Metal Patents (Class 138/134)
  • Patent number: 11958259
    Abstract: A method of making a flexible pipe layer, which method comprises: commingling polymer filaments and carbon fibre filaments to form an intimate mixture, forming yarns of the commingled filaments, forming the yarns into a tape, and applying the tape to a pipe body to form a flexible pipe layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited
    Inventors: Majeed Al-Zubaidy, Neville Dodds, Vineet Jha, James Latto, David Finch
  • Patent number: 11649911
    Abstract: A spiral hose includes: a tube with a first wall thickness; a first reinforcement package, arranged around a circumference of the tube, having a first rubber layer embedding at least one set of a first and second layer of wire wound in a helical path around the tube, a winding direction of the first layer being opposite from a winding direction of the second layer, which first reinforcement package has a first package thickness; a second reinforcement package, arranged around a circumference of the first reinforcement package, having a second rubber layer embedding at least a second set of a third and fourth layer of wire wound in a helical path around the first reinforcement package, a winding direction of the third layer being opposite from a winding direction of the fourth layer, which second reinforcement package has a second package thickness; and a cover layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: DANFOSS POWER SOLUTIONS II TECHNOLOGY A/S
    Inventors: Kubra Aslan, Dipak Singh, Salih Karayagiz, Nivedita Singh, Bjoern Theberath, Nida Aras
  • Patent number: 11402039
    Abstract: A collapsible conduit includes an elongated sheet configured as a coil, the coil having a longitudinal axis, the elongated sheet having a first edge that includes a first hem and a second edge opposite the first edge and that includes a second hem, each hem including an overlapping portion that overlaps with the overlapping portion of the other hem, the first hem interlocked with the second hem to form an interlocking arrangement between the first and second edges, wherein the conduit is collapsible along the longitudinal axis between fully extended and collapsed positions, and wherein the overlapping portion of the each hem has an arcuate cross-section shape when the conduit is in both the fully extended and collapsed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Builder's Best
    Inventors: John L. Andersen, Aaron Matthew Lowe
  • Patent number: 10982797
    Abstract: Techniques for implementing a pipe segment that includes a tubing inner barrier layer that defines a pipe bore through the pipe segment, a venting tubing annulus implemented around the tubing inner barrier layer, in which the venting tubing annulus includes a first solid material implemented to define a venting fluid conduit, a tubing intermediate barrier layer implemented around the venting tubing annulus, a reinforcement tubing annulus implemented around the tubing intermediate barrier layer, and a tubing outer barrier layer implemented around the reinforcement tubing annulus. The reinforcement tubing annulus includes a second solid material that is different from the first solid material and is implemented to define a reinforcement fluid conduit. Additionally, the venting fluid conduit facilitates venting fluid that permeates from the pipe bore through the tubing inner barrier layer out from the pipe segment before the fluid contacts the second solid material in the reinforcement tubing annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Trinity Bay Equipment Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Kaci Michelle Callahan, Juan Alfredo Erni, Kirk Spencer Francis
  • Patent number: 10865931
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system comprising a floating unit for processing, handling or storing a fluid and at least one unbonded flexible pipe for transporting said fluid to the floating unit. The unbonded flexible pipe comprises an electric heating system, and the temperature of the fluid in the unbonded flexible pipe is measured and the measured temperature is used to control the electrical input to the electric heating system in the unbonded flexible pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO DENMARK I/S
    Inventors: Kristian Glejbol, Michael Hjorth, Bo Asp Moller Andersen, Nicky Weppenaar, Christian Ditlev Cappeln
  • Patent number: 10835712
    Abstract: A medical tube including a flexible tube-shaped main body, a hub connected to the proximal portion of the tube-shaped main body, and a strain relief member supported at a distal portion of the hub. The strain relief member surrounds a predetermined portion of the proximal portion of the tube-shaped main body. The tube-shaped main body includes a flexible portion which possesses increased flexibility for bending. The flexible portion includes at least one groove extending in a circumferential direction in the outer circumferential surface of the tube-shaped main body over a predetermined range in an axial direction of the tube-shaped main body from a position distal of the distal-most end of the strain relief member to a position proximal of the distal-most end of the strain relief member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Wada
  • Patent number: 10463841
    Abstract: Provided is a balloon catheter in which a balloon can smoothly deflate even when being pulled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Shiota
  • Patent number: 10458727
