TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for redirecting the flow of a fluid in a first pipe or tube to at least a second pipe, tube or hose without stopping the flow of the fluid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Within many different areas, different types of pipes and tubes are used for continuous transportation of a fluid under pressure.

Fore several different reasons, like for example leakage, needs for maintenance or rearranging of the pipes or tubes, the continuous flow of fluid sometimes must be rearranged to another permanent or temporary pipe, tube or hose. In many arrangements the flow could be stopped by valves arranged along the pipes or tubes, but some arrangements do not have any built in device that makes it possible to stop the flow and perform the desired rearranging of the flow. Furthermore, in some arrangements it would be devastating to stop the flow since the pressure of the fluid could result in severe damage to the pipe or tube. Example of this is the pipe extending from an oil deposit in the ocean to an oil platform arranged above the surface.

There is consequently a need for a device that makes it possible to re-arrange the flow of a fluid in a pipe or tube without stopping the flow in the pipe or tube and increase the pressure within the pipe or tube.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, defined by the appended claims, relates to a device, and a method for using said device, that fulfils the need defined above.

The device according to the invention is intended for redirecting the flow of a fluid in a first pipe or tube to at least a second pipe, tube or hose without stopping the flow of the fluid. The device comprises: a fluid tight housing consisting of at least a first section and a second section having a first and a second contact surface respectively, said first and second contact surface are arranged to align each other and provided with cut out portions with a shape corresponding to the cross sectional shape of the first pipe or tube so that the first and second section could be arranged enclosing said first pipe or tube;

an outlet arranged in the housing for leading the redirected flow of fluid from the housing;

an elongated cutting member movably arranged within the housing from a resting position, said cutting member comprising a first plate with a first cutting edge and a length exceeding the diameter of the first pipe or tube and a second plate, substantially parallel to the first plate, with a second cutting edge and a length substantially the same as the first plate, said first and second plate are arranged at a distance from each other along the longitudinal direction of the first pipe or tube thereby defining a space between said first and second plate, each cutting edge have a width exceeding the diameter of the first tube or pipe and is movable within the housing in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the first pipe or tube, said first elongated plate is intended to be arranged downstream of the first pipe or tube and is provided with a number of openings spread over the entire plate, and said second plate is provided with openings in the half of the plate arranged in relation to the second cutting edge; and

means for pushing said cutting member through said first pipe or tube to remove a part of the first pipe or tube within the housing and redirecting the flow through said openings in the first plate via the space defined between the first and second plate, through said openings in the second plate before it continues to the outlet and the second pipe, tube or hose intended to be connected to the outlet.

The device according to the invention is intended to be clamped around a pipe or tube in witch a fluid is flowing continuously. When the device is secured in the correct position along the pipe or tube and the pipe or tube is in the intended position between the at least two housing sections the movement of the cutting member is initiated. The movement of the cutting member towards the pipe, or tube, makes the two cutting edges cut through the pipe, or tube, and remove a section of the pipe or tube. Once the cutting member is starting to penetrate the pipe, or tube, a part of the flow in the pipe, or tube, will be redirected to flow through the openings in the first plate and continue into the space defined by the housing and, as soon as the space is at least partly filled, exit the device via the outlet and the pipe, tube or hose fitted to the outlet. This means that the flow will continue to flow continuously during the redirection of the flow from the first pipe or tube to the second pipe, tube or hose. The flow in the second pipe, tube or hose will initially be small and increase when the cutting member is pressed further through the first pipe or tube. Once the cutting member is pressed all the way through the first pipe the part of the second plate that not is proved with openings will close the opening in the housing for the part of the first pipe or tube that is extending above the device.

In an embodiment of the device the housing has the shape of a circular cylinder with a longitudinal axis (HA) that, when the device is arranged around the first pipe or tube, is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first pipe or tube and said cutting member is movable along the longitudinal axis of the housing. This embodiment of the invention provides a housing that is easy to manufacture and has the possibility to withstand high internal and external pressure without being deformed. Furthermore this shape of the housing makes it possible to arrange the different parts within the housing in an efficient and way that provides high reliability of the device.

In an embodiment of the device the first and second plate are structurally connected by at least one intermediate member arranged in the centre of the plates and the cylindrical housing. This embodiment provides a structurally simple cutting member consisting of only one movable part with the shape of a beam with an I-shaped cross section.

In an embodiment of the device the first and second cutting edge have a V-shape or a concave shape arranged the tip of the V or the centre of the concave portion positioned close to the centre of each plate to enclose the first pipe. This particular shape of the cutting edge is very favourable since the pipe or tube will remain in the intended position in the centre of the cutting edge even though the cutting member is pressed through the pipe or tube.

In an embodiment of the device both the first and second plate have has two longitudinal edges that are extending in grooves arranged on the inside surface of the housing. This design of the plates and the inside surface of the housing makes it possible to provide a fluid tight sealing between the edges of the plates and the inside surface of the housing which prevents the redirected flow within the device from leaking out of the housing when the first pipe or tube is penetrated by the cutting member.

