U.S. patent application number 17/114018 was filed with the patent office on 2021-03-25 for protector assembly for flexible pipe coils and method of using same.
The applicant listed for this patent is TRINITY BAY EQUIPMENT HOLDINGS, LLC. Invention is credited to Sanjay Bhatia, Brett Hamner, Matthew Allen Hegler, Max Reedy, Alexander Lee Winn.
Application Number | 20210086685 17/114018 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005255111 |
Filed Date | 2021-03-25 |
![](/patent/app/20210086685/US20210086685A1-20210325-D00000.TIF)
![](/patent/app/20210086685/US20210086685A1-20210325-D00001.TIF)
![](/patent/app/20210086685/US20210086685A1-20210325-D00002.TIF)
![](/patent/app/20210086685/US20210086685A1-20210325-D00003.TIF)
![](/patent/app/20210086685/US20210086685A1-20210325-D00004.TIF)
![](/patent/app/20210086685/US20210086685A1-20210325-D00005.TIF)
![](/patent/app/20210086685/US20210086685A1-20210325-D00006.TIF)
United States Patent
Application |
20210086685 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Reedy; Max ; et al. |
March 25, 2021 |
PROTECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR FLEXIBLE PIPE COILS AND METHOD OF USING
SAME
Abstract
A system includes a coil contacting base. The coil contacting
base includes a radially curved outer surface with a radius of
curvature less than or equal to a coil radius of curvature of an
interior channel of a coil of spoolable pipe, and the coil
contacting base includes a length greater than or equal to an axial
dimension of the coil. The system also includes a side wall coupled
to an inner surface of the coil contacting base. The side wall is
configured to block circumferential movement of a coil restraint.
The system also includes a passage disposed between the coil
contacting base and the side wall. The coil restraint is configured
to be disposed in the passage.
Inventors: |
Reedy; Max; (Kemah, TX)
; Hamner; Brett; (Seabrook, TX) ; Winn; Alexander
Lee; (Houston, TX) ; Hegler; Matthew Allen;
(Kingwood, TX) ; Bhatia; Sanjay; (The Woodlands,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TRINITY BAY EQUIPMENT HOLDINGS, LLC |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005255111 |
Appl. No.: |
17/114018 |
Filed: |
December 7, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16582326 |
Sep 25, 2019 |
10870384 |
|
|
17114018 |
|
|
|
|
15880749 |
Jan 26, 2018 |
10464468 |
|
|
16582326 |
|
|
|
|
15869586 |
Jan 12, 2018 |
10525868 |
|
|
15880749 |
|
|
|
|
62447396 |
Jan 17, 2017 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 25/004 20130101;
B61D 45/003 20130101; B63B 25/002 20130101; B63B 25/28 20130101;
B60P 7/12 20130101; B60P 3/035 20130101; B63B 25/00 20130101; B60P
7/0869 20130101; B61D 45/001 20130101; B63B 25/22 20130101; B63B
35/003 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60P 7/12 20060101
B60P007/12; B61D 45/00 20060101 B61D045/00; B60P 3/035 20060101
B60P003/035; B63B 25/00 20060101 B63B025/00; B60P 7/08 20060101
B60P007/08; B63B 25/22 20060101 B63B025/22; B63B 25/28 20060101
B63B025/28; B63B 35/00 20060101 B63B035/00 |
Claims
1. A method of manufacturing a coil protector, comprising: forming
a coil contacting base that has: a length that is greater than or
equal to an axial dimension of a coil of spoolable pipe to be
secured using the coil protector; and a radially curved outer
surface with a radius of curvature that is less than or equal to a
coil radius of curvature of an interior channel of the coil of
spoolable pipe; implementing a first side wall such that the first
side wall is coupled to a first edge of an inner surface of the
coil contacting base; and implementing a second side wall such that
the second side wall is coupled to a second edge of the inner
surface of the coil contacting base opposite the first side wall to
define a passage along the inner surface of the coil contacting
base that enables a coil restraint to be disposed in the coil
protector such that the coil restraint directly abuts the inner
surface of the coil contacting base to facilitate securing the coil
of spoolable pipe.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein: forming the coil contacting base
comprises forming the coil contacting base out of metal;
implementing the first side wall comprises forming the first side
wall out of metal; and implementing the second side wall comprises
forming the second side wall out of metal.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein: implementing the first side wall
comprises welding, brazing, bonding, bolting, or screwing the first
side wall to the coil contacting base; and implementing the second
side wall comprises welding, brazing, bonding, bolting, or screwing
the second side wall to the coil contacting base.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein: implementing the first side wall
comprises bending first material integrated with a first side of
the coil contacting base; and implementing the second side wall
comprises bending second material integrated with a second side of
the coil contacting base opposite the first side.
