High pressure pipe and fitting restraint system

Abstract

A restraint system for use in securing temporary flow lines that include multiple pipe sections, each pair of pipe sections connected together with a fitting or coupling such as a hammer joint coupling. The system includes multiple pluralities of endless loop slings connected end to end with a cow hitch or girth hitch knot. Disconnectable fittings (e.g., shackles) are placed every three or more slings so that easy disassembly is afforded in case of leakage or other failure.

1 . A restraint system for use in securing temporary flowlines that include multiple pipe sections, each pair of sections connected together with fittings, the system comprising:
 a) an assembly of endless loop slings connected end-to-end, each sling having end portions that enable connection to one or more other endless slings of said assembly;   b) disconnectable fittings that join one sling or one assembly of multiple endless slings to another sling or assembly of multiple endless slings;   c) wherein the disconnectable fitting is not a said endless loop sling;   d) each said assembly of endless loop slings is attached to the temporary flowline at intervals with attachments;   e) each said attachment of step “d” including a sling knot that is part of an endless loop sling, wherein each sling knot encircles the flowline to secure a said sling to the temporary flowline, wherein the sling knots are at spaced apart positions along the temporary flowline; and   f) wherein each sling knot is located in between the disconnectable fittings, wherein at one or more of said knots the assembly extends in opposing directions to other said sling knots.   
     
     
         2 . The restraint system of  claim 1  wherein the disconnectable fitting is a shackle. 
     
     
         3 . The restraint system of  claim 1  wherein each endless sling is wrapped around the piping system at least one 360° wrap. 
     
     
         4 . The restraint system of  claim 1  where there are at least three endless loop slings in each assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The restraint system of  claim 1  wherein each endless loop sling assembly encircles a pipe section next to a fitting. 
     
     
         6 . A method for restraining a temporary flow line that includes multiple pipe sections, each pair of sections connected together with a disconnectable coupling, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing one or more first and second pluralities of connected endless sling loops;   b) each plurality including endless loop slings connected end to end with a girth hitch knot;   c) one or more endless loop slings connected end to end connecting to another endless loop sling or slings with a disconnectable connector;   d) wherein the disconnectable connector is not a said endless loop sling;   e) said slings connected to the flow line at intervals using a portion of a said endless loop sling to make a sling knot that encircles the temporary flow line, and wherein at the said sling knot each said sling extends in opposing directions to other said sling knots; and   f) wherein each said sling knot is defined by a said endless loop sling being both wrapped around and knotted to said temporary flow line at a position that is located in between two said spaced apart loop end portions.   
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the connector is metallic. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the connector is a shackle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the connector is a fitting having two parts, one part that disconnects from the other part. 
     
     
         11 . A restraint system for use in securing temporary flowlines that include multiple pipe sections, each pair of sections connected together with fittings, the system comprising:
 a) an assembly of endless loop slings connected end-to-end, each sling having end portions that are attachable to one or more other endless loop slings;   b) one or more disconnectable fittings that each join an endless sling of said assembly of step “a” to another endless loop sling;   c) wherein the disconnectable fitting is not a said endless loop sling;   d) said slings connected to the flowlines at intervals using a portion of a said endless loop sling to make a sling knot that encircles the temporary flowline;   e) wherein at the said sling knot each said sling extends in opposing directions to other said sling knots; and   f) wherein each said sling knot is defined by a said endless loop sling being both wrapped around and knotted to said temporary flowline at a position that is located in between two said spaced apart loop end portions.   
     
     
         12 . The restraint system of  claim 11  wherein the disconnectable fitting is a shackle. 
     
     
         13 . The restraint system of  claim 11  wherein each endless sling is tied to the piping system with half hitch knots. 
     
     
         14 . The restraint system of  claim 11  where there are between 2 and 12 endless loop slings in each assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The restraint system of  claim 11  wherein each endless loop sling assembly is tied to a pipe section next to a fitting. 
     
     
         16 . A method for restraining a temporary flow line that includes multiple pipe sections, each pair of pipe sections connected together with a disconnectable coupling, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing one or more pluralities of connected endless loop slings;   b) each plurality including multiple endless loop slings;   c) said endless loop slings connected end to end with one or more other slings with a disconnectable connector;   d) wherein the disconnectable connector is not a said endless loop sling;   e) said slings connected to the flow line at intervals using a portion of a said endless loop sling to make a sling knot that encircles the temporary flow line, and wherein at the said sling knot each said sling extends in opposing directions to other said sling knots; and   f) wherein each said sling knot is defined by a said endless loop sling being both wrapped around and knotted to said temporary flow line at a position that is located in between two said spaced apart loop end portions.   
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the connector is metallic. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the connector is a shackle. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the connector is a fitting having two parts, one part that disconnects from the other part.