Ameron International Corporation

Ameron, Inc.

Other

Joie L Folkers

Ralph S Friedrich

Brian M Francis

Gordon G Robertson

Duane G Hemphill

Hector P Mercado

Robert A Baxter

A contained pipeline and leak detection system includes a primary pipeline section surrounded by a secondary pipeline section and an interstitial space formed between the primary pipeline section and the secondary pipeline section. A pressurized fluid reservoir having a volume of fluid, and in fluid communication with the interstitial space is provided. The fluid in the interstitial space has a pressure greater than the pressure of a fluid inside the primary pipeline section. A sensor detects changes in the volume of fluid in the fluid reservoir, which are indicative of leakage or system malfunction.

Contained pipeline system with brine filled interstitial space and method for detecting leakage in same

Methods for forming double containment pipeline sections are provided where granular material is used to define the annuluses of such pipeline sections.

Method for forming double containment pipeline sections

A contained pipeline and leak detection system having a plurality of pipeline sections adjoined to one or more fluid reservoirs, and a method of detecting leakage in the system are provided. Each pipeline section includes a primary pipeline section and a secondary pipeline section disposed around the primary pipeline section, defining an interstitial space therebetween. The pipeline sections are adjoined by a fitting that maintains fluid communication between the primary and secondary pipeline sections, and the interstitial spaces. Fluid is disposed within the interstitial spaces and the fitting such that fluid entering or exiting the interstitial spaces or the fitting, changes the volume of fluid in the fluid reservoir. An alarm system is connected to the fluid reservoir having a sensor that detects changes in the volume of fluid in the fluid reservoir.

A fitting assembly for joining a double containment pipe (DCP), including primary and secondary pipes, to a double containment fitting, including primary and secondary fittings, wherein the secondary fitting has a larger diameter than the secondary pipe. A sealing reducer has a larger diameter end for fitting over the secondary fitting and a smaller diameter end for fitting over the secondary pipe. The sealing reducer is fit over the secondary pipe, the primaries of the DCP and double containment fitting are joined, and then the sealing reducer is positioned over the primary joint and its smaller and larger diameter ends sealed, either by adhesive or a combination of interlocking threaded fitting components and O-rings, to the ends of the secondary pipe and secondary fitting, respectively.

Closure for secondary containment pipe

A double containment glass fiber pipe section is formed by a single winding operation. The pipe section may be a pipe or a pipe fitting. A section of primary pipe is wound and wrapped by a plastic tape. A permeable material layer is then wrapped around the wrapped primary section. One or more plastic tape layers are then wrapped over the permeable material layer followed by a winding of the secondary pipe section. The assembly is then cured forming a double containment pipe section having a permeable annulus having a radial thickness of about 1 mm. The permeable annulus is defined by the permeable material between the primary and the secondary sections. The permeable material allows for the flow of fluids within the annulus. A pair of wires may be helically wound within the annular space and can be used to detect leakage from the primary pipe section flowing within the annulus by monitoring changes in the capacitance or the resistance between the wires.

Double containment pipe sections

A pipe coupling for two pipe ends having the same inner diameter includes a first pipe coupling joining the pipe ends. The first pipe coupling is formed from a section of pipe having approximately the same inner diameter as the pipe ends and is split longitudinally. A second pipe coupling is clamped over the location of the junction between the pipe ends. The second pipe coupling is formed from a section of pipe having approximately the same inner diameter as the pipe ends and is split longitudinally. The split of the second pipe coupling is offset from the split of the first pipe coupling. The couplings may include an inner and an outer coupling, two outer couplings, or an inner coupling and two outer couplings. Each inner coupling have a strip of material removed along its longitudinal split so that it can be compressed to substantially close the gap at its split and inserted into a pipe end. The pipe couplings may be adhering to the pipe ends and/or adjacent pipe couplings to provide a watertight seal about the pipe joint.