    Abstract: Heat transfer between a fluid-bearing flexible tube and a heat-conducting surface is improved by fixing a flexible heat-conducting sheath to the flexible tube and by compressive fixing that distorts the tube and deforms the sheath and/or the surface. The tube can be made of cross-linked polythene (PEX). The sheath can be spirally wound high-purity aluminum wire. The sheath enables efficient heat transfer between the outer surface of the tube and the heat-conducting surface. Applications include radiant heating and cooling. Tube layout can be customized and variable tube spacing is possible, for example by using a castellated layer to support the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Inventor: Bruce Gregory
  • Patent number: 10238776
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a surgical catheter is provided. The catheter may comprise one or more hydrophobic barrier layers made from an ethylene-pertfluoroethylenepropylene (“EFEP”) copolymer. Additionally, the catheter may comprise another polymer layer made from a reactive polar polymer. In at least one embodiment, the reactive polar polymer may be a modified-poly(ether block amide) (“PEBA”) copolymer, such as an amine-terminated PEBA. Moreover, in various embodiments, a composition is provided that may comprise a reactive polar polymer bonded to an EFEP copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoping Guo, James V. Kauphusman, David P. Johnson, Karen L. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 9951893
    Abstract: A flexible pipe comprising a tubular layer comprising a polymer that is crosslinked to a greater degree at an outer region of the tubular layer than at an inner region of the tubular layer, wherein the outer region is defined by the outer surface of the tubular layer to a depth of 5% of the total thickness of the tubular layer and the inner region is defined by the inner surface of the tubular layer to a depth of 5% of the total thickness of the tubular layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Laycock, James Latto
  • Patent number: 9796148
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing an unbonded flexible pipe and an unbonded flexible pipe. The method comprises providing an innermost sealing sheath defining a bore and a longitudinal axis, and a pressure armor layer surrounding the innermost sealing sheath. The pressure armor layer comprises at least one helically wound elongate armor element with at least one helical armor element gap between windings thereof, and the method comprises providing a foundation layer for the pressure armor layer. The foundation layer is provided with at least one helically shaped groove, and the elongate armor element is applied in the helically shaped groove, preferably such that the foundation layer at least partly fills the helical armor element gap, the foundation layer is preferably a fluid permeable foundation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO DENMARK I/S
    Inventor: Kristian Glejbol
  • Patent number: 9610411
    Abstract: A medical needle including an elongate tubular body having an outer wall defining at least one longitudinal lumen is provided. The at least one longitudinal lumen may be configured to provide access for at least one of a wire guide, a therapeutic tool, a diagnostic tool, a medicament, and/or contrast fluid. The body may be configured with sufficient length and flexibility to be extended out of and operated through a working channel of a surgical endoscope. The body further includes one or more wires embedded in, and secured substantially immovably relative to, the outer wall. A distal end of the body includes a needle tip configured with at least one sharpened surface configured to penetrate into body tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael S. Clancy, John Neilan, Darach McGrath
  • Patent number: 9440273
    Abstract: Apparatus for use with two or more supplies of strip metal comprises, for each supply, a strip feeder and a bending head, the feeder being adapted to receive metal from said each supply and deliver same to the head which is adapted to receive and curl metal from the feeder to produce a strip part encircling a central axis in a coiling manner. The heads and feeders are adapted such that the part axes are coincident and the parts are axially offset from one another, with axially adjacent parts being positioned relative to one another throughout their lengths to define a metal strip which encircles the coincident axes in a coiling manner, the metal strip defining a tubular arrangement which can be used at least for armor cable. The parts can have cross sections such that they interlock throughout their lengths and the strip interlocks with itself throughout its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Inventor: Paul McMillen
  • Patent number: 9395022
    Abstract: The invention relates to a unbonded flexible pipe and a method for manufacturing such pipe. The unbonded flexible pipe has a length and a center axis along its length, and comprises an internal sealing sheath around its center axis, a carcass arranged inside the internal sealing sheath, and at least one armor arranged around the internal sealing sheath. The carcass comprises at least one helically wound elongate carcass reinforcement element providing a plurality of carcass reinforcement element windings along the length of the pipe wherein the carcass reinforcement element windings surround and/or are surrounded by a polymer structure, which polymer structure locks said carcass reinforcement element windings relative to each other. Accordingly the carcass reinforcement element windings need not be directly interlocked with each, but are mainly or totally locked to each other by the polymer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO DENMARK I/S
    Inventor: Kristian Glejbol
  • Patent number: 9390837
