IP Library Granted Patent US 12,460,747
Granted Patent B2
US 12,460,747 · App. 18/522,361 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

System and method for deploying coils of spoolable pipe

Inventors: Michael Case (Houston, TX); Glenn Tucker (Houston, TX)
Assignee: FlexSteel USA, LLC
F16L1/26F16L1/14F16L1/203F16L1/205F16L1/207F16L1/23B65H16/02B65H23/04B65H75/248F16L1/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,460,747
App. No.
18/522,361
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for deploying a coil of spoolable pipe from a vessel includes a first tower configured to move longitudinally and transversely along a first track coupled to the vessel, a second tower configured to move longitudinally along a second track coupled to the vessel, and a coil drum assembly coupled to the first tower. The first tower is configured to insert the coil drum assembly transversely into an interior channel of the coil when the coil drum assembly is in a retracted position, the coil drum assembly is configured to support the coil when the coil drum assembly is in an extended position and rotate during deployment of the spoolable pipe, and the first tower and the second tower are configured to move the coil drum assembly vertically.

Claims (79)

1 . A swaging system, comprising:

a lower platform;

an upper platform disposed above the lower platform;

a swage machine secured on the upper platform, wherein the swage machine comprises:

one or more dies; and

a first one or more actuators configured to slide the one or more dies over a fitting to facilitate swaging the fitting onto an end of a pipe; and

a second one or more actuators secured to the lower platform and the upper platform, wherein each of the second one or more actuators is configured to facilitate axially aligning the swage machine with the end of the pipe at least in part by selectively:

transitioning to a more extended state to facilitate raising the upper platform and, thus, the swage machine relative to the lower platform; and

transitioning to a less extended state to facilitate lowering upper platform and, thus, the swage machine relative to the lower platform.

2 . The swaging system of claim 1 , comprising:

a movable platform disposed under the lower platform; and

a fixed platform disposed under the movable platform, wherein the movable platform is configured to facilitate axially aligning the swage machine with the end of the pipe at least in part by selectively transitioning between:

a collapsed position in which the movable platform covers more of the fixed platform; and

an expanded position in which the movable platform covers less of the fixed platform.

3 . The swaging system of claim 2 , comprising a pivot secured between the lower platform and the movable platform, wherein the pivot is configured to facilitate axially aligning the swage machine with the end of the pipe at least in part by enabling the lower platform and, thus, the swage machine to rotate relative to the movable platform.

4 . The swaging system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first one or more actuators comprise a first one or more hydraulic cylinders; and

the second one or more actuators comprise a second one or more hydraulic cylinders.

5 . The swaging system of claim 1 , wherein the second one or more actuators comprise:

a first actuator secured to a first side of the lower platform and the upper platform; and

a second actuator secured to a second side of the lower platform and the upper platform.

6 . The swaging system of claim 5 , wherein the first actuator is configured to transition to the more extended state while the second actuator is configured to transition to the less extended state to facilitate tilting the swage machine.

7 . The swaging system of claim 1 , wherein the second one or more actuators comprise:

a first actuator secured to a first corner of the lower platform and the upper platform;

a second actuator secured to a second corner of the lower platform and the upper platform;

a third actuator secured to a third corner of the lower platform and the upper platform; and

a fourth actuator secured to a fourth corner of the lower platform and the upper platform.

8 . A method of operating a swaging system, comprising:

axially aligning a swage machine secured on a deck of a vessel with an end of a pipe at least in part by raising, lower, tilting, rotating, or any combination thereof an upper platform on which the swage machine is secured relative to the deck of the vessel;

loading a fitting and the end of the pipe in the swage machine; and

swaging, using the swage machine, the fitting to the end of the pipe at least in part by sliding one or more dies of the swage machine over the fitting using one or more swaging actuators.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the upper platform is secured on a movable platform;

the movable platform is slidably disposed on a fixed platform; and

axially aligning the swage machine with the end of the pipe comprises translating the upper platform along the deck of the vessel at least in part by selectively transitioning the movable platform between:

