may be attached with bolts that can be sheared off if the cams are frozen in position.

Method for retaining a seal ring

A connector for coupling pipe sections which may be either aligned or misaligned axially, the connector having a male fitting, a female fitting which mates with the male fitting and a retaining means which can be connected to the female fitting to hold the male fitting in place against the female fitting. In one embodiment, the retaining means comprises a hammer nut which has a retaining surface. The retaining surface of the hammer nut contacts a rear surface of a first one of the flanges for urging this flange forward. The hammer nut has threads which are complementary to a set of threads on the second flange. When the hammer nut is threaded onto the second flange, the first and second flanges are pulled together. The retaining surface of the hammer nut and the rear surface of the first flange have complementary spherical shapes so that the hammer nut can rotate and swivel with respect to the flange. The hammer nut can therefore be aligned with the second flange and threaded onto it, even though the first and second flanges are misaligned.

Connector for misaligned tubulars

Seal ring retainer

A coupling for two pipe sections having integral buoyancy cans, wherein the coupling includes two coupling flanges, each having an inner flange portion configured to couple the pipe stems of the pipe sections and an outer flange portion configured to brace or secure the buoyancy cans of the pipe sections against each other and thereby stabilize the pipe sections. In one embodiment, the inner and outer flange portions of each coupling flange are connected by a plurality of connecting plates. Each coupling flange also includes a plurality of reinforcing plates between the inner and outer flange portions. Each of the inner flange portions is configured as a female box flange. In one embodiment, a pin flange is positioned between the inner flange portions in the assembled coupling to form pin-and-box connections with the inner flange portions. The outer flange portions are bolted together to secure the coupling. In another embodiment, the coupling flanges have complementary tapered mating surfaces which are used in conjunction with a tapered seal ring to form the connection between the pipe stems of the pipe sections. In this embodiment, a plurality of bolts positioned adjacent to the inner flange portions are used to provide a load on the seal ring and ensure a good seal.

Connector for pipe sections having integral buoyancy cans

A swivel coupling for connecting misaligned pipe sections, the swivel coupling having a socket member with an integral flange, a ball member which mates with the socket member and a ball swivel flange which holds the ball member in contact with the socket member. The ball member has a spherical outer surface which is complementary to a spherical inner surface of the socket member and allows the ball member to swivel while remaining in mating contact with the socket member. The ball swivel flange has an inner spherical surface which includes an equatorial band wide enough to capture the spherical surface of the ball member within the ball swivel flange. A sealing ring is positioned between the ball member and socket member to ensure a proper seal. The flange of the socket member is bolted to the ball swivel flange to hold the swivel coupling assembly together and to draw the ball member and socket member into sealing contact.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

John W Aaron, Iii