5. The method of claim 1, comprising forming a first hole through
the first side wall and forming a second hole through the second
side wall to enable a wire to be inserted through the first hole,
the coil restraint, and the second hole to block movement of the
coil restraint.
6. The method of claim 1, comprising securing a handle to the inner
surface of the coil contacting base to facilitate lifting or
handling the coil protector.
7. The method of claim 1, comprising securing a beam along the
inner surface of the coil contacting base to facilitate increasing
stiffness of the coil protector.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein: the coil contacting base, the
first side wall, and the second side wall are made from a first
type of material; and the beam is made from a second type of
material different from the first type of material.
9. The method of claim 1, comprising implementing another coil
contacting base such that the other coil contacting base is coupled
to the first side wall and the second side wall to define the
passage between the coil contacting base, the first side wall, the
second side wall, and the other coil contacting base.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein implementing the other coil
contacting base comprises forming the other coil contacting base
such that the other coil contacting base has: another length that
is greater than or equal to the axial dimension of the coil of
spoolable pipe to be secured using the coil protector; and another
radially curved outer surface with another radius of curvature that
is less than or equal to the coil radius of curvature of the
interior channel of the coil of spoolable pipe.
11. The method of claim 1, comprising forming a hole through the
coil contacting base to enable the coil restraint to be inserted
into the passage via the hole.
12. The method of claim 1, comprising securing a ring to an end of
the coil contacting base to enable the coil restraint to be
inserted into the passage via an opening in the ring.
13. The method of claim 1, comprising securing a rod to the inner
surface of the coil contacting base to enable the coil restraint to
be looped around the rod to facilitate blocking movement of the
coil restraint relative to the coil protector.
14. The method of claim 1, comprising securing a side protector to
an end of the coil contacting base to facilitate blocking the coil
restraint from contacting a circular base of the coil of spoolable
pipe.
15. The method of claim 14, comprising securing another side
protector to an opposite end of the coil contacting base to
facilitate blocking the coil restraint from contacting an opposite
circular base of the coil of spoolable pipe.
16. A coil protector, comprising a coil contacting base, wherein:
the coil contacting base comprises a radially curved outer surface
with a radius of curvature that is less than or equal to a coil
radius of curvature of an interior channel of a coil of spoolable
pipe to be secured using the coil protector; and a length of the
coil contacting base is greater than or equal to an axial dimension
of the coil of spoolable pipe; a first side wall coupled to a first
edge of an inner surface of the coil contacting base; and a second
side wall coupled to a second edge of the inner surface of the coil
contacting base opposite the first side wall to define a passage
along the inner surface of the coil contacting base, wherein the
passage is configured to enable a coil restraint to be disposed in
the coil protector to facilitate securing the radially curved outer
surface of the coil contacting base directly against the coil of
spoolable pipe.
17. The coil protector of claim 16, wherein the radially curved
outer surface of the coil contacting base is configured to be
secured directly against the coil of spoolable pipe when the coil
restraint is secured such that the coil restraint directly abuts
the inner surface of the coil contacting base.
18. The coil protector of claim 16, comprising: a first side
protector coupled to a first end of the coil contacting base,
wherein the first side protector is configured to block the coil
restraint from contacting a first circular base of the coil of
spoolable pipe; and a second side protector coupled to a second end
of the coil contacting base, wherein the second side protector is
configured to block the coil restraint from contacting a second
circular base of the coil of spoolable pipe.
19. A method of securing a coil of spoolable pipe on a
transportation carrier, comprising: inserting a coil protector into
an interior channel of the coil of spoolable pipe, wherein the coil
protector comprises a coil contacting base that has a radially
curved outer surface with a radius of curvature that is less than
or equal to a coil radius of curvature of the interior channel of
the coil of spoolable pipe; disposing a coil restraint within a
passage of the coil protector that is defined between the coil
contacting base, a first side wall coupled to a first edge of an
inner surface of the coil contacting base, and a second side wall
coupled to a second edge of the inner surface of the coil
contacting base; and securing the coil restraint to the
transportation carrier such that the coil restraint directly abuts
the inner surface of the coil contacting base to facilitate
securing the radially curved outer surface of the coil contacting
base directly against the coil of spoolable pipe.
20. The method of claim 19, comprising: disposing a pipe coil skid
on the transportation carrier; and disposing the coil of spoolable
pipe on the pipe coil skid in an upright orientation.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional
application Ser. No. 16/582,326 filed on Sep. 24, 2019, which is a
continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No.
15/880,749 filed on Jan. 25, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S.
Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 15/869,586 filed on Jan. 11,
2018, and priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
62/447,396 filed Jan. 16, 2017, the disclosures of which are
incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Flexible pipe is useful in a myriad of environments,
including in the oil and gas industry. Flexible pipe may be durable
and operational in harsh operating conditions and can accommodate
high pressures and temperatures. Flexible pipe may be bundled and
arranged into one or more coils to facilitate transporting and
using the pipe.
[0003] Coils of pipe may be positioned in an "eye to the side" or
"eye to the sky" orientation. When the flexible pipe is coiled and
is disposed with its interior channel facing upwards, such that the
coil is in a horizontal orientation, then the coils of pipe are
referred to as being in an "eye to the sky" orientation. If,
instead, the flexible pipe is coiled and disposed such that the
interior channel is not facing upwards, such that the coil is in an
upright or vertical orientation, then the coils of pipe are
referred to as being in an "eye to the side" orientation.
[0004] The flexible pipe may be transported as coils to various
sites for deployment (also referred to as uncoiling or unspooling).
Different types of devices and vehicles are currently used for
loading and transporting coils of pipe, but usually extra equipment
and human manual labor is also involved in the process of loading
or unloading such coils for transportation and/or deployment. Such
coils of pipe are often quite large and heavy. Accordingly, there
exists a need for an improved method and apparatus for loading and
unloading coils of pipe.
SUMMARY
[0005] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts that are further described below in the detailed
description. This summary is not intended to identify key or
essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it
intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed
subject matter.
[0006] In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure relate
to a system that includes a coil contacting base. The coil
contacting base includes a radially curved outer surface with a
radius of curvature less than or equal to a coil radius of
curvature of an interior channel of a coil of spoolable pipe, and
the coil contacting base has a length greater than or equal to an
axial dimension of the coil. The system also includes a side wall
coupled to an inner surface of the coil contacting base. The side
wall is configured to block circumferential movement of a coil
restraint. The system also includes a passage disposed between the
coil contacting base and the side wall. The coil restraint is
configured to be disposed in the passage.
[0007] In another aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure
relate to a method that includes inserting a coil protector into an
interior channel of a coil of spoolable pipe. The coil protector
includes a coil contacting base. The coil contacting base includes
a radially curved outer surface with a radius of curvature less
than or equal to a coil radius of curvature of the interior channel
and the coil contacting base has a length greater than or equal to
an axial dimension of the coil. The coil protector also includes a
side wall coupled to an inner surface of the coil contacting base
and a passage disposed between the coil contacting base and the
side wall. The method also includes inserting a coil restraint in
the passage, blocking circumferential movement of the coil
restraint via the side wall, and securing the coil restraint to a
coil transportation carrier or a pipe coil skid coupled to the coil
transportation carrier, thereby securing the coil to the coil
transportation carrier.
[0008] Other aspects and advantages of the claimed subject matter
will be apparent from the following description and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a coil protector according to
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coil of
spoolable pipe according to embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coil
protector according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coil
protector according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coil
protector according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coil
protector that includes beams according to embodiments of the
present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coil
protector that includes a second coil contacting base according to
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coil
protector that includes holes formed in a coil contacting base
according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coil
protector that includes rings coupled to ends of a coil contacting
base according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coil
protector that includes rods coupled to an inner surface of a coil
contacting base according to embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coil
protector that includes coil side protectors coupled to ends of a
coil contacting base according to embodiments of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to
coil protectors used when transporting coils of spoolable pipe. The
coils of pipe may be self-supported, for example, using bands to
hold coils together. Coil protectors according to embodiments of
the present disclosure may include a coil contacting base, a side
wall coupled to the coil contacting base, and a passage disposed
between the coil contacting base and the side wall.
[0021] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described
below with reference to the figures. In one aspect, embodiments
disclosed herein relate to embodiments for protecting coils of
spoolable pipe during transportation.
[0022] As used herein, the term "coupled" or "coupled to" may
indicate establishing either a direct or indirect connection, and
is not limited to either unless expressly referenced as such. The
term "set" may refer to one or more items. Wherever possible, like
or identical reference numerals are used in the figures to identify
common or the same elements. The figures are not necessarily to
scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be
shown exaggerated in scale for purposes of clarification.
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a
coil protector 10 used to protect a coil 12 of spoolable pipe 14
while coupled to a coil transportation carrier 16 via a coil
restraint 18. Spoolable pipe 14 may refer to any type of flexible
pipe or piping capable of being bent into a coil. Such coils of
spoolable pipe 14 may reduce the amount of space taken up by pipe
during manufacturing, shipping, transportation, and deployment
compared to rigid pipe that is not capable of being bent into a
coil.