    Abstract: A wire harness includes one or a plurality of high voltage conduction paths, each having a high voltage conduction path main body, and a terminal which is provided at an end of the high voltage conduction path main body. The high voltage conduction path main body is formed into a cylindrical shape by spirally winding a metal wire rod and an insulating wire rod, and side end surfaces, which face each other, of the metal wire rod and the insulating wire rod positioned to be adjacent to each other alternately, contact each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eiichi Toyama
  • Patent number: 9014527
    Abstract: A fiber optic adapter module is disclosed. The fiber optic adapter module includes a molded one-piece housing including a first end and a second end, the housing including a plurality of passages extending from the first end to the second end, each passage configured to interconnect two cables terminated with fiber optic connectors. The housing is movably mounted on a fixture, wherein the module is movable relative to the fixture along a line of travel that is non-parallel to longitudinal axes of the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunication, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Ray Mertesdorf
  • Patent number: 8997796
    Abstract: A durable, semi-rigid, single-layered flexible duct having a sleeve made of a single aluminum layer and a resilient wound element disposed at the mid-point of the overlap region of the aluminum layer. The wound element imparts corrugations to the sleeve, such that the duct is extendible between a compacted configuration suitable for storage and for shipping and an extended configuration suitable for installation in a gas transport arrangement. Closely and evenly-spaced ridges that are situated in between the corrugations, add rigidity and durability to the duct. The inward-facing surface of the aluminum ribbon is substantially smooth and featureless except for the helical corrugations imparted by wire winding and the closely and evenly-spaced ridges. The aluminum sleeve is of a predetermined thickness rendering the duct substantially rigid when in an extended configuration and enabling the duct to maintain its substantial rigidity upon extension from a compacted configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventors: Steven Allan Liebson, Graeme Anthony Liebson, Robert Cohen
  • Patent number: 8991439
    Abstract: A metal pipe of single piece construction including a wall formed of a single corrugated metal sheet. The sheet has opposing first and second edges extending longitudinally along the sheet. The wall includes a seam that is formed by abutting portions of the first and second edges. The seam extends helically about and along a length of the wall. The sheet has a cross-sectional profile defining 3 corrugation peaks at an exterior wall surface and 3 flat segments, wherein each corrugation peak is separated from an adjacent corrugation peak by a respective one of the 3 flat segments. The sheet has a flattened sheet width of approximately 27 inches and a finished sheet width of approximately 24 inches. The wall defines a pipe diameter of at least 96 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: W.E. Hall Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jordan Twist
  • Patent number: 8985160
    Abstract: A metal pipe of single piece includes a wall formed of a single corrugated metal sheet. The sheet has opposing first and second edges extending longitudinally along the sheet. The wall includes a seam formed by abutting portions of the first and second edges. The seam extends helically about and along a length of the wall. The wall has an interior wall side and an opposing exterior wall side. The metal sheet has an interior wall side and an opposing exterior wall side. The interior wall side defines an inner wall surface of the wall, and the exterior wall side defines an outer wall surface of the wall. The sheet has a sinusoidal cross-sectional profile defining 5 corrugation peaks at the inner wall surface and 5 corrugation peaks at the outer wall surface. The sheet has a flattened sheet width of approximately 27¼ inches and a finished sheet width of approximately 23 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: W.E. Hall Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jordan Twist
  • Publication number: 20150059909
    Abstract: An assembly, which consists of a flexible tubular pipe (1) for transporting hydrocarbon fluids including a metal carcass (10) produced by the short pitched helical winding of a profiled strip, the said strip defining a plurality of intervening gaps (10a) between each winding turn (10b), an inner polymeric sealing sheath, at least one metal armour layer, and an outer polymeric sheath, and of a secondary metal tube (2) coaxial to the tubular pipe (1)
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Yves Castel, Alexandre Levet
  • Patent number: 8967205
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a tubular assembly with gap control. Embodiments disclosed herein relate to one or more embodiments of and methods for controlling gaps between helically wrapped layers in a pipe structure. A tubular assembly includes a fluid barrier, a first layer, and a second layer comprising a plurality of non-interlocking helical wraps and disposed on an outer surface of the first layer, in which the first layer is disposed between the fluid barrier and the second layer and configured to at least partially displace into a space created between adjacent non-interlocking helical wraps of the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: DeepFlex Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Kalman, Liang Yu
