IP Library Granted Patent US 9,722,400
Granted Patent B2
US 9,722,400 · App. 13/929,470 · Granted Aug 1, 2017

Application and maintenance of tension to transmission line in pipe

Inventors: Michael Koppe (Lachendorf, DE); Stephan Mueller (Hannover, DE); Ingo Roders (Seelze, DE); Rene Schulz (Lower Saxony, DE); Henning Rahn (Celle, DE); Robert Buda (Lower Saxony, DE); Detlev Benedict (Celle, DE); Julia Reisewitz (Celle, DE); Helmut Floerke (Celle, DE)
Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
H02G3/02E21B17/003E21B17/206H02G1/06Y10T29/49826
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,722,400
App. No.
13/929,470
Granted
Aug 1, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for providing tension to a data or power transmission line in a pipe includes inserting a transmission line into a transmission line channel of a pipe. The transmission line has a first end and a second end and is inserted into a first end of the pipe second-end-first and has a first tension-load-supporting mechanism attached to the first end of the transmission line. The method includes applying a first level of tension to the transmission line in the pipe and applying a second tension-load-supporting mechanism to the second end of the transmission line while the first level of tension is applied to the transmission line. The method further includes removing the first level of tension from the transmission line to maintain a second level of tension along the transmission line between the first and second tension-load-supporting mechanisms.

Claims (38)

1. A method of providing tension to a transmission line in a pipe, comprising:

inserting a transmission line into a transmission line channel of a pipe, the transmission line having a first end and a second end, the transmission line being inserted into a first end of the pipe second-end-first, and the transmission line having a first tension-load-supporting mechanism attached to the first end of the transmission line;

applying a first level of tension to the transmission line in the pipe;

applying a second tension-load-supporting mechanism to the second end of the transmission line while the first level of tension is applied to the transmission line; and

removing the first level of tension from the transmission line to maintain a second level of tension along the transmission line between the first and second tension-load-supporting mechanisms;

wherein the transmission line is a data transmission line or a power transmission line.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second tension-load-supporting mechanism is a sealing sleeve, the sealing sleeve configured to isolate at least a portion of the transmission line channel from a fluid located in a main cavity of the pipe.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the sealing sleeve is connected to the transmission line by one of a welding lid, a rubber seal, an elastomeric seal, a glue connection, a solder connection.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second level of tension is less than the first level of tension.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the first level of tension includes inserting a tension generating device into a second end of the pipe opposite the first end.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein applying the first level of tension includes inserting the tension generating device into the transmission line channel.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the tension generating device includes an extended portion and a grip portion, and

applying the first level of tension to the transmission line includes gripping the transmission line with the grip portion of the tension generating device and pulling the transmission line in a direction from the first end of the transmission line to the second end of the transmission line while the first tension-load-supporting mechanism abuts a first shoulder in the transmission line channel.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first tension-load-supporting mechanism is a sleeve that is welded onto the transmission line.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmission line channel has a first end at the first end of the pipe and a second end inside the pipe, and

a diameter of the tension-load-supporting mechanism is less than a diameter of an opening at the second end of the transmission line channel.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second tension-load-supporting mechanism is a sleeve that is welded onto the transmission line after the tension is applied to the transmission line by the tension generating device.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second tension-load-supporting mechanism includes an axial load sleeve and a constricting sleeve, the axial load sleeve being attached to the transmission line and the axial load sleeve having a diameter less than the transmission line channel, and

wherein applying the second tension-load-supporting mechanism to the transmission line comprises:

sliding the constricting sleeve over the second load-supporting sleeve in a direction from the second end of the transmission line towards the first end of the transmission line; and

constricting the constricting sleeve such that an inner diameter of the constricting sleeve adjacent to the axial load sleeve is less than an outer diameter of the axial load sleeve.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein constricting the constricting sleeve includes applying a force to an outer surface of the constricting sleeve with a cone sleeve having a slanted inner surface.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the constricting sleeve is made of a shape memory material, and