[0024] Pipe, as understood by those of ordinary skill, may be a
tube to convey or transfer any water, gas, oil, or any type of
fluid known to those skilled in the art. The spoolable pipe 14 may
be made of any type of materials including without limitation
plastics, metals, a combination thereof, composites (e.g., fiber
reinforced composites), or other materials known in the art. The
flexible pipe of the spoolable pipe 14 is used frequently in many
applications, including without limitation, both onshore and
offshore oil and gas applications. Flexible pipe may include
Flexible Composite Pipe (FCP) or Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipe
(RTP). A FCP or RTP pipe may itself be generally composed of
several layers. In one or more embodiments, a flexible pipe may
include a high-density polyethylene ("HDPE") pipe having a
reinforcement layer and an HDPE outer cover layer. Thus, flexible
pipe may include different layers that may be made of a variety of
materials and also may be treated for corrosion resistance. For
example, in one or more embodiments, pipe used to make up a coil of
pipe may have a corrosion protection shield layer that is disposed
over another layer of steel reinforcement. In this steel-reinforced
layer, helically wound steel strips may be placed over a liner made
of thermoplastic pipe. Flexible pipe may be designed to handle a
variety of pressures. Further, flexible pipe may offer unique
features and benefits versus steel/carbon steel pipe lines in the
area of corrosion resistance, flexibility, installation speed and
re-usability.
[0025] The coil transportation carrier 16 may refer to any type of
transportation carrier capable of being used to transport coils 12
overland or over water. For example, the embodiment of the coil
transportation carrier 16 portrayed in FIG. 1 is a railcar, which
may refer to any type of rolling stock transported over rails, such
as, but not limited to, railroad cars, goods wagons, freight cars,
flat wagons, flat cars, and so forth. In other embodiments, the
coil transportation carrier 16 may be any type of transportation
carrier transported by trucks or other road vehicles, such as
various trailers, semi-trailers, flatbed trailers, lowboy trailers,
and so forth. In further embodiments, the coil transportation
carrier 16 may be any type of transportation carrier transported
over water, such as various vessels, ships, barges, boats,
watercrafts, or any other type of water-borne vehicles capable of
being used for offshore deployment of spoolable pipe 14 into a body
of water, such as a lake, sea, or ocean. Thus, use of the coil
protector 10 is not limited to railcars. In certain embodiments,
the coil transportation carrier 16 may include two or more pairs of
wheels 20. In certain embodiments, a pipe coil skid 22 may be used
to hold the coil 12 of spoolable pipe 14 in a vertical
orientation.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of
the coil 12 of spoolable pipe 14. The coil 12 may be defined by an
axial axis or direction 40, a radial axis or direction 42, and a
circumferential axis or direction 44. The coil 12 may be formed by
wrapping the spoolable pipe 14 into a coil with an interior channel
46 formed axially 40 therethrough, where the coil 12 may be moved
as a single package or bundle of coiled pipe, as shown in FIG. 2.
Each complete turn of coiled pipe may be referred to as a wrap of
pipe. Multiple wraps of pipe in the coil 12 may be configured in
columns along the axial direction 40 of the coil 12 and/or
configured in layers along the radial direction 42 of the coil 12.
For example, multiple columns of wraps may be formed along the
axial direction 40 of the coil 12, where an axial dimension 48 of
the coil 12 is based on the diameter of the pipe 14 and the number
and axial 40 position of wraps forming the coil 12. Further,
multiple layers of wraps may be formed along the radial direction
42 of the coil 12, where a radial dimension 50 of the coil 12 is
based on the diameter of the pipe and the number and radial 42
position of the wraps forming the coil 12. In certain embodiments,
a weight of the coil 12 may exceed 40,000 pounds (18,144
kilograms).
[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the coil 12 of spoolable pipe 14 may be
one or more layers (e.g., layers 52 and 54) of pipe packaged or
bundled into the coil 12. The coil 12 may include at least one or
more layers of pipe that have been coiled into a particular shape
or arrangement. As shown in FIG. 2, the coil 12 is coiled into a
substantially cylindrical shape having substantially circular bases
56 and 58 formed on each end of the coil 12, where the axial
dimension 48 of the coil 12 is measured between the two bases 56
and 58.
[0028] As known to those of ordinary skill in the art, the
spoolable pipe 14 used to make up the coil 12 shown in FIG. 2 may
be coiled using spoolers or other coiler machines suited for such a
function. Those of ordinary skill will recognize that the present
disclosure is not limited to any particular form of coiler or other
device that may be used to form pipe into a coil. Coiling pipe into
a coil of pipe, such as coil 12, assists when transporting pipe,
which may be several hundred feet in length in one or more
embodiments. Further, the coil 12 may be assembled as a coil to
facilitate deployment of the coil. Deployment, as used herein, may
refer to the action of unspooling or unwinding the spoolable pipe
14 from the coil 12.
