Patent Application
20190113160
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The present invention relates generally to the field of adaptors and connectors and more specifically relates to corrosion protector attachments.
Cathodic protection (CP) is a technique used to control the corrosion of a metal surface by making it the cathode of an electrochemical cell. A simple method of protection connects the metal to be protected to a more easily corroded “sacrificial metal” to act as the anode. The sacrificial metal then corrodes instead of the protected metal. For structures such as long pipelines, where passive galvanic cathodic protection is not adequate, an external DC electrical power source is used to provide sufficient current. Cathodic protection systems protect a wide range of metallic structures in various environments. Common applications are: steel water or fuel pipelines and steel storage tanks such as home water heaters; steel pier piles; ship and boat hulls; offshore oil platforms and onshore oil well casings; offshore wind farm foundations and metal reinforcement bars in concrete buildings and structures. Another common application is in galvanized steel, in which a sacrificial coating of zinc on steel parts protects them from rust. A suitable solution is desired.
U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0007358 to Lucas C. Mackey relates to a gasket retention system for flange coupling. The described gasket retention system for flange coupling includes a gasket retention system and flange coupling having a ring gasket that disposes in seal seats on opposing flanges. One or more retainer tabs extend from an outer periphery of the ring gasket. Preferably, the ring gasket defines a slot on the outer periphery, and the retainer tab affixes with an interference fit in the slot to be held therein. The retainer tab defines a transverse opening therethrough. When the ring gasket fits into the seal seat of one of the flanges, the transverse opening of the tab fits onto a fastener affixed in a pre-drilled hole in the face of the flange.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known adaptors and connectors art, the present disclosure provides a novel flange tab system. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an electrical fitting used mainly for cathodic protection connections and various other applications.
A flange tab system is disclosed herein. The flange tab system includes a first member having a first-member-first-portion and a first-member-second-portion, a second member, a third member, a ring-like member, and a plurality of attachment pieces. The second member comprises a second-member-first portion and a second-member-second-portion. The second member is configured to be attached to the first-member-second-portion. The third member configured to be attached to the second-member-second-portion. The ring-like member configured to be removably attached to the second member. The plurality of attachment pieces may include at least 3 pieces made of stainless steel such as 2 nuts and 1 washer. The plurality of attachment pieces may be removably attached to the third member. The first-member-first portion may be circular in shape. Other suitable shapes may be provided based on application and use. The first-member-second-portion is preferably elongate in shape. The first-member-second-portion is integrally connected to the first-member-first-portion. The third member is integrally connected to the second-member-second-portion. The first-member-first-portion has an aperture with a diameter.
A second member includes a plurality of ridges about a length of the second member. A second-member-first-portion-diameter is larger than a second-member-second-portion diameter. The third member may comprise a bolt. The ring-like member is a locking nut configured to secure the second member in place. The first member is preferably made of laser-cut metal. The flange tab system is configured to secure a wire to a pipeline for cathodic protection.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, flange tab system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to adaptors and connectors and more particularly to a flange tab system as used to minimize corrosion.
Cathodic protection requires electrical continuity between pipelines or other structures in order for electrical current to flow. This is achieved by connecting two or more pipelines together with wire or cable. The present invention provides means to connect a wire to a pipeline. The invention includes an approximately 10 mm metal that is preferably laser cut to the different sizes of flange studs that they fit on. They may be manufactured in various shapes, including round on the end so they can be used at virtually any angle of the flange pipe that they attach to. These plates are then welded onto a plug approximately one-inch diameter. On the other end of the plug there is a threaded bolt welded on. The size of this threaded bolt and plug may be altered to meet any size required by the purchaser. There are 2 stainless steel nuts and stainless washer put on the bolt. There may be a locking nut on the plug. The flange tabs are an electrical fitting used mainly for cathodic protection connections and various other applications. The device may be used in the oil and gas sector and used with cathodic protection on pipelines and plant facilities.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in
The flange tab system 100 may further comprise a plurality of attachment pieces 190. The plurality of attachment pieces 190 may include at least 3 pieces. The plurality of attachment pieces 190 is made of stainless steel or other suitable material. The plurality of attachment pieces 190 may comprise 2 stainless steel nuts and 1 washer which are removably attached to the third member 170. The present invention may include various shapes, thicknesses, sizes, materials and coatings for use in various applications. Other suitable fastening means may be used.
In a preferred embodiment, the first-member-first portion 120 is circular in shape. The ends may be rounded so they can be used at any angle of a flange pipe that they attach to. The first-member-second-portion 130 is elongate in shape. The first-member-second-portion 130 is integrally connected to the first-member-first-portion 120. The third member 170 is integrally connected to the second-member-second-portion 160. The first-member-first-portion 120 has an aperture 200 having a diameter 210. The first member 110 may comprise laser-cut metal.
A second member 140 may include a plurality of ridges 220 about a length of the second member 140. A second-member-first-portion-diameter 230 is larger than a second-member-second-portion diameter 240. The third member 170 may comprise a bolt. The ring-like member 180 is a locking nut configured to secure the second member 140 in place. The present invention provides a grounding/bonding adaptor or connector used mainly for cathodic protection connections.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