constricting the constricting sleeve includes applying heat to the constricting sleeve to change a shape or diameter of the constricting sleeve.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting the transmission line into the transmission line channel of the pipe includes inserting a first transmission line into a first transmission line channel of the pipe and inserting a second transmission line into a second transmission line channel of the pipe, and

the method further comprises:

attaching a transmission element to the first ends of each of the first transmission line and the second transmission line prior to applying the first level of tension to the first transmission line and the second transmission line.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein applying the second tension-load-supporting mechanism to the second end of the transmission line includes applying the second tension-load-supporting mechanism to the second end of the first transmission line and applying a third tension-load-supporting mechanism to the second end of the second transmission line while the first level of tension is applied to the first transmission line and the second transmission line.

16. A pipe assembly, comprising:

a pipe having a main cavity extending through the pipe along a longitudinal axis and a transmission line channel located radially outward from the main cavity and extending through the pipe substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the transmission line channel having a first shoulder at a first end of the transmission line channel and a second shoulder at a second end of the transmission line channel; and

an electrical transmission line assembly including a transmission line extending along the transmission line channel, a first tension-load-bearing mechanism at a first end of the transmission line and a second tension-load-bearing mechanism at a second end of the transmission line, the first tension-load-bearing mechanism and the second tension-load-bearing mechanism configured to press against the first shoulder and the second shoulder, respectively, to maintain a tension along the transmission line;

wherein the first tension-load-bearing mechanism includes a first axial load sleeve welded to the transmission line and having an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the first shoulder; and

wherein the transmission line is a data transmission line or a power transmission line.

17. The pipe assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second tension-load-bearing mechanism includes a second axial load sleeve affixed to the transmission line and having an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the second shoulder.

18. The pipe assembly of claim 17 , wherein the second axial load sleeve is made of a shape memory material configured to constrict around the transmission line based on heat being applied to the second axial load sleeve.

19. The pipe assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second tension-load-bearing mechanism includes a second axial load sleeve welded to the transmission line and having an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the second shoulder, and a constriction sleeve positioned between the second axial load sleeve and the second shoulder, the constriction sleeve having an outer diameter at a first end adjacent to the second shoulder greater than an inner diameter of the second shoulder and having an inner diameter at a second end adjacent to the second axial load sleeve less than an outer diameter of the second axial load sleeve.

20. The pipe assembly of claim 19 , wherein the constriction sleeve is configured to constrict at the second end based on a mechanical force being applied to an outer surface of the second end of the constriction sleeve by a cone sleeve having a slanted inner surface.

21. The pipe assembly of claim 19 , wherein the constriction sleeve is made of a shape memory material and the second end of the constriction sleeve is configured to constrict towards the transmission line based on heat being applied to the constriction sleeve.

Assignments (6)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NAME OF THE ASSIGNEE ON PAGE 2 ABOVE SIGNATURE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 048093 FRAME: 0118. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 25, 2019
From: BHGE VENTURES & GROWTH, LLC
To: NEXTSTREAM WIRED PIPE, LLC
Reel/Frame 049008/0318 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2019
From: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
To: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 048504/0382 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 15, 2019
From: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
To: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 048356/0318 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2019
From: BHGE VENTURES & GROWTH, LLC
To: NEXTSTREAM WIRED PIPE, LLC
Reel/Frame 048093/0118 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Dec 14, 2018
From: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
To: BHGE VENTURES & GROWTH LLC
Reel/Frame 047778/0861 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2013
From: KOPPE, MICHAEL; MUELLER, STEPHAN; RODERS, INGO; SCHULZ, RENE; RAHN, HENNING; BUDA, ROBERT; BENEDICT, DETLEV; REISEWITZ, JULIA; FLOERKE, HELMUT
To: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 031732/0619 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150000957A1 · Jan 1, 2015