IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0345245
(2003-01-16)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Bouey, Samuel Glen
- McLeod, David W.
- Lundberg, Chris A.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
20 인용 특허 :
12 |
초록
▼
A pipe coupling and connector for use with composite pipe, and a method of coupling the end of composite pipe are disclosed. The coupling or connector has a cylindrical inner support with a gripping surface, a means for preventing axial movement of slips that are disposed around the gripping surface
A pipe coupling and connector for use with composite pipe, and a method of coupling the end of composite pipe are disclosed. The coupling or connector has a cylindrical inner support with a gripping surface, a means for preventing axial movement of slips that are disposed around the gripping surface, and a coupling connector. The slips form an assembly with an outer frustoconical surface and an inner gripping surface. A hollow outer sleeve with a surface that corresponds to the frustoconical surface is used to drive the slips radially inwards so that the wall of the pipe is both compressed and gripped by the coupling. A retaining member holds the outer sleeve in a fixed position relative to the slips. The coupling, connector and method of this invention provide the structural integrity needed to ensure that the end of the pipe meets or exceeds the design ratings of the pipe.
대표청구항
▼
1. A pipe coupling, comprising:(a) a hollow cylindrical inner support having a longitudinal axis, comprising: (i) a first gripping surface about a portion of the outside surface of the inner support; (ii) a means for supporting a coupling connector; (b) a plurality of slips disposed about said first
1. A pipe coupling, comprising:(a) a hollow cylindrical inner support having a longitudinal axis, comprising: (i) a first gripping surface about a portion of the outside surface of the inner support; (ii) a means for supporting a coupling connector; (b) a plurality of slips disposed about said first gripping surface, said plurality of slips forming an outer frustoconical surface and an inner cylindrical surface comprising a second gripping surface; (c) a means for preventing the axial movement of said plurality of slips beyond a selected point; (d) a hollow outer sleeve disposed about said plurality of slips, and comprising an inside surface corresponding to the frustoconical surface of the plurality of slips; (e) a retaining member comprising a means for engaging the outer sleeve to reversibly fix the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips; (f) a coupling connector disposed about said means for supporting a coupling connector; and (g) a means for spacing the plurality of slips about the first gripping surface including a plurality of slots in one of the outer sleeve or the plurality of slips and a plurality of corresponding projections positionable in the slots, the plurality of corresponding projections on the other of the outer sleeve or the plurality of slips. 2. The coupling of claim 1 wherein, at the first gripping surface, the outer circumference of the inner support is selected to be a size that prevents buckling of a pipe when the coupling is installed onto the pipe.3. The coupling of claim 1 further comprising, a seal disposed about said inner support, said seal being located at a position about the inner support that will be located inside the bore of a pipe when the coupling is installed onto the pipe.4. The coupling of claim 1 wherein the hollow outer sleeve comprises a threaded portion, and the retaining member has a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a threaded portion to threadedly engage the threaded portion of the hollow outer sleeve, and the second end comprising a shoulder.5. A splice joint connector, comprising:(a) a hollow cylindrical inner support comprising (i) two first gripping surfaces about a portion of an outside surface, and (ii) two abutments disposed between the two first gripping surfaces, (b) two slip assemblies formed from individual slips, each slip assembly being disposed about one of the first gripping surfaces and prevented from axial movement beyond a selected point by one of said abutments, and each slip assembly forming an outer frustoconical surface and an inner cylindrical surface comprising a second gripping surface; (c) two hollow outer sleeves, each sleeve being disposed about one slip assembly and each sleeve comprising an inside surface corresponding to the frustoconical surface of the slip assembly about which the one outer sleeve is disposed, and (d) two retaining members, each said retaining member comprising a means for engaging one outer sleeve to reversibly fix the position of the one outer sleeve relative to the slip assembly about which the one outer sleeve is disposed. 