Lance sleeve

Abstract

A lance sleeve that comprises a first sleeve end having a male connector. The sleeve further comprises a second sleeve end comprising a female connector and a collar extending beyond the female connector in a direction opposite from the first sleeve end and forming a lance-receiving inner surface having an inner-surface internal diameter. The sleeve may be used in combination with a lance. The lance comprises a first lance end having a male connector and the lance having an external surface having an outer diameter. The female connector of the second sleeve end is connected to the male connector of the first lance end. The outer diameter of the external surface matching the inner-surface internal diameter of the lance inner receiving surface.

1 . A lance sleeve, the sleeve comprising
 a first sleeve end having a male connector; and   a second sleeve end comprising a female connector and a collar extending beyond the female connector in a direction opposite from the first sleeve end and forming a lance-receiving inner surface, the lance-receiving inner surface having an inner-surface internal diameter, the female connector having a maximum female-connector internal diameter, and in which the inner-surface internal diameter matches the maximum female-connector internal diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the lance-receiving inner surface extends from and is in coaxial alignment with the female connector. 
     
     
         3 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the lance-receiving inner surface has an axial length that is greater than 1″. 
     
     
         4 . The sleeve of  claim 3 , wherein the axial length of the lance-receiving inner surface is greater than 2″. 
     
     
         5 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the female connector is a female NPT (“National Pipe Thread”) connection. 
     
     
         6 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the male connector is a male NPT (“National Pipe Thread”) connection. 
     
     
         7 . The sleeve of  claim 5 , wherein the female NPT connection is between ¼″ and 1″ NPT. 
     
     
         8 . The sleeve of  claim 6 , wherein the male NPT connection is between ¼″ and 1″ NPT. 
     
     
         9 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is made of a material with a higher yield strength than aluminum. 
     
     
         10 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is made of stainless steel. 
     
     
         11 . A lance sleeve in combination with a lance, in which
 the sleeve comprises:
 a first sleeve end having a male connector, and 
 a second sleeve end comprising a female connector and a collar extending beyond the female connector in a direction opposite from the first sleeve end and forming a lance-receiving inner surface having an inner-surface internal diameter; 
   the lance comprises a first lance end having a male connector and the lance having an external surface having an outer diameter; and   the female connector of the second sleeve end is connected to the male connector of the first lance end, and the outer diameter of the external surface matching the inner-surface internal diameter of the lance inner receiving surface.   
     
     
         12 . The lance sleeve in combination with the lance of  claim 11  in which the female connector of the second sleeve end has a maximum female connector internal diameter, and in which the inner surface internal diameter matches the maximum female connector internal diameter. 
     
     
         13 . The lance sleeve in combination with the lance of  claim 11 , wherein the lance-receiving inner surface has an axial length that is greater than 1″. 
     
     
         14 . The lance sleeve in combination with the lance of  claim 13 , wherein the axial length of the lance-receiving inner surface is greater than 2″. 
     
     
         15 . The lance sleeve in combination with the lance of  claim 11  in which the sleeve is made from a material having a higher yield strength than the lance. 
     
     
         16 . The lance sleeve in combination with the lance of  claim 15  in which the lance is made of aluminum. 
     
     
         17 . The lance sleeve in combination with the lance of  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve is made of stainless steel. 
     
     
         18 . The lance sleeve in combination with the lance of  claim 11  in which the female connector of the second sleeve end is tapered and the male connector of the first lance end has a matching taper. 
     
     
         19 . The lance sleeve in combination with the lance of  claim 11  in which the lance further comprises a second lance end having a further male connector and in which the further male connector of the lance is connected to a female connector of a second sleeve, the second sleeve having the same features of the sleeve of the lance sleeve in combination with the lance claimed in  claim 11 .