[0029] After being assembled into a coil, the coil 12 shown in FIG.
2 may include the interior channel 46 formed axially 40 through the
coil 12. The interior channel 46 is a bore disposed generally in
the center of the coil 12. The interior channel 46 is substantially
circular-shaped. The coil 12 may have an outer diameter (OD) and an
inner diameter (ID), where the inner diameter is defined by the
interior channel 46. In addition, the interior channel 46 may be
defined by a coil radius of curvature 60.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the pipe coil skid 22 may include a
platform 62 upon which the coil 12 may be disposed to hold the coil
12 in a vertical orientation. The platform 62 can have a concave
curvature shape on its upward facing side (when pipe coil skid 22
sits on a horizontal surface) that generally corresponds to the
outer circumferential 44 shape of the coil 12, such that when the
coil 12 sits within the pipe coil skid 22, it is generally flush
with the platform 62. However, the above description should not be
deemed limiting with respect to the shape, construction or
application of the pipe coil skid 22, as pipe coil skid 22 may have
any shape, construction and/or application that is within the scope
of the description and figures herein. In one or more embodiments,
the coil 12 may be loaded and unloaded by a pipe deployment
trailer, crane, forklift or other lifting device while remaining
attached to the pipe coil skid 22.
[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of
the coil protector 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the coil 12 may be
secured by straps 70 or bands, and the coil 12 may be disposed on
the pipe coil skid 22. In addition, a first coil protector 10 and a
second coil protector 10 may be used to secure the coil 12 to the
coil transportation carrier 16 (e.g., railcar) via one or more coil
restraints 18 coupled to the coil transportation carrier 16. In
certain embodiments, the coil restraints 18 may be coupled to the
pipe coil skid 22 and other techniques used to secure the pipe coil
skid 22 to the coil transportation carrier 16. In the illustrated
embodiment, the coil restraints 18 are chains, but various types of
restraints may be used in other embodiments, such as belts, cables,
ropes, or similar products. Two lengths of coil restraints 18 are
used with each coil protector 10 in FIG. 3, but different numbers
of coil restraints 18 may be used depending on the size,
dimensions, weight, and orientation of the coil 12 and the
particular securement requirements associated with the coil
transportation carrier 16. Further, the first and second coil
protectors 10 are spaced circumferentially 44 apart from one
another with the first coil protector 10 disposed near a first side
72 of the pipe coil skid 22 and the second coil protector 10
disposed near a second side 74 of the pipe coil skid 22. In other
embodiments, different numbers of coil restraints 18 may be used
depending on the size, dimensions, weight, and orientation of the
coil 12 and the particular securement requirements associated with
the coil transportation carrier 16. For example, each coil 12 may
be secured using one, three, four or more coil protectors 10 and
coil restraints 18. Embodiments of the coil protector 10 do not
extend completely circumferentially 44 about the interior channel
46 (e.g., the coil protectors 10 are not complete circles). In
addition, the coil protector 10 extends a distance 76 beyond the
circular base 56, thereby helping to prevent the coil restraints 18
from contacting the circular base 56. In other words, the coil
protector 10 is longer than the axial dimension 48 of the coil 12
so that the coil protector 10 extends the distance 76 beyond both
circular bases 56 and 58. In other embodiments, the coil protector
10 may not extend beyond the circular bases 56 and 58, such as when
there is no concern with the coil restraints 18 contacting the
spoolable pipe 14 (e.g., abrasion) or when beam strength along the
axial direction 40 is desired. Further details of the coil
protector 10 are described in detail below.
[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of
the coil protector 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the coil
protector 10 includes a coil contacting base 90 that has an outer
surface 92 with a radius of curvature 94 that is approximately less
than or equal to the coil radius of curvature 60 of the interior
channel 46 of the coil 12, which may help prevent edges 96 of the
coil contacting base 90 from pushing into the outer surface of the
spoolable pipe 14 when the coil restraints 18 are tightened. In
other words, substantially all or most of the outer surface 92 may
contact the interior channel 46, thereby distributing the force
exerted by the coil restraints 18 over a large portion of the
interior channel 46 proximate the coil protector 10. Further, the
curved outer surface 92 provides a smooth surface for the spoolable
pipe 14 to contact, thereby reducing the potential for any damage
to the outer surface of the spoolable pipe 14. In certain
embodiments, a coating or other layer may be applied or coupled to
the outer surface 92 to help prevent the coil protector 10 from
sliding or moving along the surface of the spoolable pipe 14.