6. The connector of claim 5 wherein, at each first gripping surface the outer circumference of the inner support is selected to be a size that prevents buckling of a pipe when the connector is installed onto the end of the pipe.7. The connector of claim 5 further comprising, a seal disposed about said inner support, said seal being located at a position about the inner support that will be located inside the bore of the pipe when the connector is installed onto the pipe.8. The connector of claim 5 further comprising, a means for spacing the individual slips of one of the two slip assemblies about the first gripping surface about which the one slip assembly is disposed.9. The connector of claim 8 wherein, one of the two outer sleeves or the one slip assembly about which the one outer sleeve is disposed, comprises a plurality of slots, and the other of the one outer sleeve, or the one slip assembly, comprises a plurality of corresponding projections that are positioned in the slots.10. The connector of claim 8 wherein, the means for spacing the individual slips in said one slip assembly is a slip-positioning element disposed between one abutment and the one slip assembly.11. The connector of claim 10, wherein, one of the slip-positioning element or the one slip assembly comprises a plurality of slots, and the other of the slip positioning element or the one slip assembly comprises a plurality of corresponding projections that are positioned in the slots.12. The connector of claim 10 further comprising, a snap ring disposed about said inner support to hold the slip-positioning element onto the inner support.13. The connector of claim 5 wherein, at least one of the two hollow outer sleeves comprises a threaded portion, and at least one of the two retaining members has a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a threaded portion to threadedly engage the threaded portion of the at least one hollow outer sleeve, and the second end comprising a shoulder.14. The connector of claim 10 wherein, at least one of the two hollow outer sleeves comprises a threaded portion, and at least one of the two retaining members has a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a threaded portion to threadedly engage the threaded portion of the at least one hollow outer sleeve, and the second end comprising a shoulder that engages the slip positioning element.15. A method of installing a coupling connector onto the end of a flexible pipe, said pipe defining a bore and having an inner surface, an outer surface and a wall, comprising:(a) providing a hollow cylinder having a longitudinal axis, and having an external gripping surface at one end, a coupling connector at the other end, and an abutment disposed therebetween; (b) inserting the external gripping surface into the bore of the pipe; (c) disposing a plurality of slips about the outer surface of the pipe at a position opposed to the external gripping surface of the cylinder and at a position adjacent to the abutment, said plurality of slips forming an outer frustoconical surface and an inner cylindrical surface comprising an internal gripping surface; (d) spacing individual slips of the plurality of slips about the outer surface of the pipe by disposing a slip-positioning element between the abutment and the plurality of slips, one of the slip-positioning element or the plurality of slips including a plurality of slots, and the other of the slip-positioning element or the plurality of slips including a plurality of corresponding projections that are positioned in the slots to thereby space the individual slips; (e) forcing an outer sleeve axially onto the plurality of slips, along the longitudinal axis, thereby: (i) causing the slips to move axially until restrained by the abutment; (ii) compressing the wall of the pipe between the slips and the cylinder; (iii) causing the external gripping surface of the cylinder to grip the inner surface of the pipe; and (iv) causing the internal gripping surface of the slips to grip the outer surface of the pipe; and (f) reversibly fixing the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips with a retaining element. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein, at the external gripping surface, the outer circumference of the cylinder is selected to be a size that prevents buckling of a pipe when the coupling is installed onto the end of the pipe.17. The method of claim 15 wherein, the cylinder further comprises a seal about said cylinder, said seal being located at a position about the cylinder that will be inside the bore of the pipe when the coupling is installed onto the pipe.18. The method of claim 15 wherein the retaining element fixes the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips by threading onto the outer sleeve and by engaging an end of the plurality of slips.19. The method of claim 15 wherein the retaining element fixes the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips by threading onto the outer sleeve and by engaging the slip-positioning element.20. