GB2064679A - Sealing the End of a Pipeline Sleeve - Google Patents
Sealing the End of a Pipeline Sleeve Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2064679A GB2064679A GB8034879A GB8034879A GB2064679A GB 2064679 A GB2064679 A GB 2064679A GB 8034879 A GB8034879 A GB 8034879A GB 8034879 A GB8034879 A GB 8034879A GB 2064679 A GB2064679 A GB 2064679A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- sleeve
- pipeline
- polyurethane
- polymeric material
- synthetic polymeric
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 title claims description 5
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 25
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000004210 cathodic protection Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000004132 cross linking Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000004073 vulcanization Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 229910001873 dinitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004636 vulcanized rubber Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 abstract description 6
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 abstract description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000005422 blasting Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000000945 filler Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000005299 abrasion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004880 explosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011810 insulating material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009416 shuttering Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L7/00—Supporting pipes or cables inside other pipes or sleeves, e.g. for enabling pipes or cables to be inserted or withdrawn from under roads or railways without interruption of traffic
- F16L7/02—Supporting pipes or cables inside other pipes or sleeves, e.g. for enabling pipes or cables to be inserted or withdrawn from under roads or railways without interruption of traffic and sealing the pipes or cables inside the other pipes, cables or sleeves
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Sealing Material Composition (AREA)
Abstract
A pipeline 1 for carrying a fluid such as gas, water, petrol or oil is enclosed within a nitrogen filled sleeve 2. At the end of the sleeve 2, a solid collar 3 is placed around the pipeline 1 and inserted a certain distance inside the sleeve 2. An end cap 4 is then placed over the extreme end of the sleeve 2 and around the pipeline 1. A synthetic polymeric material, for example rubber or polyurethane, is injected into the space between the end cap 4 and collar 3 through a filler hole 5 to completely fill the space. The rubber or polyurethane, which forms a seal, is vulcanized or cured respectively to the internal surface of the sleeve 2 and the external surface of the pipe 1. The internal surface of the sleeve 2 and the external surface of the pipe 1 are treated, for example by shot blasting, to ensure that the synthetic polymeric material adheres to the internal surface of the sleeve and the external surface of the pipe. The sleeve and pipeline have their own separate cathodic protection systems. Strops 15 are secured to lugs circumferentially arranged around the outside of and at the end of each sleeve to prevent the end seals 10 from being blown out. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Sealing the End of a Pipeline Sleeve
This invention relates to a method of sealing
the end of a pipeline sleeve, and to a sealed
pipeline sleeve.
In the laying of major pipelines carrying for
example gas, water, petrol or oil, continuous
sleeves are placed around the pipeline where it
passes under for example roads or railway tracks.
The sleeve will extend right under the for
example, road and for a substantial distance on
either side of the road. The purpose of the sleeve
is to contain the flowing medium if the pipeline
should be ruptured. It is conventional practice to
seal the ends of the sleeve around the pipeline, so
that an enclosed space is formed between the
pipeline and the sleeve. Commonly, an inert gas
such as nitrogen at a low pressure is contained in
this space, and the pressure of the inert gas is
monitored. An increase in the pressure of the gas
inside the sleeve indicates an escape of fluid from the pipeline, and a decrease in the pressure
indicates that the sleeve itself or its end seals are
not gas-tight.
Buried pipelines are normally cathodically
protected against corrosion.
According to the present invention, there is
provided a method of sealing the end of a pipeline
sleeve by curing or crosslinking an annular body
of a synthetic polymeric material to the outer
surface of the pipeline and to the inner surface of
the end of the sleeve.
When the synthetic polymeric material is
rubber, the curing or crosslinking reaction is
preferably vulcanization.
When the synthetic polymeric material is
polyurethane, the crosslinking reaction is
preferably a simple curing.
The process of vulcanizing the rubber or curing
the polyurethane to the metal ensures that a gas
tight seal is produced between the sleeve and the
pipeline.
Since the sleeve in the pipeline will have their
own separate cathodic protection systems, it is
important that the two systems be electrically
insulated from one another and the vulcanized
rubber or cured polyurethane seal provides the
necessary insulation.
The rubber or polyurethane seal also permits
movement between the pipe and the sleeve
without allowing them to come into electrically
conducting contact.