  • Patent number: 8960239
    Abstract: An unbonded flexible pipe with a length and a center axis along its length includes an internal sealing sheath surrounding the center axis, and at least two tensile armor layers having cross wound elements surrounding the internal sealing sheath. The two tensile armor layers include a first tensile armoring layer having a plurality of first helically wound, elongate armoring elements, and a second tensile armoring layer having a plurality of second helically wound, elongate armoring elements. The first helically wound, elongate armoring elements consist of a first material or a first combination of materials and the second helically wound, elongate armoring elements consist of a second material or a second combination of materials, where the first material or the first combination of materials is different from the second material or the second combination of materials. The unbonded flexible pipe further includes a galvanic barrier layer between the first and the second tensile armoring layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S
    Inventor: Kristian Glejbol
  • Patent number: 8955553
    Abstract: A flexible pipe body and method of producing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The flexible pipe body includes an inner fluid retaining layer; an armour layer provided radially outwards of the inner fluid retaining layer; and a buoyancy layer including a plurality of discrete elongate buoyancy elements provided radially outwards of the fluid retaining layer wound at a helical pitch angle equal to or more than 0 degrees and less than about 85 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the flexible pipe body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Terence Henry Sheldrake, Andrew Peter Roberts, Zhimin Tan
  • Patent number: 8919387
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a mechanism for providing high load capabilities in downhole locations. The mechanism comprises tubulars, at least one of which is constructed from composite; and the tubular composite being for high load capabilities in connecting the tubulars. In some cases, there are at least two tubulars in the mechanism. In some cases, the mechanism comprises a thread form, which thread form is mounted to translate an axially directed force into a radially directed force. In some cases, the high load capabilities include a load bearing flank angle of 15° to 50° as measured from the axis of said tubular. In some cases, the high load capabilities include a clearance flank angle of 15° or less as measured perpendicular to the axis of said tubular. In some cases, at least one of the tubulars includes a thread pitch, having from 2 to 12 threads per inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Plastics & Composites, L.P.
    Inventor: Tracy Michael Martin
  • Patent number: 8839823
    Abstract: A metal pipe of single piece construction including a wall formed of a single corrugated metal sheet. The sheet has opposing first and second edges extending longitudinally along the sheet. The wall includes a seam that is formed by abutting portions of the first and second edges. The seam extends helically about and along a length of the wall. The sheet has an interior wall side and an opposing exterior wall side. The interior wall side defines an interior wall surface of the wall. The exterior wall side defines an exterior wall surface of the wall. The sheet has a sinusoidal cross-sectional profile defining 3 corrugation peaks at the interior wall surface and 3 corrugation peaks at the exterior wall surface. The sheet has a flattened sheet width of approximately 27 inches and a finished sheet width of approximately 21 inches. The wall defines a pipe diameter of at least 96 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: W.E. Hall Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jordan Twist
  • Publication number: 20140261701
    Abstract: A collapsible air duct with inflatable insulative sleeve for supplying preconditioned air from a remote source to aircraft and similar vehicles. The system includes first annular interior chamber substantially surrounded by an a non-rigid inflatable sleeve which provides a thermal barrier from adverse environmental conditions. The non-rigid inflatable sleeve is filled by a portion of the air supply transiting the annular interior chamber through a series of perforations, thus providing an insulative air layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Mark Deutsch
  • Patent number: 8789562
    Abstract: Provided is a flexible tube which is used to load fluid from a floating facility on the sea onto a tanker, which is suitable for transport of cryogenic fluid such as LNG, and which is capable of quickly and reliably detecting leakage of the fluid in the tube. Also provided is a structure for detecting leakage of fluid in a tube. A water impermeable and heat insulating layer is provided on the outer periphery of a heat insulating layer. The water impermeable and heat insulating layer, together with the heat insulating layer, thermally insulates LNG flowing through a corrugated tube from the outside of a flexible tube. Unlike the heat insulating layer, the water impermeable and heat insulating layer is poor in liquid permeability, and fluid such as LNG hardly permeates the water impermeable and heat insulating layer. That is, the water impermeable and heat insulating layer serves as a water impermeable layer between the inside and outside of the water impermeable and heat insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignees: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Kagoura
  • Patent number: 8636037