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of disposing a snap ring about said cylinder to hold the slip-positioning element onto the cylinder.21. A pipe coupling, comprising:(a) a hollow, substantially cylindrical inner support having a longitudinal axis and an outside surface and including an inner pipe gripping surface on the outside surface; (b) a plurality of slips positionable about the inner pipe gripping surface, the plurality of slips being fully separable each from the others and together when assembled forming an outer frustoconical surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining an outer pipe gripping surface; (c) a slip positioning element for selecting and maintaining the spacing of the slips in the plurality of slips about the inner pipe gripping surface, the slip positioning element including a plurality of slots and a plurality of projections for fitting into and moving along the slots, the slots and the projections being correspondingly positioned on the slips and another part of the coupling; (d) a stop for limiting the axial movement of the plurality of slips relative to the inner support; (e) a hollow outer sleeve positionable about the plurality of slips, and including an inner surface corresponding to the outer frustoconical surface formed by the plurality of slips; and (f) a retaining member to reversibly fix the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips. 22. The coupling of claim 21 further comprising a connector at an end of the inner support opposite the inner pipe gripping surface.23. The coupling of claim 21 further comprising a seal extending about the outside surface of the inner support adjacent the inner pipe gripping surface.24. The coupling of claim 21 wherein the hollow outer sleeve and the retaining member are reversibly fixed by a threaded connection and the retaining member is anchored on the inner member.25. The coupling of claim 22 wherein the connector is free to rotate relative to the inner support longitudinal axis.26. A pipe splice joint connector comprising:(a) a hollow, substantially cylindrical inner support having a longitudinal axis and an outside surface and including an inner pipe gripping surface on the outside surface; (b) a plurality of slips positionable about the inner pipe gripping surface, the plurality of slips being fully separable each from the others and together when assembled forming an outer frustoconical surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining an outer pipe gripping surface; (c) a stop for limiting the axial movement of the plurality of slips relative to the inner support; (d) a hollow outer sleeve positionable about the plurality of slips, and including an inner surface corresponding to the outer frustoconical surface formed by the plurality of slips; (e) a retaining member to reversibly fix the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips; (f) a second inner pipe gripping surface at an opposite end of the inner support; (g) a second plurality of slips, the second plurality of slips positionable about the second inner pipe gripping surface and together forming an outer frustoconical surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a pipe gripping surface; (h) a second stop for limiting the axial movement of the second plurality of slips relative to the inner support; and (i) a second hollow outer sleeve positionable about the plurality of slips and including an inner surface corresponding to the outer frustoconical surface formed by the second plurality of slips, the second hollow outer sleeve being reversibly fixable in position relative to the plurality of slips. 27. The coupling of claim 26 wherein the retaining member and the second retaining member are formed as an integral retaining member.28. The coupling of claim 27 wherein the integral retaining member includes a return at one end thereof for engaging a shoulder on the outer sleeve and threads at an opposite end thereof for threaded connection to the second outer sleeve.29. The coupling of claim 26 wherein the stops are defined on either side of an annular ring on the inner support.30. The coupling of claim 26 further comprising a slip positioning element for selecting and maintaining the spacing of the slips in the plurality of slips about the inner pipe gripping surface.31. The coupling of claim 30 wherein the slip positioning element includes an annular ring and a plurality of projections on the ring, each projection formed to fit into and ride within a slot on the end of a slip in the plurality of slips.32. A method of installing a coupling connector onto the end of a flexible pipe, said pipe defining a bore and having a wall including an inner surface and an outer surface, the method comprising:(a) providing a hollow tube having a longitudinal axis, and having a pipe inside gripping surface at one end, an opposite end and an abutment disposed therebetween; (b) inserting the pipe inside gripping surface into the bore of the pipe; (c) disposing a plurality of slips about the outer surface of the pipe at a position opposed to the pipe inside gripping surface of the tube and at a position adjacent to the abutment, said plurality of slips each including axial edges and the plurality of slips being positioned without contact between the axial edges, the plurality of slips together forming an outer frustoconical surface and an inner surface defining a pipe outside gripping surface; (d) forcing an outer sleeve axially onto the plurality of slips, along the longitudinal axis, thereby: (i) causing the slips to move axially until restrained by the abutment; (ii) compressing the wall of the pipe between the slips and the tube; (iii) causing the pipe inside gripping surface of the tube to grip the inner surface of the pipe; and (iv) causing the pipe outside gripping surface of the slips to grip the outer surface of the pipe; and (e) reversibly fixing the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips with a retaining element, the retaining element fixing the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips by threading onto the outer sleeve and by engaging behind the abutment. 