To carry out the curing or crosslinking reaction
(vulcanizing), a solid collar can be positioned
around the pipeline and a certain distance from
the end of the sleeve, within the sleeve, and an
end cap positioned over the end of the sleeve and
around the pipeline. An enclosed space is then
formed into which the liquid rubber or
polyurethane can be injected to fill completely the
space between the end cap and The collar to form
an annular body of rubber or polyurethane
adhering both to the pipeline and to the inner
surface of the sleeve. The inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the pipeline are preferably shot-blasted before the rubber or polyurethane is injected to provide a clean surface to which the rubber or polyurethane can adhere.
The invention also provides a pipeline and sleeve assembly, wherein a collar of a cured or crosslinked synthetic polymeric material is formed around the pipeline and within the end of the sleeve, the synthetic polymeric material being cured or crosslinked both to the pipeline and to the sleeve, in order to form a seal.
When the synthetic polymeric material is polyurethane, the curing or crosslinking reaction is preferably a simple curing.
When the synthetic polymeric material is rubber, the curing or crosslinking reaction is preferably vulcanization.
The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a section through a pipeline and sleeve assembly according to the invention; and
Figure 2 is a section through the assembly of
Figure 1 on the lines Il-Il.
In Figure 1, a pipeline 1 for carrying a fluid such as gas, water, petrol or oil is enclosed within a sleeve 2. The end region of the sleeve 2 is shown, where the pipeline 1 emerges. Although not shown in the drawings, the pipeline 1 will be held centrally within the sleeve by insulating collars
known as "centralisers".
At the end of the sleeve 2, a solid collar 3 is placed around the pipeline 1 and inserted a certain distance inside the sleeve 2. An end cap 4 is then placed over the extreme end of the sleeve 2 and around the pipeline 1. A space is then enclosed within the end of the sleeve 2 around the pipeline 1, and a synthetic polymeric material, for example rubber or polyurethane, can be injected into this space through a filler hole 5 to completely fill the space, with the collar 3 and the cap 4 acting as shuttering to contain the injected liquid rubber or polyurethane. A vent hole 6 is provided to ensure that the space is completely filled with rubber or polyurethane.
The necessary steps for ensuring that the rubber or polyurethane is vulcanized or cured respectively to the internal surface of the sleeve 2 and the external surface of the pipe 1 should be taken. The steps may include shot blasting of the outside of the pipeline and of the internal section of the sleeve, and heating of these surfaces.
Once the space has been completely filled, covers may be bolted down onto the tops of the holes 5 and 6. It is advisable to bolt these covers down rather than to weld them, since the heat produced by welding might effect the quality of the vulcanization or curing.
Both the pipeline 1 and the sleeve 2 are separately cathodically protected, as indicated at 7. It is therefore important that there be no electrical connection between the sleeve 2 and the pipeline 1, and the cover 3 must therefore also be of insulating material. The end cap 4 can be made of metal, but if so it must be removed once the rubber or polyurethane seal has been formed.
The end of the pipeline 1 , where it emerges from the sleeve 2, can be supported, if necessary by a concrete stand 8 (as shown in Figure 1). A rubber mat 9 can be placed between the pipeline 1 and the stand 8.
Nitrogen gas under a pressure of about 20.7- 137.9 KPa (3-20 psi) will be contained within the sleeve 2. This pressure will be monitored, and provides an indication of the state of the pipeline and of the sleeve. The rubber or polyurethane seal 10 must be adequate to prevent any of the nitrogen gas leaking out of the sleeve, but since the pressure of the gas is low, this is not likely to be a very onerous condition.
If the pipeline does rupture within the sleeve, the outer sleeve will be sufficient to contain the pressure, but the pressure may blow out the end seals 10 at either end of the sleeve. Strops 1 5 are therefore provided, as an additional safety feature, over each end of the sleeve to prevent the pressure from blowing out the end seals. The strops can be made of a suitable material, such as a synthetic polymeric material. The material is preferably non-corroding and insulating, and can be, for example, nylon. The strops are secured to lugs 16 circumferentially arranged around the outside of and at each end of the sleeve. The presence of the sleeve will therefore prevent an explosion occuring in the middle of the road or railway track under which the pipeline is passing.