    Abstract: In a flexible tube for fluid transport, a resin layer is on the outer periphery of an interlocked tube for shielding the fluid flowing within the interlocked tube. An internal-pressure-resistant reinforcing layer is on the outer periphery of the resin layer for reinforcing primarily against internal pressure, etc. of the fluid flowing within the interlocked tube. An axial-force reinforcing layer is on the outer periphery of the internal-pressure-resistant reinforcing layer for primarily suppressing the interlocked tube from deforming in the axial direction of the flexible tube. The axial-force reinforcing layer is formed from alternately winding two layers of reinforcing strips with a long pitch. The reinforcing strips are each configured from a metal strip, a resin layer that covers the strip, and the like. The resin layer is resin to which a microparticulate sulfide-trapping material has been added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Ishii, Hiroki Manabe, Michimasa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8573260
    Abstract: A metal pipe of single piece includes a wall formed of a single corrugated metal sheet. The sheet has opposing first and second edges extending longitudinally along the sheet. The wall includes a seam formed by abutting portions of the first and second edges. The seam extends helically about and along a length of the wall. The wall has an interior wall side and an opposing exterior wall side. The metal sheet has an interior wall side and an opposing exterior wall side. The interior wall side defines an inner wall surface of the wall, and the exterior wall side defines an outer wall surface of the wall. The sheet has a sinusoidal cross-sectional profile defining 5 corrugation peaks at the inner wall surface and 5 corrugation peaks at the outer wall surface. The sheet has a flattened sheet width of approximately 27¼ inches and a finished sheet width of approximately 23 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: W.E. Hall Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jordan Twist
  • Patent number: 8561648
    Abstract: A flexible pipe and a method of producing it. The pipe has two tubular structures, internal and external, and a tubular axial blocking layer. The tubular blocking layer comprises two section wires each having a trapezoidal cross section. The trapezoidal cross section defines a base and two sloping lateral flanks. The base of one of the two section wires is oriented toward the internal tubular structure. The base of the other section wire is oriented in the opposite direction. The section wires are wound side by side forming contiguous coils. The internal tubular structure includes a wire having a wound structure to form transversely blocked coils. One of the two section wires is wound against said structure coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Fabrice Bectarte, Alain Coutarel, Pascal Estrier, Patrice Joël Louis Jung, Jean Rigaud
  • Patent number: 8555932
    Abstract: A metal pipe of single piece construction including a wall formed of a single corrugated metal sheet. The sheet has opposing first and second edges extending longitudinally along the sheet. The wall includes a seam that is formed by abutting portions of the first and second edges. The seam extends helically about and along a length of the wall. The sheet has an interior wall side and an opposing exterior wall side. The interior wall side defines an interior wall surface of the wall. The exterior wall side defines an exterior wall surface of the wall. The sheet has a sinusoidal cross-sectional profile defining 3 corrugation peaks at the interior wall surface and 3 corrugation peaks at the exterior wall surface. The sheet has a flattened sheet width of approximately 27 inches and a finished sheet width of approximately 21 inches. The wall defines a pipe diameter of at least 96 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: W.E. Hall Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jordan Twist
  • Patent number: 8505587
    Abstract: For use in the manufacture of reinforcement layers for flexible pipes which are capable of absorbing compressive or tensile forces, and which are used for the transport of oil and gas, a thermoplastic material is applied to a strength-imparting layer. The strength-imparting layers are reeled on reels, and following unreeling, are laminated by application of heat and in direct continuation applied to the pipe. The strength-imparting layer includes a polymer reinforced with at least 20% by volume of fibers. The thermoplastic is of a reversible type (it may change from being relatively soft, but non-sticky to being sticky by changes in temperature). The method allows manufacture of very strong reinforcements for flexible pipes which cannot be manufactured using solid material, e.g., steel, since high performing bending forces are required in shaping. A reinforcement element is provided which is capable of resisting instantaneous shock loads as the thermoplastic material is protective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S
    Inventors: Kristian Glejbol, Jakob Wedel-Heinen
  • Publication number: 20130192708
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides an energy dissipative tube including: a length of tubing; an inner resin layer surrounding an outer surface of said tubing, wherein said inner resin layer is substantially free of a fire retardant; a non-expanded metal foil adjacent to an outer surface of said inner resin layer; and an outer resin layer surrounding said metal foil and said inner resin layer, wherein said outer resin layer includes a fire retardant. Another aspect of the invention provides an energy dissipative tube include: a length of tubing; an inner resin layer surrounding an outer surface of said tubing, wherein said inner resin layer is static dissipative; a non-expanded metal foil adjacent to an outer surface of said inner resin layer; and an outer resin layer surrounding said metal foil and said inner resin layer, wherein said outer resin layer is conductive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: TITEFLEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Titeflex Corporation