In an embodiment of the device said means for pushing the cutting member comprises a cylindrical plate movably arranged within the housing and connected to the opposite end of the cutting members as the cutting edge, said plate has the same diameter as the inside diameter of the housing and defines a chamber (V) in one end of the housing. A hose is connected to the chamber in order to, when the desired movement of the cutting member should be initiated, fill the chamber with a pressurised fluid to move the plate, and the cutting member, in the desired direction. This embodiment provides a very reliable arrangement for generating the desired movement of the cutting member. The pressurised fluid could be provided from a pump positioned separated from the device and the first pipe which sometimes is important advantage.

In an embodiment of the device the longitudinal length of the housing is at least four times the diameter of the first pipe or tube. This size of the housing makes it possible to arrange the cutting member in the resting position where and not interfere with the passage through the device where the first pipe or tube is intended to be arranged.

In an embodiment of the device the longitudinal length of the housing is at least five times the diameter of the first pipe or tube. This embodiment of the device is very advantageous since the additional length of the housing compared to the previous embodiment provides a space within the housing form the section of the pipe or tube that has been cut away. The removed section of the first pipe or tube will be moved together with the cutting member to the end of the housing where it could be stored without affecting the redirected flow of fluid.

The invention furthermore relates the use of the device according to anyone of the previously described embodiments for redirecting the flow of oil in a pipe extending from an oil finding in an ocean to an platform or vessel at the surface. The device, when used within this particular area, is very favourable since the pressure within the oil finding makes it impossible to stop the flow through the pipe without risking that the pipe will be damaged by the increasing pressure in the pipe or tube once the flow is stopped.

The invention furthermore relates to a method for using the device described above. The method comprises the steps:

a) clamping the device around the first pipe or tube; and

b) start the filling of the chamber (V) within the hosing to initiate the movement of the cutting member from its resting position to a position where a section of the first pipe or tube is removed and the flow within the first pipe or tube is redirected to the second pipe, tube or hose.

Further aspects and embodiments will present themselves through the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Different embodiments of the claimed invention are illustrated in the appended figures, in which:

Figure la illustrates a vertical cross section through the longitudinal axis A2 of a device according to a first embodiment of the invention when the cutting member is in the starting position illustrated schematically.

Figure lb illustrates a vertical cross section through the longitudinal axis A2 of a device according to a second embodiment of the invention when the cutting member is in the starting position illustrated schematically.

Figure 2 illustrates a horizontal cross section along line LI in figure lb.

Figure 3 illustrates a vertical cross section through the longitudinal axis A2 of the device after the redirection of the flow from the first pipe or tube to the second pipe, tube or hose illustrated schematically.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view along line L2 in figure 3, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the device.

Figure 5 and 6 illustrates a top view of a part of the second plate of the cutting member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In figure la, lb, 2 and 3, different views of a device 10 according to the invention are illustrated schematically. The device 10 is illustrated together with a section of a first pipe 100 that has a longitudinal axis Al . In the first pipe 100 a continuous flow of a pressurised fluid is flowing. The flow is illustrated by arrows F in figure la and lb.

The device 10 comprises a housing 11 divided into at least a first section 12 and a second section 13, illustrated in figure 2. The sections have a first 14 and second 15 contact surface respectively, figure 2. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in figure la, the two sections 12, 13 are each provided with a semicircular cut out portion 16 with a radius corresponding to the radius of the first pipe 100 in order to provide a tight fitting between the cut out portions in the device and the outer surface of the first pipe once the device is fitted around the first pipe in the intended position. The two sections 12, 13 are clamped around the first pipe and secured together by for example screws and nuts arranged around the outer periphery of the housing where they are easily to access, the screws are not illustrated in the figures. The housing could be divided in different ways for example depending on the dimensions of the device, the first pipe and the intended application for use of the device.

In a second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in figure lb, the device has been adapted to be usable for redirection of the flow in larger pipes where the loads and dimensions of the different components are larger. This has been achieved by arranging a semicircular sleeve 21, 22 in each of the cut out portions 16 in order to provide an improved support for the device 10 around the first pipe 100. The semicircular sleeves 21, 22 have an inner radius corresponding to the outer radius of the pipe to ensure the desired fitting around the pipe. The length of the sleeves 21, 22 is adapted for the specific use of the device. In each end of the sleeves preferably a flange 23 is arrange around the pheripery of the sleeves 21 , 22. The flanges 23 on the sleeves 21, 22 in the down stream end of the device could be used for securing the device to a corresponding flange on the first pipe, not illustrated, while the flanges 23 in the opposite end of the sleeves 21, 22 could be used for either securing a closing plate when the flow has been redirected or a replacement pipe, not illustrated.

In the illustrated embodiment of the device, the housing 10 has the shape of a circular cylinder with a longitudinal axis A2. The axis is, after the device has been fitted around the pipe 100 ex- tending in substantially transverse direction to the longitudinal axis Al of the first pipe. The housing 1 1 is closed in the ends by flat walls 17.

