Clamp suitable for increasing the fatigue life of the butt welds of a pipe pressure vessel which is subsequently bent

Abstract

A pipe clamp for affixing to a pipe subjected to bending to minimize fatigue for a butt weld in the pipe. The pipe clamp includes an inside clamp segment and an outside clamp segment each having a semi-cylindrical shape, a first end and a second end. An inside surface of the inside clamp segment is substantially smooth for permitting slippage of an outside surface of the pipe with respect to the inside surface of the clamp segment. The outside clamp segment has an inside surface that defines a friction element. The friction element is for gripping an outside surface of the pipe to which the outside clamp segment is affixed. A clamp mechanism is provided for securing the inside clamp segment to the outside clamp segment.

1 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method of minimizing fatigue for a butt weld of a pipe subjected to bending comprising the steps of:
 affixing a bend restraining member to an outside surface of the pipe proximate to a butt weld in the pipe;   bending the pipe;   removing said bend restraining member.   
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30  wherein:
 said bend restraining member is a fin affixed to said pipe on an outside of a bend of said pipe. 
 
     
     
         32 . A method of minimizing bending strain for a butt weld and adjacent area of a pipe subjected to bending comprising the steps of:
 affixing a bend restraining member to an outside surface of the pipe proximate the butt weld in the pipe, wherein said bend restraining member is a clamp member has an inside clamp segment and an outside clamp segment;   affixing said outside clamp segment to said outside surface of the pipe proximate the butt weld in the pipe;   clamping the pipe with said inside clamp segment and said outside clamp segment to prevent the butt weld from being subjected to bending forces.   
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32  further comprising:
 locating an inside radial groove formed on an inside surface of at least one of said inside clamp segment and said outside clamp segment over a weld bead of the butt weld when locating said clamp segments on the pipe. 
 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 32  further comprising:
 permitting an inside surface of said inside clamp segment to slip with respect to said outside surface of the pipe. 
 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 32  further comprising:
 gripping the pipe with said outside clamp segment with a friction element on one of an inside surface of said outside clamp segment and an outside surface of said pipe. 
 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 32  further comprising:
 inserting a plurality of bolts in a plurality of orifices defined by said inside clamp segment and inserting said plurality of bolts in a plurality of orifices of said outside clamp segment for securing said inside clamp segment to said outside clamp segment. 
 
     
     
         37 . A compressed gas conveyance system comprising:
 a gas handling facility comprising one of a source of compressed gas and a destination for compressed gas;   a plurality of pipe coils carried on one of a vessel and a vehicle, each of said plurality of pipe coils comprising a length of pipe comprised of plurality of pipe segments joined end to end with butt welds, said length of pipe bent into a substantially continuous pipe coil of plural layers, each of said plural layers including plural loops;   wherein said butt welds and pipe material adjacent to said butt welds are strained approximately ⅓ or less the amount of average strain for the pipe;   valves carried on said one of said vessel and said vehicle, said valves adapted for selective flow connection to said gas handling facility;   piping for flow connecting each of said plurality of pipe coils to said valves; and   whereby said compressed gas may be received through said valves from said gas handling facility and stored in said plurality of pipe coils or whereby said compressed gas may be stored in said plurality of pipe coils and dispersed through said valves to said gas handling facility.   
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 37  wherein said gas handling facility is land based. 
     
     
         39 . A method of using a gas handling facility to convey compressed gas comprising the steps of:
 flow connecting the gas handling facility to a transporter comprised of one of a vessel and a vehicle;   conveying compressed gas, said step of conveying comprising one of receiving compressed gas from a plurality of pipe coils on said transporter and discharging compressed gas to a plurality of pipe coils carried by said transporter, each of said plurality of pipe coils comprising a length of pipe comprised of a plurality of pipe segments joined end to end with butt welds, said length of pipe bent into a substantially continuous pipe coil of plural layers, each of said plural layers including plural loops;   wherein said butt welds and pipe material adjacent to said butt welds are strained approximately ⅓ or less the amount of average strain for the pipe.   
     
     
         40 . A method of using a transporter to convey compressed gas comprising the steps of:
 flow connecting the transporter to a gas handling facility;   conveying compressed gas, said step of conveying comprising one a step of receiving compressed gas in a plurality of pipe coils on said transporter from said gas handling facility and a step of discharging compressed gas to said gas handling facility from a plurality of pipe coils carried by said transporter, each of said plurality of pipe coils comprising a length of pipe comprised of a plurality of pipe segments jointed end to end with butt welds, said length of pipe bent into a substantially continuous pipe coil of plural layers, each of said plural layers including plural loops;   wherein said butt welds and pipe material adjacent to said butt welds are strained approximately ⅓ or less the amount of average strain for the pipe.