Examples of such coatings include, but not limited to, foam,
rubber, plastic, or other materials. In addition, such materials
may possess some degree of compliance (i.e., inverse of stiffness)
or resilience that helps prevent the coil protector 10 from
damaging the outer surface of the spoolable pipe 14. In certain
embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the outer surface 92 may
not be continuous or smooth, but may include short straight
sections separated by bends commonly associated with the
fabrication technique referred to as bump-forming. Thus, the
cross-sectional shape of the outer surface 92 may form part of a
polygon. In such embodiments, the radius of curvature 94 refers to
the radius of the circumscribed circle or circumcircle of the
polygon (e.g., circumradius). In addition, the outer surface 92 of
such embodiments may still be referred to as radially curved.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the coil contacting base 90 may have a
length 98 that is approximately greater than or equal to the axial
dimension 48 of the coil 12. As discussed above, the length 98 is
selected so that ends of the coil protector 10 extend the distance
76 beyond both circular bases 56 and 58 when inserted into the coil
12. Further, the coil contacting base 90 may be defined by a
thickness 100, which may be selected to provide sufficient strength
and stability for the coil protector 10 when in use. In other
words, a coil protector 10 with a larger thickness 100 may be
stronger and more resistant to bending than another coil protector
10 with a smaller thickness 100. However, the coil protector 10
with the larger thickness 100 may be heavier. In certain
embodiments, the coil contacting base 90 may be made from various
metals, such as steel, aluminum, titanium, or alloys thereof. The
material selected for the coil protector 10 may be based on the
strength and weight requirements of a particular application.
Although shown as a solid sheet of material in FIG. 4, the coil
contacting base 90 may include openings or cutouts to reduce the
weight of the coil protector 10. For example, the coil contacting
base 90 may be made from expanded metal sheet or similar
material.
[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the coil protector 10 also
includes two side walls 102 coupled to an inner surface 104 of the
coil contacting base 90. In other embodiments, the coil protector
10 may include one, three, four or more side walls 102. The side
wall 102 may block circumferential 44 movement of the coil
restraint 18. In other words, without the side wall 102, the coil
restraint 18 may potentially slide or slip off the inner surface
104 when tightened. Thus, the side wall 102 may provide a surface
for the coil restraint 18 to rest against when tightened. In
certain embodiments, the side wall 102 may be coupled to the coil
contacting base 90 via a variety of techniques, such as, but not
limited to, welding, brazing, gluing, bonding, bolting, screwing,
and so forth. In other embodiments, the side wall 102 may be formed
by bending a portion of the coil contacting base 90. Such
embodiments may also be referred to as having the side wall 102
coupled to the coil contacting base 90. The side wall 102 may be
defined by a side wall height 106 and the side walls 102 may be
spaced a distance 108 apart from one another. When the side walls
102 are disposed at the edges 96, the distance 108 may also
correspond to the width of the coil contacting base 90. Further,
although the side walls 102 are shown at the edges 96 of the coil
contacting base 90 in FIG. 4, in other embodiments, the side walls
102 may be located at other locations of the inner surface 104.
Other characteristics of the side walls 102 may be varied in
similar ways as the coil contacting base 90. In other words, the
thickness 100, composition, and configuration of the side walls 102
may be selected to suit a particular application.
[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, the coil protector 10 also
includes a passage 110 disposed between the coil contacting base 90
and the side walls 102. In other words, the passage 110 is formed
in the space between the coil contacting base 90 and the side walls
102. As shown previously in FIG. 3, the coil restraint 18 is
configured to be disposed in the passage 110 when the coil 12 is
secured to the coil transportation carrier 16.
[0036] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of
the coil protector 10 that includes additional features. For
example, the coil protector 10 shown in FIG. 5 includes one or more
handles 120 coupled to the inner surface 104. The handles 120 may
be used by a person to lift or handle the coil protector 10, such
as when inserting the coil protector 10 into the interior channel
46 of the coil 12. The handles 120 may be disposed near the ends of
the coil protector 10 and/or along the length of the coil protector
10. In certain embodiments, the handles 120 may be made from round
or flat steel bar stock or strips, and coupled to the inner surface
104 via a variety of techniques, such as, but not limited to,
welding, brazing, gluing, bonding, bolting, screwing, and so forth.
In addition, the handles 120 may also serve a similar function as
the side walls 102 by blocking circumferential 44 movement of the
coil restraint 18. In other words, the handles 120 may form
channels or passages through which the coil restraint 18 may be
disposed. In further embodiments, the handles 120 may be disposed
at other locations, such as coupled to inner or outer surfaces of
the side walls 102, or along the edges or tops of the side walls
102.