a collapsed position in which the movable platform covers more of the fixed platform; and

an expanded position in which the movable platform covers less of the fixed platform.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the upper platform is disposed on a lower platform;

an actuator is secured to the upper platform and the lower platform;

raising the upper platform and, thus, the swage machine relative to the deck of the vessel comprises transitioning the actuator to a more extended state; and

lowering the upper platform and, thus, the swage machine relative to the deck of the vessel comprises transitioning the actuator to a less extended state.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein:

the actuator is secured to a first side of the upper platform and the lower platform;

another actuator is secured to a second side of the upper platform and the lower platform; and

tilting the upper platform and, thus, the swage machine relative to the deck of the vessel comprises:

transitioning the actuator to the more extended state and transitioning the another actuator to another less extended state; or

transitioning the actuator to the less extended state and transitioning the another actuator to another more extended state.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein loading the fitting and the end of the pipe in the swage machine comprises:

transitioning the swage machine to an open state;

disposing the fitting and the end of the pipe in the swage machine while the swage machine is in the open state; and

transitioning the swage machine to a closed state around the fitting and the end of the pipe.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the swage machine comprises:

a first plate section;

a second plate section pivotably secured to the first plate section; and

an actuator secured between the first plate section and the upper platform;

transitioning the swage machine to the open state comprises transitioning the actuator secured between the first plate section of the swage machine and the upper platform to a less extended state to pivot the first plate section away from the second plate section; and

transitioning the swage machine to the closed state comprises transitioning the actuator secured between the first plate section of the swage machine and the upper platform to a more extended state to pivot the first plate section toward the second plate section.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:

the swage machine comprises:

a third plate section pivotably secured to the second plate section; and

another actuator secured between the third plate section and the upper platform;

transitioning the swage machine to the open state comprises transitioning the another actuator secured between the third plate section of the swage machine and the upper platform to another less extended state to pivot the third plate section away from the first plate section and the second plate section; and

transitioning the swage machine to the closed state comprises transitioning the another actuator secured between the third plate section of the swage machine and the upper platform to another more extended state to pivot the third plate section toward the first plate section and the second plate section.

15 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the upper platform is disposed on a lower platform;

a pivot is secured between the upper platform and the lower platform; and

rotating the upper platform and, thus, the swage machine relative to the vessel of the deck comprises rotating the upper platform relative to the lower platform.

16 . A swaging system, comprising:

an upper platform;

a swage machine secured on the upper platform, wherein the swage machine comprises:

one or more dies; and

one or more swaging actuators configured to slide the one or more dies over a fitting to facilitate swaging the fitting onto an end of a pipe;

a lower platform disposed under the upper platform; and

a pivot secured between the upper platform and the lower platform, wherein the pivot is configured to facilitate axially aligning the swage machine with the end of the pipe at least in part by enabling upper platform and, thus, the swage machine to rotate relative to the lower platform.

17 . The swaging system of claim 16 , comprising a fixed platform disposed under the lower platform, wherein the lower platform is configured to facilitate axially aligning the swage machine with the end of the pipe at least in part by selectively transitioning between:

a collapsed position in which the lower platform covers more of the fixed platform; and

an expanded position in which the lower platform covers less of the fixed platform.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2025
From: CACTUS WELLHEAD, LLC; FLEXSTEEL USA, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 073804/0497 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 21, 2025
From: FLEXSTEEL PIPELINE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: FLEXSTEEL USA, LLC
Reel/Frame 069964/0367 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2024
From: TRINITY BAY EQUIPMENT HOLDINGS, LLC
To: FLEXSTEEL PIPELINE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 068326/0846 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2024
From: TRINITY BAY EQUIPMENT HOLDINGS, LLC
To: FLEXSTEEL PIPELINE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 068327/0863 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17993011 · Nov 23, 2022
Continuation 17324036 · May 18, 2021
Continuation 16890416 · Jun 2, 2020
Continuation 16282502 · Feb 22, 2019
Provisional Application 62633687 · Feb 22, 2018
Related Publication 20240093806A1 · Mar 21, 2024
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