Flexible pipe joint and method of installing underwater pipes

摘要

A flexible pipe joint for use with pipes installed on the ocean bottom comprising two pipes having adjacent ends shaped in the form of a ball wherein each ball-shaped end includes a tubular round pipe and a convex-shaped ring with a spherical cross-section fixed to the outer surface of the pipe end. The ring has a watertight welded seal between the rings edges and the round pipe outer surface. The flexible pipe joint further comprises a dual coupling including an upper and a lower part, the parts have inner surfaces of spherical-cross sections which conform to the outer surface of the rings. The dual coupling is fastened with eyebolts to complete the make-up of the flexible pipe joint. An improved method of installing underwater pipes using flexible pipe joints comprising tack welding the lower part of the dual coupling to one end of the pipe to be lowered to the ocean bottom and using releasable vertical steering pins, funnel-shaped steering channels, guide lines and buoys to guide a second pipe into a joining position with a first lowered pipe, then completing the make-up of the improved flexible joint.