  • Patent number: 8485229
    Abstract: A wrappable, styrenic thermal insulation product for application to flexible, armored pipe is in the form of an elongate tape of generally rectangular cross-section, optionally being provided with interlocking and/or overlapping portions so as to provide a continuous insulating layer when one or more layers of the tape are wound around the pipe. The interlocking and/or overlapping portions may be of various configurations. The tape is comprised of polystyrene or a styrene-based thermoplastic having high compressive creep resistance, high compressive strength and low thermal conductivity and may be foamed or unfoamed. A flexible, armored pipe incorporates one or more layers of the wrappable, styrenic thermal insulation product between an outer armor layer and an outer polymeric sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: ShawCor Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Jackson, Adam Jackson
  • Patent number: 8469062
    Abstract: A durable, semi-rigid, flexible duct including a pair of coaxial sleeves, namely an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve disposed parallel to and about the inner sleeve and a resilient wound element disposed between the sleeves. Each of the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve constitutes an aluminum foil ribbon. The wound element imparts corrugations to the two sleeves, such that the duct is extendible between a compacted configuration suitable for storage and for shipping and an extended configuration suitable for installation in a gas transport arrangement. Closely and evenly-spaced ridges that are situated in between the corrugations, add rigidity and durability to the duct. Both the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve are of a predetermined thickness rendering the duct substantially rigid when in an extended configuration and enabling the duct to maintain its substantial rigidity upon extension from a compacted configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventors: Steven Allan Liebson, Robert Cohen, Graeme Anthony Liebson
  • Patent number: 8459306
    Abstract: A flexible pipe body and a method of manufacturing flexible pipe body and a tape used during the manufacturing are disclosed. The flexible pipe body includes at least one layer of helically wound tape, adjacent windings in the layer of tape being interlocked by a hooked region of a winding nested in a valley region of an adjacent winding wherein the tape has a cross-sectional profile comprising a first contact surface and parallel spaced apart side walls substantially perpendicular to the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Wellstream International Limited
    Inventors: Richard Alastair Clements, Zhimin Tan
  • Patent number: 8439085
    Abstract: A semi-rigid, flexible duct including a pair of coaxial sleeves, namely an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve disposed parallel to and about the inner sleeve and a resilient wound element disposed between the sleeves. Each of the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve constitutes an aluminum foil ribbon. The wound element imparts corrugations to the two sleeves, such that the duct is extendible between a compacted configuration suitable for storage and for shipping and an extended configuration suitable for installation in a gas transport arrangement. Both the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve are of a predetermined thickness rendering the duct substantially rigid when in an extended configuration and enabling the duct to maintain its substantial rigidity upon extension from a compacted configuration. Optionally, at least one of the sleeves further includes a second, plastic layer bonded to the aluminum foil ribbon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven Liebson, Graeme Liebson, Robert Cohen
  • Patent number: 8418729
    Abstract: A seamless convoluted hose assembly. The assembly includes: a tubular inner liner having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inner liner wall therebetween which defines a passageway. The assembly further includes a helical coil or a plurality of annular loops which produce convolutions in the outer surface of the tubular liner when the tubular inner liner is forced through the helical coil or plurality of loops under heat and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventors: Norman S. Martucci, Michael A. Martucci
  • Patent number: 8353316
    Abstract: A subsea flexible pipe, including an internal sealing sheath (18), at least one tensile pressure armor layer (14, 16) wound around the internal sealing sheath, a retaining layer (12) having at least one reinforcing strip (34), the reinforcing strip having filamentary strands (36) directed substantially longitudinally. The filamentary strands (36) having polymer fibers (38). The polymer fibers have, at room temperature, an elastic modulus in excess of 55 GPa so that the reinforcing strip is able to prevent radial expansion of the armor layer, when the armor layer experiences radial force; and the polymer fibers furthermore have an elongation at break in excess of 4% such that the reinforcing strip is able to undergo deformation without breaking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventor: Anh Tuan Do