33. The method of claim 32 further comprising selecting the tube such that its outer diameter at pipe inside gripping surface is a size that prevents buckling of the pipe when it is compressed between the slips and the tube.34. The method of claim 32 wherein the retaining element fixes the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips by threading onto the outer sleeve and by engaging an end of the plurality of slips.35. The method of claim 32 further comprising, the step of spacing individual slips in the plurality of slips about the outer surface of the pipe.36. The method of claim 35 wherein, the individual slips are spaced by disposing a slip-positioning element between the abutment and the plurality of slips.37. The method of claim 36 wherein the retaining element fixes the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips by threading onto the outer sleeve and by engaging against the slip-positioning element.38. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of disposing a snap ring about the tube to hold the slip-positioning element onto the tube.39. A pipe coupling, comprising:(a) a hollow cylindrical inner support having a longitudinal axis, comprising: (i) a first gripping surface about a portion of the outside surface of the inner support; (ii) a means for supporting a coupling connector; (b) a plurality of slips disposed about said first gripping surface, said plurality of slips forming an outer frustoconical surface and an inner cylindrical surface comprising a second gripping surface; (c) a means for preventing the axial movement of said plurality of slips beyond a selected point; (d) a hollow outer sleeve disposed about said plurality of slips, and comprising an inside surface corresponding to the frustoconical surface of the plurality of slips; (e) a retaining member comprising a means for engaging the outer sleeve to reversibly fix the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips; (f) a coupling connector disposed about said means for supporting a coupling connector; and (g) a means for spacing the slips in the plurality of slips about the first gripping surface including a slip-positioning element disposed between the means for preventing axial movement of the plurality of slips and the plurality of slips wherein, one of the slip-positioning element or the plurality of slips comprises a plurality of slots, and the other of the slip-positioning element or the plurality of slips comprises a plurality of corresponding projections that are positioned in the slots. 40. The coupling of claim 39 wherein, at the first gripping surface, the outer circumference of the inner support is selected to be a size that prevents buckling of a pipe when the coupling is installed onto the pipe.41. The coupling of claim 39 further comprising, a seal disposed about said inner support, said seal being located at a position about the inner support that will be located inside the bore of a pipe when the coupling is installed onto the pipe.42. The coupling of claim 39 further comprising, a snap ring disposed about said inner support to hold the slip-positioning element onto the inner support.43. The coupling of claim 39 wherein the hollow outer sleeve comprises a threaded portion, and the retaining member has a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a threaded portion to threadedly engage the threaded portion of the hollow outer sleeve, and the second end comprising a shoulder that engages the slip positioning element.44. A pipe coupling, comprising:(a) a hollow cylindrical inner support having a longitudinal axis, comprising: (i) a first gripping surface about a portion of the outside surface of the inner support; (ii) a means for supporting a coupling connector; (b) a plurality of slips disposed about said first gripping surface, said plurality of slips forming an outer frustoconical surface and an inner cylindrical surface comprising a second gripping surface; (c) a means for preventing the axial movement of said plurality of slips beyond a selected point; (d) a hollow outer sleeve disposed about said plurality of slips, and comprising an inside surface corresponding to the frustoconical surface of the plurality of slips; (e) a retaining member comprising a means for engaging the outer sleeve to reversibly fix the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips; (f) a coupling connector disposed about said means for supporting a coupling connector; (g) a means for spacing the plurality of slips about the first gripping surface including a slip-positioning element disposed between the means for preventing axial movement of the plurality of slips and the plurality of slips; and (h) a snap ring disposed about said inner support to hold the slip-positioning element onto the inner support. 