Tubular connection

Abstract

An improved threaded connection adapted to secure adjacent conduits in a continuous flow conduit forming relationship. The threaded connection employs a tapered or wedge shaped thread with angled or tapered thread load flanks to obtain superior mechanical strength by controlling stress levels in the connection. To insure proper make-up of the connection the dimension of the thread structure is controlled to prevent trapping of thread lubricant during rotational make-up which may produce false torque make-up values.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A threaded pipe connection comprising a box having tapered, internal, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe and a pin having tapered, .[.exteranl.]. .Iadd.external.Iaddend., generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe for mating with the internal threads of the box to make up a pipe connection, a pipe thread lubricant coating the threads, said threads increasing in width in one direction on the box and in the other direction on the pin so the roots, crests, and flanks of the threads move together and form seals that resist the flow of fluids between the threads with .[.the stab flanks and.]. the roots and crests being designed to move into .[.sealing.]. engagement before both the load flanks and the stab flanks move into .[.sealing.]. engagement .[.after which the flanks will move together and form seals.]. to complete the sealing of the connection as the connection is fully made up. 
     
     
       2. A threaded pipe connection comprising a box having tapered, internal, generally dovetail-shaped threads and a pin having tapered, external, generally dovetail-shaped threads that mate with the threads on the box when the connection is made up, a pipe thread lubricant coating the threads, said threads on the box and pin having stab flanks that are in engagement as the pin moves into the box due to relative rotation of the pin and box, roots and crests that move into engagement .[.when the connection is made up hand-tight.]. .Iadd.during rotational make-up.Iaddend., and load flanks that move into engagement .[.when the connection is fully made up.]. .Iadd.upon rotational make-up of the threaded connection.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       3. A threaded pipe connection comprising a box having tapered, internal, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks, and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe, and a pin having tapered, external, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks, and flat roots and .[.rests.]. .Iadd.crests .Iaddend.that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe, for mating with the internal threads of the box .[.tomade.]. .Iadd.to make .Iaddend.up a threaded pipe connection, said threads increasing in width in one direction on the box and in the other direction on the pin so that .[.the stab flanks.]., the roots and crests .Iadd.move into engagement during rotational makeup .Iaddend.and the .[.load.]. flanks of the threads .[.mave.]. .Iadd.move .Iaddend.together .[.sequentially as.]. .Iadd.when .Iaddend.the connection is .Iadd.fully .Iaddend.made up, said roots and crests having sufficient width to prevent any permanent deformation of the threads .[.adjacent the roots and crests when the connection is made up.].. 
     
     
       4. In a threaded pipe connection including a box having tapered, internal, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe and a pin having tapered, external, generally dove-tail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe for mating with the internal threads of the box to make up a threaded pipe connection, said threads increasing in width in one direction on the box and in the other direction on the pin, and with at least the threads on one of the box and pin being coated with thread lubricant prior to make up the improvement to prevent the trapping of thread lubricant between the roots and crests causing an indication that the connector is made up before it is .[.,the improvement.]. comprising .[.,.]. the stab flanks and the roots and crests being designed to move into engagement when the pin and box are made up hand-tight .Iadd.during rotational make-up of the connection .Iaddend.after which continued make up of the connection moves .[.the stab flanks, the roots and crests, and.]. the load flanks into .[.sealing.]. engagement .[.when.]. .Iadd.upon rotational make-up of .Iaddend.the connection .[.is fully made up.].. .[.5. In a threaded pipe connection comprising a box having tapered, internal, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe and a pin having tapered, external, generally dove-tail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe for mating with the internal threads of the box to make up a threaded pipe connection, a pipe thread lubricant coating the threads, said threads increasing in width in one direction on the box and in the other direction on the pin the improvement comprising having the roots, crests, and flanks of the threads move together and form seals with the stab flanks moving together as the connection is being made up and the roots and crests being designed to move together when the pin and box are made up hand-tight after which continued make up of the connection moves the load flanks together completing the final make up of the connection thereby reducing substantially the volume of lubricant between 
     
     
        the roots and crests when the connection is made up.].. 6. A threaded pipe connection comprising a box having tapered, internal, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe and a pin having tapered, external, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe for mating with the internal threads of the box to make up a pipe joint, a pipe thread lubricant coating the threads, said threads increasing in width in one direction on the box and in the other direction on the pin so the roots, crests, and flanks of the threads move together and form seals that resist the flow of fluids between the threads with .[.the stab flanks and.]. the roots and crests being designed to move into .[.sealing.]. engagement before both the load flanks and the stab flanks move into .[.sealing.]. engagement .[.after which the flanks will move together and form seals.]. to complete the sealing of the 
     
     
        connection as the connection is fully made up. 7. A threaded pipe connection comprising a box having tapered, internal, generally dovetail-shaped threads and a pin having tapered, external, generally dovetail-shaped threads that mate with the threads on the box when the connection is made up, a pipe thread lubricant coating the threads, said threads on the box and pin having stab flanks that are in engagement as the pin moves into the box due to relative rotation of the pin and box, roots and crests that move into engagement when the connection is made up hand-tight, and load flanks that move into engagement when the connection is fully made up, said roots and crests being flat wide surfaces so that, when engaged, the stress induced in the threads adjacent the .[.matin9.]. .Iadd.mating .Iaddend.surfaces does not exceed the yield of the thread material. .Iadd.8. A threaded pipe connection comprising a box having tapered, internal, generally dovetail-shaped threads and a pin having tapered, external, generally dovetail-shaped threads that mate with the threads on the box when the connection is made up, a pipe thread lubricant coating the threads, said threads on the box and pin having stab flanks that are in engagement initially as the pin moves into the box and roots and crests that move into engagement after the stab flanks but before the load flanks move into engagement when the connection is fully made up. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.9.  In a threaded pipe connection including a box having tapered, internal, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe and a pin having tapered, external, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe for mating with the internal threads of the box to make up a threaded pipe connection, said threads increasing the width in one direction on the box and in the other direction on the pin, and with at least the threads on one of the box and pin being coated with thread lubricant prior to make up, the improvement to prevent the trapping of thread lubricant between the roots and crests causing an indication that the connector is made up before it is, the improvement comprising, the roots and crests being designed to move into engagement before both the stab flanks and the load flanks move into engagement as the connection is fully made up. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. In a threaded pipe connection comprising a box having tapered, internal, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe and a pin having tapered, external, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe for mating with the internal threads of the box to make up a threaded pipe connection, a pipe thread lubricant coating the threads, said threads increasing in width in one direction on the box and in the other direction on the pin the improvement comprising having the stab flanks and load flanks, but not both, in engagement at any one time before the roots and crests move into engagement during rotational make-up of the connection after which the other flanks move into engagement upon rotational make-up of the connection. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. A threaded pipe connection comprising a box having tapered, internal, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe and a pin having tapered, external, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe for mating with the internal threads of the box to make up a pipe connection, a pipe thread lubricant coating the threads, said threads increasing in width in one direction on the box and in the other direction on the pin so the roots, crests, and flanks of the threads move together and form seals that resist the flow of fluids between the threads with the roots and crests being designed to move into engagement during rotational make-up before both the load flanks and the stab flanks move into engagement when the connection is fully made up. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.12.  A threaded pipe connection comprising a box having tapered, internal, generally dovetail-shaped threads and a pin having tapered, external, generally dovetail-shaped threads that mate with the threads on the box when the connection is made up, a pipe thread lubricant coating the threads, said dovetail-shaped threads on the box and pin providing stab flanks and load flanks only one set of which is in engagement at any given time as the pin moves into the box during rotational make-up of the pin and box and roots and crests that move into engagement during rotational make-up before the other set of flanks move into engagement upon rotational make-up of the connection. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.3.  A threaded pipe connection comprising a box having tapered, internal, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks, and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe, and a pin having tapered, external, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks, and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe, for mating with the internal threads of the box to make up a threaded pipe connection, a pipe thread lubricant coating the threads, said threads increasing in width in one direction on the box and in the other direction on the pin whereupon during rotational make up one or the other of the flanks, but not both may be in engagement at any given time prior to engagement of the roots and crests during rotational make-up and the remaining unengaged flanks of the threads moving together after the engagement of the roots and crests upon rotational make-up of the 
     
     
        connection. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14.  In a threaded pipe connection comprising a box having tapered, internal, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe and a pin having tapered, external, generally dovetail-shaped threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat roots and crests that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe for mating with the internal threads of the box to make up a threaded pipe connection, a pipe thread lubricating coating the threads, said threads increasing in width in one direction on the box and in the other direction on the pin the improvement comprising having the roots, crests, and one of the flanks of the threads move together when the pin and box are made up hand-tight during rotational make-up of the connection after which continued rotational make-up of the connection moves the other flanks together upon rotational make-up of the connection thereby reducing substantially the volume of a lubricant between the roots and crests when the connection is made up. .Iaddend.