[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the coil protector 10 also
includes one or more holes 122 to enable a wire (not shown) to be
inserted through the holes 122 and the coil restraint 18 to block
movement of the coil restraint 18. In other words, the wire may be
threaded through the holes 122 and the coil restraint 18, and the
wire tightened or secured to help prevent movement or loosening of
the coil restraint 18 during transport of the coil 12. The holes
122 may be disposed a hole distance 124 away from ends of the coil
protector 10. Although the holes 122 are shown with circular shapes
in FIG. 5, in other embodiments, the holes 122 may have other
shapes, such as, but not limited to, ovals, squares, rectangles,
triangles, polygons, or other regular or irregular shapes. In
certain embodiments, the handles 120 may be used to secure the
wire. In other respects, the coil protector 10 shown in FIG. 5 is
similar to that shown in FIG. 4.
[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of
the coil protector 10 that includes one or more beams 140 coupled
to the inner surface 104 to increase a stiffness or strength of the
coil contacting base 90. In other words, the beams 140 may be used
to help the coil protector 10 to resist deflection or deformation,
especially in the radial direction 44 when placed under a load by
the coil restraint 18. The beams 140 may appear and function
similar to the side walls 102. However, the beams 140 may be made
from a different material than the coil contacting base 90 or side
walls 102. For example, the material used for the beams 140 may
have a greater stiffness or strength than that used for the coil
contacting base 90 or side walls 102. Thus, the beams 140 may be
used to increase the overall stiffness or strength of the coil
protector 10 without manufacturing the entire coil protector 10
from the material used for the beams 140, which may be more
expensive than that used for the rest of the coil protector 10. In
the illustrated embodiment, the coil protector 10 includes two
beams 140, but in other embodiments, the coil protector 10 may
include one, three, four or more beams 140. In addition, the beams
140 may have lengths, heights, thicknesses, and shapes different
from the side walls 102, depending on the requirements of a
particular application. For example, shorter beams 140 may be
disposed only at ends of the coil protector 10 or a shorter beam
140 disposed near the center (e.g., centroid or center of mass) of
the coil protector 10, which may reduce the weight of the beams 140
compared to those that extend along the length 98 of the coil
contacting base 90. In certain embodiments, the beam 140 may be
formed as a T-beam coupled to the coil contacting base 90. In
further embodiments, other types of beams or reinforcements (e.g.,
I-beams, angles (L), channels (C), or tubes) may be used for the
beams 140.
[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of
the coil protector 10 that includes a second coil contacting base
90 coupled to the two side walls 102. Thus, the passage 110 is
disposed between the coil contacting bases 90 and the side walls
102. The second coil contacting base 90 may be essentially
identical to the other coil contacting base 90. The coil protector
10 shown in FIG. 7 may possess certain advantages compared to other
embodiments of the coil protector 10. For example, embodiments of
the coil protector 10 with one coil contacting base 90 may be
susceptible to permanent deformation caused by the load exerted by
the coil restraint 18 since the load is always exerted in the same
direction. However, the embodiment of the coil protector 10 shown
in FIG. 7 may better resist such permanent deformation because the
coil protector 10 can be used with either coil contacting base 90
placed against the interior channel 46. The orientation of the coil
protector 10 could be alternated between uses or tracked to provide
substantially equal usage of the two coil contacting bases 90.
Since the coil contacting bases 90 experience loads in both
directions, the coil contacting bases 90 may resist permanent
deformation or be used longer before permanently deforming.
Further, the design and construction of the embodiment of the coil
protector 10 shown in FIG. 7 may have a greater overall stiffness
or strength and thereby resist permanent deformation whether used
with alternating or equal orientations or not. Further, the second
coil contacting base 90 may help block radial 42 or circumferential
44 movement of the coil restraint 18. In addition, the embodiment
of the coil protector 10 shown in FIG. 7 may include other
previously described features, such as the beams 140, which could
be coupled to both coil contacting bases 90 to increase the
stiffness and strength of the coil protector 10. In one embodiment,
the second coil contacting base 90 may have a flat cross-sectional
shape, thereby giving the coil protector 10 a D-shape. Such
embodiments of the coil protector 10 may be used when a common
loading direction (e.g., with the curved first coil contacting base
90 against the spoolable pipe 14) is used, but the other benefits
of the second coil contacting base 90 are still desired. This
embodiment may also include one or more beams 140.
[0040] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of
the coil protector 10 that includes one or more holes 150 formed in
the coil contacting base 90. For example, the holes 150 may be
disposed at both ends of the coil protector 10 and the coil
restraint 18 may be inserted through the holes 150 instead of
disposing the coil restraint 18 along the entire length 98 of the
coil protector 10. Thus, shorter lengths of coil restraint 18 may
be used with the illustrated embodiment of the coil protector 10.