45. The coupling of claim 44 wherein, at the first gripping surface, the outer circumference of the inner support is selected to be a size that prevents buckling of a pipe when the coupling is installed onto the pipe.46. The coupling of claim 44 further comprising, a seal disposed about said inner support, said seal being located at a position about the inner support that will be located inside the bore of a pipe when the coupling is installed onto the pipe.47. The coupling of claim 44 wherein, one of the slip-positioning element or the plurality of slips comprises a plurality of slots, and the other of the slip-positioning element or the plurality of slips comprises a plurality of corresponding projections that are positioned in the slots.48. The coupling of claim 44 wherein the hollow outer sleeve comprises a threaded portion, and the retaining member has a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a threaded portion to threadedly engage the threaded portion of the hollow outer sleeve, and the second end comprising a shoulder that engages the slip positioning element.49. A method of installing a coupling connector onto the end of a flexible pipe, said pipe defining a bore and having an inner surface, an outer surface and a wall, comprising:(a) providing a hollow cylinder having a longitudinal axis, and having an external gripping surface at one end, a coupling connector at the other end, and an abutment disposed therebetween; (b) inserting the external gripping surface into the bore of the pipe; (c) disposing a plurality of slips about the outer surface of the pipe at a position opposed to the external gripping surface of the cylinder and at a position adjacent to the abutment, said plurality of slips forming an outer frustoconical surface and an inner cylindrical surface comprising an internal gripping surface; (d) spacing individual slips of the plurality of slips about the outer surface of the pipe by disposing a slip-positioning element between the abutment and the plurality of slips; (e) disposing a snap ring about said cylinder to hold the slip-positioning element onto the cylinder; (f) forcing an outer sleeve axially onto the plurality of slips, along the longitudinal axis, thereby: (i) causing the slips to move axially until restrained by the slip-positioning element; (ii) compressing the wall of the pipe between the slips and the cylinder; (iii) causing the external gripping surface of the cylinder to grip the inner surface of the pipe; and (iv) causing the internal gripping surface of the slips to grip the outer surface of the pipe; and (g) reversibly fixing the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips with a retaining element. 50. The method of claim 49 wherein, at the external gripping surface, the outer circumference of the cylinder is selected to be a size that prevents buckling of a pipe when the coupling is installed onto the end of the pipe.51. The method of claim 49 wherein, the cylinder further comprises a seal about said cylinder, said seal being located at a position about the cylinder that will be inside the bore of the pipe when the coupling is installed onto the pipe.52. The method of claim 49 wherein, one of the slip-positioning element or the plurality of slips comprises a plurality of slots, and the other of the slip-positioning element or the plurality of slips comprises a plurality of corresponding projections that are positioned in the slots and thereby space the individual slips.53. The method of claim 49 wherein the retaining element fixes the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips by threading onto the outer sleeve and by engaging the slip-positioning element.54. A pipe coupling, comprising:(a) a hollow, substantially cylindrical inner support having a longitudinal axis and an outside surface and including an inner pipe gripping surface on the outside surface; (b) a plurality of slips positionable about the inner pipe gripping surface, the plurality of slips being fully separable each from the others and together when assembled forming an outer frustoconical surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining an outer pipe gripping surface; (c) a slip-positioning element for selecting and maintaining the spacing of the slips in the plurality of slips about the inner pipe gripping surface, the slip-positioning element including a ring extending out from the inner support and being positioned to act as a stop for limiting the axial movement of the plurality of slips relative to the inner support; (d) a hollow outer sleeve positionable about the plurality of slips, and including an inner surface corresponding to the outer frustoconical surface formed by the plurality of slips; and (e) a retaining member to reversibly fix the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips. 55. The coupling of claim 54 further comprising a connector at an end of the inner support opposite the inner pipe gripping surface.56. The coupling of claim 55 wherein the connector is free to rotate relative to the inner support longitudinal axis.57. The coupling of claim 54 further comprising a seal extending about the outside surface of the inner support adjacent the inner pipe gripping surface.58. The coupling of claim 54 wherein the slip-positioning element further includes a plurality of projections on the ring, each projection formed to fit into and ride within a slot on the end of a slip in the plurality of slips.59. The coupling of claim 54 further comprising, a snap ring