Thin wall fiberglass pipe connectors

Fiber-reinforced resin pipes and pipe fittings have a structural pipe wall formed from helically wound reinforcing fiber that is bonded together with a polymer resin. An intermediate layer is disposed around the structural pipe wall, and a fiber-reinforced layer is disposed around the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is formed from material selected from the group consisting of impact attenuating and impact absorbing materials. The fiber-reinforced resin layer comprises layers of helically wound reinforcing fiber bonded together with a polymer resin. The materials selected to form the fiber-reinforced resin layer can be the same or different from that used to form the structural pipe wall. The pipe may comprise a single intermediate and fiber-reinforced layer disposed around the structural pipe wall, or may comprise an impact resistant jacket disposed around the structural pipe wall, wherein the jacket is made up of alternating intermediate and fiber-reinforced resin layers. Fiber-reinforced resin pipes, constructed according to principles of this invention, have improved impact resistance when compared to conventionally constructed fiber-reinforced resin pipes.

Fiber-reinforced resin pipe having improved impact resistance

A coupling device is used for joining two pipes. Each end of the coupling has a pair of adjoining grooves in its inner surface. Each groove has at its largest diameter a substantially flat portion located at its innermost end and then tapers in the direction of the coupling end. At the junction between the two grooves, the diameter of outermost groove is greater than the diameter of the innermost groove, forming a small circumferential ridge. An O-ring is initially set in the innermost groove and is compressed as the pipe is pushed into the coupling. The O-ring is further compressed as it rolls down the ramp of the inner groove as the pipe is partially retracted from the coupling. As the O-ring is pulled past the circumferential ridge between the grooves, it expands into the flat portion of the outer groove, forming a seal between the pipe and the coupling and a positive indication of sealing. The flat portion of the outer groove permits the entire O-ring to roll over the ridge before compression of the O-ring by the tapered portion of the outer groove. After installation, forces tending to push the pipe out of the coupling cause the O-ring to roll against the steep incline of the tapered surface of the outer groove, resulting in further compression of the O-ring, thereby tightening the seal.

O-ring push-pull pipe joint

A technique for joining a larger and a smaller pipe wherein the smaller pipe has an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the larger pipe. An inner and an outer gasket are used to form the joint. The inner gasket has an inclined outer surface forming a wedge shaped profile and is stretch fitted over the smaller pipe. The outer gasket has a portion of its inner surface matched to the inner gasket outer surface and is compression fitted into the inner surface of the larger pipe whereby the portion of the smaller pipe having the inner gasket is encased by the larger pipe. The smaller pipe is then pulled away from the larger pipe until the inner gasket wedges against the outer gasket forming a locked sealed joint.

Push-pull pipe joint

A composite fiberglass tubular coupling comprising an elastically deformable liner. The interior surface of the liner is threaded inwardly from each opposite end. A plurality of buttress ridges are located on the exterior surface of the liner and the exterior surface of the liner is overwound with thermoset resin impregnated fiberglass reinforcing fibers.

Fiberglass tubular coupling with liner

A repair coupling is herein disclosed which is particularly suited for use with fiber-reinforced thermosetting resin pipe. The coupling comprises a pair of inner and outer sleeves to be secured on respective end portions of a pair of pipe sections to be coupled, a tubular seal carrier, and a clamp. Each inner sleeve is axially slit and has a tapered external thread. Each outer sleeve has a complementary internal thread. The inner sleeves have internal teeth so that threading of the outer sleeves onto the inner sleeves causes the teeth to grip the respective pipe end to secure the inner and outer sleeves thereto. The seal carrier has opposed seal-carrying sections which fit into the respective pipe ends and form internal fluid seals, and a flange between the seal-carrying sections forming a spacer between the adjacent pipe ends. The outer sleeves each have an external groove and the clamp, which comprises a pair of bolt-together semi-cylindrical clamp portions, has internal ribs spaced apart so as to fit in the respective grooves when the adjacent ends of the outer sleeves engage opposite surfaces of the flange. The coupling is readily applied in situ without the need for special equipment.

Growing community of inventors

Wichita Falls, TX, United States of America

Joie L Folkers