Alternatively, the coil restraint 18 may be disposed along the
length 98 and passed through the holes 150 instead of along the
edges of the ends of the coil protector 10. In such embodiments,
the length 98 of the coil protector 10 may be selected so that a
distance 152 between the holes 150 is approximately greater than or
equal to the axial dimension 48 of the coil 12. In other words, the
length 98 and distance 152 are selected so that the holes 150
extend the distance 76 beyond both circular bases 56 and 58. The
size of the holes 150 may be selected to enable the coil restraint
18 to be easily inserted through the holes 150. In addition,
although the holes 150 are shown with circular shapes in FIG. 8, in
other embodiments, the holes 150 may have other shapes, such as,
but not limited to, ovals, squares, rectangles, triangles,
polygons, or other regular or irregular shapes. In certain
embodiments, the holes 150 may take the form of notches at the ends
of the coil protector 10. In other respects, the coil protector 10
shown in FIG. 8 is similar to those previously described and may
include other previously described features.
[0041] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of
the coil protector 10 that includes one or more rings 160 coupled
to the ends of the coil contacting base 90. The rings 160 may
function in a similar manner to the holes 150. For example, the
rings 160 may be disposed at both ends of the coil protector 10 and
the coil restraint 18 may be inserted through the rings 160 instead
of disposing the coil restraint 18 along the entire length 98 of
the coil protector 10. Alternatively, the coil restraint 18 may be
disposed along the length 98 and passed through the rings 160
instead of along the edges of the ends of the coil protector 10.
The length 98 of the coil protector 10 may be selected to be
approximately greater than or equal to the axial dimension 48 of
the coil 12. In other words, the length 98 is selected so that the
rings 160 extend the distance 76 beyond both circular bases 56 and
58. The size of the rings 160 may be selected to enable the coil
restraint 18 to be easily inserted through the rings 160. In
addition, although the rings 160 are shown with partially circular
shapes in FIG. 9, in other embodiments, the rings 160 may have
other shapes, such as, but not limited to, ovals, squares,
rectangles, triangles, polygons, or other regular or irregular
shapes. In other respects, the coil protector 10 shown in FIG. 9 is
similar to those previously described and may include other
previously described features.
[0042] FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of
the coil protector 10 that includes one or more rods 170 coupled to
the inner surface 104 of the coil contacting base 90. In certain
embodiments, the rods 170 may be made from round or flat steel bar
stock or strips, and coupled to the inner surface 104 via a variety
of techniques, such as, but not limited to, welding, brazing,
gluing, bonding, bolting, screwing, and so forth. In certain
embodiments, the rods 170 may take the form of hooks or any other
commonly available rigging component. The coil restraint 18 may be
looped around or secured to the rods 170 instead of disposing the
coil restraint 18 along the entire length 98 of the coil protector
10. Alternatively, the coil restraint 18 may be disposed along the
length 98 and looped around or secured to the rods 170 to help
prevent movement of the coil restraint 18. In further embodiments,
the coil restraint 18 may be permanently coupled to the coil
protector 10. In other respects, the coil protector 10 shown in
FIG. 10 is similar to those previously described and may include
other previously described features.
[0043] FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of
the coil protector 10 that includes coil side protectors 180
coupled to ends of the coil contacting base 90. In the illustrated
embodiment, the coil side protectors 180 help block contact of the
coil restraint 18 with the circular bases 56 and 58 of the coil 12.
In certain embodiments, the coil side protectors 180 may be coupled
to the coil contacting base 90 via a variety of techniques, such
as, but not limited to, welding, brazing, gluing, bonding, bolting,
screwing, and so forth. In other embodiments, the coil side
protectors 180 may be formed by bending portions of the coil
contacting base 90, which may also be referred to as being coupled
to the coil contacting base 90. In such embodiments, the length 98
may be approximately equal to the axial dimension 48 of the coil 12
because the coil side protectors 180 help block contact of the coil
restraint 18 with the circular bases 56 and 58 of the coil 12.
Thus, the ends of the coil protector 10 may not extend the distance
76 beyond the circular bases 56 and 58. The dimensions, shapes, and
materials of the coil side protectors 180 may be selected to suit
the requirements of a particular application. In certain
embodiments, the coil side protectors 180 may include features
similar to those shown in FIGS. 8-10, such as holes 150, rings 160,
or rods 170. In other respects, the coil protector 10 shown in FIG.
11 is similar to those previously described and may include other
previously described features.
[0044] While the present disclosure has been described with respect
to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art,
having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other
embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scope of
the disclosure as described herein. Accordingly, the scope of the
disclosure should be limited only by the attached claims.
* * * * *