disposed about said inner support to hold the ring in position on the inner support.60. The coupling of claim 54 wherein the hollow outer sleeve and the retaining member are reversibly fixed by a threaded connection and the retaining member is anchored on the inner member.61. The coupling of claim 54 wherein the hollow outer sleeve and the retaining member are reversibly fixed by a threaded connection and the retaining member is anchored against the slip positioning element.62. A method of installing a coupling connector onto the end of a flexible pipe, said pipe defining a bore and having a wall including an inner surface and an outer surface, the method comprising:(a) providing a hollow tube having a longitudinal axis, and having a pipe inside gripping surface at one end, an opposite end and an abutment disposed therebetween; (b) inserting the pipe inside gripping surface into the bore of the pipe; (c) disposing a plurality of slips about the outer surface of the pipe at a position opposed to the pipe inside gripping surface of the tube and at a position adjacent to the abutment, said plurality of slips each including axial edges and the plurality of slips being positioned without contact between the axial edges, the plurality of slips together forming an outer frustoconical surface and an inner surface defining a pipe outside gripping surface; (d) spacing individual slips in the plurality of slips about the outer surface of the pipe by disposing a slip-positioning element between the abutment and the plurality of slips; (e) forcing an outer sleeve axially onto the plurality of slips, along the longitudinal axis, thereby: (i) causing the slips to move axially until restrained by the slip-positioning element; (ii) compressing the wall of the pipe between the slips and the tube; (iii) causing the pipe inside gripping surface of the tube to grip the inner surface of the pipe; and (iv) causing the pipe outside gripping surface of the slips to grip the outer surface of the pipe; and (f) reversibly fixing the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips with a retaining element, the retaining element fixing the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips by threading onto the outer sleeve and by engaging against the slip-positioning element. 63. The method of claim 62 further comprising selecting the tube such that its outer diameter at pipe inside gripping surface is a size that prevents buckling of the pipe when it is compressed between the slips and the tube.64. The method of claim 62 further comprising the step of disposing a snap ring about the tube to hold the slip-positioning element onto the tube.65. A method of installing a coupling connector onto the end of a flexible pipe, said pipe defining a bore and having a wall including an inner surface and an outer surface, the method comprising:(a) providing a hollow tube having a longitudinal axis, and having a pipe inside gripping surface at one end, an opposite end and an abutment disposed therebetween; (b) inserting the pipe inside gripping surface into the bore of the pipe; (c) disposing a plurality of slips about the outer surface of the pipe at a position opposed to the pipe inside gripping surface of the tube and at a position adjacent to the abutment, said plurality of slips each including axial edges and the plurality of slips being positioned without contact between the axial edges, the plurality of slips together forming an outer frustoconical surface and an inner surface defining a pipe outside gripping surface; (d) spacing individual slips in the plurality of slips about the outer surface of the pipe by disposing a slip-positioning element between the abutment and the plurality of slips; (e) disposing a snap ring about the tube to hold the slip-positioning element onto the tube; (f) forcing an outer sleeve axially onto the plurality of slips, along the longitudinal axis, thereby: (i) causing the slips to move axially until restrained by the slip-positioning element; (ii) compressing the wall of the pipe between the slips and the tube; (iii) causing the pipe inside gripping surface of the tube to grip the inner surface of the pipe; and (iv) causing the pipe outside gripping surface of the slips to grip the outer surface of the pipe; and (g) reversibly fixing the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips with a retaining element. 66. The method of claim 65 further comprising selecting the tube such that its outer diameter at pipe inside gripping surface is a size that prevents buckling of the pipe when it is compressed between the slips and the tube.67. The method of claim 65 wherein the retaining element fixes the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips by threading onto the outer sleeve and by engaging an end of the plurality of slips.68. The method of claim 65 wherein the retaining element fixes the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips by threading onto the outer sleeve and by engaging behind the abutment.69. The method of claim 65 wherein the retaining element fixes the position of the outer sleeve relative to the plurality of slips by threading onto the outer sleeve and by engaging against the slip-positioning element.
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