Stress isolated seal for flexible flowline connector
US5860682A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 11, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jan 19, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 11, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16L33/01
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The end fitting of a flexible flowline is provided with a mechanical clamp that secures the end fitting to the flowline while isolating the sealing area between the end fitting and the flowline from tension forces exerted on the flowline body. The pressure seal between the end fitting and the flowline is disposed behind the mechanical clamp so that the seal area of the flowline remains unaffected by flowline tension forces. The flowline is connected to the end fitting with a tubular assembly sleeve that is concentrically disposed between layers of the flow conduit adjacent the conduit end. During the initial assembly of the end fitting to the flowline, collet fingers in the assembly sleeve are snapped behind a receiving shoulder formed internally of the end fitting. The assembly sleeve may be welded to the flowline end before the sleeve is inserted into the end fitting. Snapn-in connection of the separable sleeve permits the flowline end to be welded and otherwise prepared for mating with the end connector before it is inserted into the end connector. In the assembled position, the sleeve is contained within the end fitting intermediate layers of the flowline end. The mechanical se…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.