REINFORCED TUBULAR THREADED JOINT FOR IMPROVED SEALING AFTER PLASTIC EXPANSION

摘要

The invention concerns a high-performance threaded tubular joint comprising a first male tubular element (11) and a second female tubular element (12) mutually screwed together. One of the tubular elements (11, 12) comprises an unthreaded lip (38; 5) extending between its thread and its free end and having a sealing surface (40; 7) in sealed contact with the opposite surface (41; 8) of the other element after the first and second tubular elements have been screwed, have expanded and generated elastic return forces. The joint comprises a tubular sleeve (34; 36) slipped on prior to being screwed on the second element (12), positioned to extend substantially axially opposite said lip (3; 5) and, after diametrical expansion, generating an elastic return force which is added to that of the second element to counter the elastic return force of the first element thereby causing the second element to be at least shrunk fitted by the tubular sleeve.