The housing 1 1 furthermore comprises an outlet 18 through which the redirected flow of fluid will exit the device 10. The outlet 1 1 is in this embodiment substantially circular and positioned at the top side of the housing 10 close to the cut out portion 16 for the first pipe 10. The outlet 18 is provided with a flange 19 to facilitate connection of a second pipe 20, tube or hose for the redirected flow of the fluid.

Inside the housing 11, an elongated cutting member 30 is arranged. The elongated cutting member 30 is extending from a plate 31 that is arranged transverse to the longitudinal direction A2 of the device 10. The plate 31 has the same radius as the inner radius of the housing 11 so that a chamber 32 is defined in one end of the housing on the opposite side of the plate 31 as the cutting member

30. A hose 33 is connected to the chamber 32 for supply of a pressurised fluid, for example a hydraulic fluid, to the chamber from for example a pump or compressor and thereby generate the desired movement of the plate 31 and the cutting member 30 secured in the plate 31. Before initiating of the redirecting of the flow, the plate 31 and the cutting member 30 is positioned in a start position close to one end of the device. When the plate 31 is in the start position the volume of the chamber is limited and the cutting member to not extend into the cut out portion for the first pipe in order to make it possible to fit the device around the first pipe.

The elongated cutting member comprises a first plate 40 and a second plate 41 substantially parallel to each other and arranged in the same plane as the radial direction of the first pipe at a distance from each other. The first plate 40 is arranged downstream of the first pipe 100. The first 40 and second plate 41 has substantially the same shape. Each plate has a cutting edge 42, two substantially parallel elongated edges 43 and a side 44 opposite the cutting edge 42 connected to the plate

31. The cutting edges 42 of the plates are intended for cutting through the first pipe 100 and preferably have a V-shape or a concave shape, illustrated in figure 5 or 6, to enclose the first pipe and improve the accuracy of the cutting. The first and second plate are structurally connected by a vertical support element 44 so that the cutting member will have the cross sectional shape of an I. The elongated edges 43 of the plates extend in grooves 45 arranged on the inside surface 46 of the housing, illustrated in figure 4. The grooves 45 provide guidance for the cutting member 30 when the cutting member is moved within the housing. Furthermore the grooves 45 provide the desired fluid tight sealing between the plates of the cutting member and the housing.

The first plate 40 is provide with a number of openings 46 spread over the entire elongated plate in order to allow the flow to pass through the openings 46. However, in the second plate 41 only the area close to the cutting edge 42 of the second plate 41 is provided with openings 47 in order to let the fluid pass, illustrated in figure 5 and 6.

The longitudinal length of the cutting member 30 is at least about twice the diameter of the first pipe, and the longitudinal length of the housing must be long enough to house the cutting member 30 in one end of the housing 1 1 prior to the fitting of the two housing sections 12, 13 around the first pipe 100 as well as making room for the cutting member 30 and the removed section of the first pipe after the redirecting of the flow in the opposite end of the housing 11. This means that the longitudinal length of the housing 11 preferably is about five times the diameter of the first pipe. The size of the device must consequently correspond to the size of the first pipe.

When the desired redirection of the flow in the first pipe 100 should take place, the device 10 is fitted and secured around the first pipe. A pressurised fluid is supplied to the camber 32 via the hose 33 in order to start the movement of the plate 31 and the cutting member 30 secured in the plate 31 towards the first pipe 100. The cutting member 30 is pressed against the first pipe 100 which makes the cutting edges 42 cut through the first pipe 100. When the cutting edges 42 has started penetrating the first pipe 100, a part of the flow in the first pipe will start passing through the openings 46, 47 in the first 40 and second plates 41. Initially a minor part of the flow in the first pipe is redirected within the device 10 towards the outlet 18 and the second pipe 20. The supply of the pressurised fluid to the chamber 32 is continued and the cutting member 30 pressed further and further through the first pipe 100. The further the cutting member 30 is moved, more and more of the flow in the first pipe 100 is redirected to the second pipe 20. Initially the flow could continue through the openings 47 in the second plate 41 but once the second plate 41 has been moved all the way through the first pipe 100 and a section of the first pipe is removed and the part of the second plate 41 without openings closes the first pipe and the entire flow is redirected towards the second pipe 20. In figure 3, the device after the redirection of the flow has been completed is illustrated. The cutting member is moved to its end position which means that the second plate 41 has completely closed the first pipe 100 and the entire flow, illustrated by arrows B, has been redirected to the second pipe 20. The section removed from the first pipe has been pushed all the way to the end of the housing to reduce its impact on the flow through the device.

If the redirection of the flow only is temporary, the cutting member could be retracted to the starting position and the flow returned to the first pipe. Once the cutting member is retracted to the starting position the flow through the second pipe could be stopped.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures is only schematically illustrated in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. Several modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

While one presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not so limited but covers and includes any and all modifications and variations that are encompassed by the following claims.