US4411456A — Apparatus, methods, and joints for connecting tub…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 215 words

An assembly for connecting together tubular bodies to provide a passageway through the connected bodies, comprising: first and second tubular bodies, each of which includes at least one end portion having an annular end face and an end opening in communication therewith, the bore of the end portion of the second body being greater than the outside dimensions of the end portion of the first body so that the first body end portion is receivable within the second body end portion to form an overlapping joint area between the said first and second bodies; indexing means for limiting axially inward movement of the first body end portion into the second body end portion such that said first body annular end face is completely received in said second body end portion; means operatively connected to said first and second bodies and carried by one of said tubular bodies to restrain relative rotational and axial movements of said end portions after said overlapping joint area is formed; and forging means releasably mounted on one of said tubular bodies and having a rotatable forging head receivable within the bore of said first body end portion for forging the first body end portion laterally outwardly, in the overlapping joint area, into locking engagement with the second body end portion.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 215 words

An assembly for connecting together tubular bodies to provide a passageway through the connected bodies, comprising: first and second tubular bodies, each of which includes at least one end portion having an annular end face and an end opening in communication therewith, the bore of the end portion of the second body being greater than the outside dimensions of the end portion of the first body so that the first body end portion is receivable within the second body end portion to form an overlapping joint area between the said first and second bodies; indexing means for limiting axially inward movement of the first body end portion into the second body end portion such that said first body annular end face is completely received in said second body end portion; means operatively connected to said first and second bodies and carried by one of said tubular bodies to restrain relative rotational and axial movements of said end portions after said overlapping joint area is formed; and forging means releasably mounted on one of said tubular bodies and having a rotatable forging head receivable within the bore of said first body end portion for forging the first body end portion laterally outwardly, in the overlapping joint area, into locking engagement with the second body end portion.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bore of said second body end portion includes an annular locking recess for accommodating material forged laterally outwardly by said forging head to lock said bodies together.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

The assembly of claim 1 further including means for forming a chamber external to said second body and in pressure communication with said overlapping joint area.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 34 words

The assembly of claim 1 including filler means located in the bore of said first body end portion within said overlapping joint area, said filler means being forged laterally outwardly with said first body.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 13 words

The assembly of claim 4 wherein said filler means is an annular member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The assembly of claim 4 wherein said filler means is an annular member separate from said first and second bodies.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 50 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said forging head includes a mounting means rotatable within said first body end portion, a plurality of rollers rotatably carried by said mounting means, extending means for forcing said rollers laterally outwardly, and means for rotating said mounting means as said rollers are extended.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 53 words

The assembly of claim 1 further including: a third tubular body having an end portion the outside dimensions of which are less than the bore of the second body end portion so that the third body end portion is receivable within the second body end portion to form a second overlapping joint area.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 38 words

The assembly of claim 8 wherein: said first and third bodies are longitudinally extending pipe segments with central flow passages; and said second body is a collar adapted to fit concentrically over adjoining ends of said pipe segments.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said means operatively connected to said first and second bodies to restrain relative movements comprises a slip-type gripping means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

The assembly of claim 10 wherein said gripping means is fluid activated and is further operative to urge said indexing means axially into engagement.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 184 words

A method of connecting together the end portions of first and second tubular bodies have annular end faces to provide a passageway through the connected bodies, the bore of the end portion of the second body being greater than the outside dimensions of the end portion of the first body so that the first body end portion is receivable within the second body end portion, comprising the steps of entering at least part of said first body end portion into the bore of said second body end portion so that said end portions have an overlapping joint area and said first body annular end face is completely received in said second body end portion, thereafter forming a preliminary connection between said tubular bodies thereby restraining relative rotational and axial movements of said end portions, releasably mounting a forging means with a rotatable forging head on one of said tubular bodies, engaging the rotatable forging head with the first body end portion in the overlapping joint area, and forging the first body end portion laterally outwardly into locking engagement with the second body end portion.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 184 words

A method of connecting together the end portions of first and second tubular bodies have annular end faces to provide a passageway through the connected bodies, the bore of the end portion of the second body being greater than the outside dimensions of the end portion of the first body so that the first body end portion is receivable within the second body end portion, comprising the steps of entering at least part of said first body end portion into the bore of said second body end portion so that said end portions have an overlapping joint area and said first body annular end face is completely received in said second body end portion, thereafter forming a preliminary connection between said tubular bodies thereby restraining relative rotational and axial movements of said end portions, releasably mounting a forging means with a rotatable forging head on one of said tubular bodies, engaging the rotatable forging head with the first body end portion in the overlapping joint area, and forging the first body end portion laterally outwardly into locking engagement with the second body end portion.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 12 further including the step of forging said first body end portion laterally outwardly into a locking recess formed in said second body end portion.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 12 wherein said forging includes the step of rolling a plurality of rollers over the internal surface of said first body end portion while said rollers are forced laterally outwardly.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 10 wherein there are filler means within said overlapping joint area, said filler means being forged laterally outwardly with said first body.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 15 further including the step of forging said filler means and said first body end portion laterally outwardly until the continuous passageway formed by said joint has substantially the same lateral dimensions throughout its length.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 15, wherein the filler means is a component separate from said first body.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 12 further including the step of applying pressurized fluid externally of said joint area to test for joint leakage after the forging step and repeating the forging step if leakage is detected.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 12 wherein said first and second tubular bodies are at least partially submerged in water.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 58 words

The method of claim 12 further including the steps of: placing the end portion of a third tubular body into said second body end portion to form a further overlapping joint area; and foring said first and third bodies laterally outwardly in both said overlapping joint areas for forming a joint between said first, second and third bodies.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 20 wherein said first and third tubular bodies are pipe segments and said second tubular body is a collar adapted to fit over adjoining ends of said pipe segments.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method of claim 21 further including the steps of: supplying power to the forging means through one or more lateral openings formed in said pipe segments, removing said forging means from said pipe segments after completion of the forging step, and sealing said lateral openings after said joint is formed.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 21 wherein one of said pipe segments is curved.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 67 words

The method of claim 23 wherein said curved pipe segment includes two relatively rotatable curved sections and at least one rotational coupling, and said method includes the further steps of: altering the total curve in said curved pipe segment by rotating said sections relative to each other to a desired position and thereafter, forming a sealed joint of said rotational coupling by forging said rotational coupling together.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 71 words

The method of claim 24 wherein said curved pipe segment includes a plurality of relatively rotatable curved sections with rotatable couplings and said method includes the steps of: altering the total curve in said curved pipe segment by rotating the sections at each rotational coupling relative to each other to a desired position, and thereafter forming a sealed joint of each of said rotational couplings by forging said rotational couplings together.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-10-24	1987-04-25	1987-10-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-10-24	1991-04-25	1991-10-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-10-24	1995-04-25	1995-10-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus, methods, and joints for connecting tubular members

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