The natural properties of the rubber or polyurethane seal 10 will permit some relative movement between the sleeve 2 and the pipeline 1, and there will be no likelihood of abrasion or wear when the pipeline 1 moves relative to the sleeve 2.
Formation of a seal as described can be a simple operation compared with the known methods of providing the seal, and should easily meet all the requirements imposed on such a seal.
It is possible that the seal could be prefabricated to avoid construction on site.
Claims (16)
1. A method of sealing the end of a pipeline sleeve by curing or crosslinking an annular body of a synthetic polymeric material to the outer surface of the pipeline and to the inner surface of the end of the sleeve.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curing or crosslinking is vulcanization and the synthetic polymeric material is rubber.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curing or crosslinking is curing and the synthetic polymeric material is polyurethane.
4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a gas-tight seal is produced between the sleeve and the pipeline.
5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve and the pipeline have their own separate cathodic protection systems, each system being electrically insulated from the other by the vulcanized rubber or cured polyurethane seal.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rubber or polyurethane seal permits relative movement between the pipe and the sleeve without allowing the pipe and the sleeve to come into electrically conducting contact.
7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a solid collar is positioned around the pipeline and a certain distance from the end of the sleeve, within the sleeve, an end cap is positioned over the end of the sleeve and around the pipeline, liquid rubber or polyurethane is injected into an enclosed space formed between the end cap and the collar, an annular body of rubber or polyurethane being formed, which adheres both to the pipeline and to the inner surface of the sleeve, and the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the pipeline being shot blasted before the liquid rubber or polyurethane is injected to provide a clean surface to which the rubber or polyurethane can adhere.
8. A method as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. A pipeline and sleeve assembly comprising a collar which is formed from a cured or crosslinked synthetic polymeric material, the collar being formed around the pipeline and within the end of the sleeve, the synthetic polymeric material being cured or crosslinked both to the pipeline and to the sleeve, in order to form a seal.
10. A pipeline and sleeve assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein strops are placed over each end of the sleeve, the strops being secured to a plurality of lugs circumferentially arranged around the outside of and at each end of the sleeve.
11. A pipeline and sleeve assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the strops are made of a non-corroding, insulating synthetic polymeric material.
12. A pipeline and sleeve assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the synthetic polymeric material is nylon.
13. A pipeline and sleeve assembly as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein nitrogen gas under a pressure of about 20.7-137 KPa (3- 20 psi) is contained within the sleeve, the pressure of the nitrogen gas being monitored to provide an indication of the state of the pipeline and of the sleeve.
14. A pipeline and sleeve assembly as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the synthetic polymeric material of the collar is rubber, and the crosslinking reaction is vulcanization.
15. A pipeline and sleeve assembly as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the synthetic polymeric material of the collar is polyurethane, and the crosslinking reaction is curing.
16. A pipeline and sleeve assembly as claimed in claim 9 and substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8034879A GB2064679B (en) | 1979-10-30 | 1980-10-30 | Sealing the end of a pipeline sleeve |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7937526 | 1979-10-30 | ||
| GB8034879A GB2064679B (en) | 1979-10-30 | 1980-10-30 | Sealing the end of a pipeline sleeve |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2064679A true GB2064679A (en) | 1981-06-17 |
| GB2064679B GB2064679B (en) | 1983-03-16 |
Family
ID=26273385
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8034879A Expired GB2064679B (en) | 1979-10-30 | 1980-10-30 | Sealing the end of a pipeline sleeve |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2064679B (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2003005521A1 (en) * | 2001-06-30 | 2003-01-16 | Fibrelite Composites Limited | Cable seal |
| US20060121148A1 (en) * | 2004-12-06 | 2006-06-08 | Eisenhut Eric D | Creating conduit end caps in the field |
-
1980
- 1980-10-30 GB GB8034879A patent/GB2064679B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2003005521A1 (en) * | 2001-06-30 | 2003-01-16 | Fibrelite Composites Limited | Cable seal |
| US20060121148A1 (en) * | 2004-12-06 | 2006-06-08 | Eisenhut Eric D | Creating conduit end caps in the field |
| US8470226B2 (en) * | 2004-12-06 | 2013-06-25 | Medhesives, Inc. | Creating conduit end caps in the field |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2064679B (en) | 1983-03-16 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |