Pipe protector

A pipe or rod protector includes structure to interfit the pipe or rod end, such structure including an end cap and a split ring tightenable to retain the structure on the pipe or rod end.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to pipe or rod end protection, and more 
particularly concerns the provision of protectors easily applicable to and 
removable from such ends, as for example externally or internally threaded 
pipe ends. 
The threaded ends of heavy steel pipe or casing, as for example is used in 
wells, require protection from physical damage as during transit and 
during dragging of pipe on the ground; also, it is very desirable to 
prevent ingress of corrosive or other fluids into the pipe interior via 
the pipe ends. These needs also exist for pipe used in other applications, 
as well as for rod ends. Insofar as I am aware, no prior protector 
possessed the unusual combinations of structure, function and results as 
are now enabled or provided by the present protector, to meet such needs. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a major object of the invention to provide a protector which is 
readily applicable to and removable from a pipe or rod end, especially a 
pipe end, and whether the pipe is externally or internally threaded; which 
cannot be removed from the pipe or rod end except by predetermined release 
of a connector; which protects against ingress of fluid into the pipe end; 
and which is of simple rugged and durable construction as will appear. 
Basically, the protector comprises: 
(a) structure sized to telescopically interfit the pipe or rod end portion, 
(b) such structure including a cap to extend across the end of the pipe or 
rod, 
(c) the structure also including a C-shaped split ring sized for telescopic 
reception on said end portion, the ring having a radially compressible 
body portion, 
(d) and connector means associated with the split ring or tightening the 
ring to exert force acting to retain such structure to the pipe or rod 
end. 
As will be seen, the cap may have a head to extend across the pipe or rod 
end, and a skirt telescopically interfitting the ring to be retained to 
the pipe or rod end by the ring; the skirt and ring may consist of 
elastomeric material to be compressively clamped together, with the skirt 
compressively clamped to the pipe end portion, as for example to an 
external thread or to the outer surface of the end portion which is 
internally threaded; the skirt establishes a seal against the pipe surface 
to prevent ingress of fluid into the pipe despite the fact that the outer 
ring is split; and the skirt and ring may be reinforced by metallic 
inserts which contribute to the protective qualities of the devices. 
These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the 
details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from 
the following description and drawings, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
In the drawings, the protectors at opposite ends of the pipe 10 are 
designated at 11 and 12. The pipe is representative of rod or pipe members 
which may, for example have threads at one or both ends thereof. The 
description will be directed to one example of well pipe with threads at 
both ends, FIG. 2 showing a pipe pin end portion with two-step external 
threads 13 and 14, and FIG. 3 showing a pipe box end portion with two-step 
internal threads 15 and 16. 
Each protector 11 and 12 may be considered to embody structure sized to 
telescopically interfit the pipe (or rod) member end portion, such 
structure including a cap to extend across the end of the member. In FIG. 
2 the cap is designated generally at 17 and in FIG. 3 it is shown at 18. 
Also, the structure of each protector 11 and 12 includes a C-shaped split 
ring sized for telescopic reception on the pipe end portion, the ring 
having a radially compressible body portion. In FIG. 2 the ring is 
designated generally at 19 and in FIG. 3 it appears at 20. 
In each of FIGS. 2 and 3, connector means is associated with the protector 
to exert force acting to retain the overall structure to the pipe end 
portion. Thus, for example, the split ring 19 has terminals adapted to be 
drawn together in interfitting relation for retention after application of 
the ring about the pipe pin end portion 10a and about the cap skirt 17a. 
In this regard, the terminals may be defined by first and second groups of 
staggered teeth 22 and 23 formed by the ring material, which is typically 
elastomeric. Such teeth have longitudinal openings 22a and 23a therein 
adapted to be brought into alignment to receive a retainer pin 24 upon 
coupling of the protector ring 19 about the pipe end and about the cap 
skirt 17a. Such alignment may be effected by manipulation of tongs, the 
jaws 27 and 28 of which (as seen in FIG. 1) are receivable into openings 
25 and 26 formed in the ring, near the teeth. Corresponding elements 
122-126 appear in FIG. 3. A C-shaped, flexible metallic reinforcement band 
30 is molded into the elastomeric ring 19, and has loop shaped, opposite 
end terminals molded in the teeth 22 and 23. FIG. 5 shows such terminals 
at 31 and 32 respectively at opposite ends of the band 30. Retainer pin 24 
is closely received in and through the loop-shaped metallic terminals. A 
similar refinforcment band is shown at 30a in FIG. 3, and is understood to 
have corresponding loop shaped terminals in teeth 122 and 123 to receive 
retainer pin 124. 
Referring now specifically to FIG. 2, the cap 17 is shown to include as 
elastomeric head 32a that extends across the open end of the pipe, the 
head molded integrally with the skirt 17a. The latter telescopically 
interfits the ring bore 33, to be retained to the pipe end portion by the 
ring. A metallic plate 34 is molded into the head 32, and its periphery 
extends in alignment with the pipe end portion. Cylindrical skirt 17a 
protectively overlaps the thread 13 of lesser diameter, and may 
advantageously extend to the shoulder 34 between threads 13 and 14. A bore 
portion 35 of the skirt is sized to compressively engage an outer surface 
defined by the pipe or rod end. That surface is typically a frusto-conical 
land 36 which is radially compressively engaged by bore portion 35 to form 
a seal preventing ingress of exterior corrosive or other fluid or liquid 
into the pipe. For that purpose, land 36 is located between the threading 
on the pipe and the end 37 of the latter. The existence of that seal 
enables the ring 19 to he fully split, in an axial direction, as 
illustrated in FIG. 2, whereby fluid entering the thread via the split 
cannot gain ingress to the pipe interior. 
It will also be noted that the ring 19 has a bore 37 which compressively 
engages the pipe or rod exterior surface, as at 38, at a location axially 
spaced from the skirt, further, the ring bore at 33a may also 
compressively engage thread 14. These points of engagement of the ring 
with the pipe, thread and skirt assure a frictional retention of the ring 
on the pipe end portion, preventing dislodgement of the ring and cap off 
the pipe as during dragging of the pipe on a surface, for example during 
up-lifting of the pipe at a derrick location, with the ring dragging on 
the deck. 
The protector 12 at the opposite end of the pipe also functions to prevent 
ingress of external fluid into that pipe end, so as to prevent pipe bore 
corrosion. As shown in FIG. 3, the cap 18 has an elastomeric head 38a 
extending across the pipe end. Also, a reinforcement metal plate 39 is 
molded into the head, as shown, and its periphery extends in alignment 
with the pipe end 40. The cap elastomeric skirt 41 has a bore 41a closely 
fitting, and compressed against the outer surface 42 of the pipe end 
portion shown, and forms a seal therewith. The skirt is received in 
counterbore 42a defined by the ring 20, so that tightening of the split 
ring effects the compressive seal between the cap skirt and the pipe outer 
surface. The ring also consists of elastomeric material. Such material for 
the described rings and caps may consist of rubber having a shore hardness 
between 75 and 80. 
The ring 20 also has a bore at 46 compressively engaging the pipe surface 
47, whereby tightening of the ring on the pipe and on the cap skirt 
develops friction sufficient to prevent dislodgement of the protector 12 
off the end of the pipe as the protector is dragged on the ground or on a 
deck. 
Removal of the protectors off the ends of the pipe is effected by removing 
pins 24 and 124, which relieves tensioning of the rings 19 and 20, which 
in turn allows their removal off the pipe ends along with removal of the 
caps 17 and 18. 
Note that the rings and caps also cushion sudden impact loads delivered to 
the pipe ends and threads.