  • Publication number: 20120291906
    Abstract: A tube structure for bicycle cable includes a rigid metallic member spirally wound into a tubular body. The tubular body has a channel centrally defined therein and axially extending therethrough for adapting to be passed through by a bicycle brake cable. A flexible metallic member is connected with the rigid metallic member and is spirally disposed along a length of the rigid metallic member. When the tubular body is impacted with an external force, the rigid metallic member provides an enhanced rigidity to the tubular body for preventing a deformation of the tubular body. The flexible metallic member and the rigid metallic member are alternately arranged so as to allow the tubular body to be bendable and have a sufficient ductility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventor: Wayne-Ian Moore
  • Patent number: 8302633
    Abstract: A flexible pipe comprising a flexible cylindrical tubular pipe body connected at each of its ends to a rigid connector end fitting in the form of a sleeve. The wall of the pipe body is mechanically reinforced by at least one traction layer of filaments of small thickness, presenting high traction strength, that are wound helically about the longitudinal axis of the pipe. The traction layer is composed of an array of uninterrupted filaments interconnecting the two end fittings alternately in one direction and then in the other direction, while being fastened on the end fittings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Saltel Industries
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Saltel
  • Patent number: 8276620
    Abstract: A flexible pipe for conducting fluid, such as offshore production fluids, has interior tubing, a series of rings and clamps, and exterior tubing. The interior tubing has an extruded tube and a surrounding layer. Outer rings dispose about the interior tubing and abut end-to-end. Inner rings dispose on the tubing and fit in between each of the outer rings. These inner rings have tapered surfaces that fit against beveled ends defined in each end of the outer ring's internal bore. The clamps affix the abutting ends of the outer rings together, and the exterior tubing disposes on the series of rings and clamps. This exterior tubing has an inner layer of wrapped tape surrounded by an extruded tube. A flange couples by an end clamp to the end ring of the pipe, and inner and outer supports on the flange support the interior and exterior tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventor: Dang The Vo
  • Patent number: 8210212
    Abstract: Flexible pipe body, a method of manufacturing flexible pipe body and a method of providing a flexible pipe are disclosed. The flexible pipe body includes a fluid retaining layer, at least one tensile armor layer, at least one extruded thermal insulation layer over an outermost one of the at least one tensile armor layers and an outer shield layer over the insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Wellstream International Limited
    Inventor: Stefan Buchner
  • Publication number: 20120155813
    Abstract: A spoolable composite tube capable of being spooled onto a reel for storage and for use in oil field applications. The spoolable tube exhibits unique anistropic characteristics that provide improved burst and collapse pressures, increased tensile strength, compression strength, and load carrying capacity, while still remaining sufficiently bendable to be spooled onto a reel in an open bore configuration. The spoolable composite tube can include an inner liner, an interface layer, fiber composite layers, a pressure barrier layer, and an outer protective layer. The fiber composite layers can have a unique triaxial braid structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Fiberspar Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Quigley, Stephen C. Nolet, Jerry G. Williams
  • Patent number: 8163364
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible unbonded pipe comprising an inner liner capable of forming a barrier against outflow of a fluid which is conveyed through the pipe, and one or more armouring layers on the outer side of the inner liner. The flexible unbonded pipe comprises at least one polymer layer and at least one film layer, the polymer layer being bonded to the film layer via one or more bondings selected from the group of chemical bondings and physical bondings. The film layer may preferably be a metal film layer. The polymer layer may preferably be cross-linked polyethylene. The interfacial bonding between the polymer layer and the film layer should preferably be sufficiently strong to prevent creation of gas pockets between the layers when subjected to an increased pressure of aggressive fluids on the film side of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: NKT Flexibles I/S
    Inventors: Poul Erik Braad, Inger Margrete Procida
  • Patent number: 8156966
    Abstract: There is disclosed an animal-resistant tubing system. The animal resistant tubing system may include a flexible tube disposed within a coil shield, the coil shield having an uncompressed length longer than a length of the flexible tube. The coil shield may have an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the flexible tube. The entire length of the coil shield may be free to move radially, axially and rotationally about the flexible tube except that the first and second fittings may prevent the coil shield from moving axially beyond the ends of the flexible tube, such that the length of the coil shield is compressed between the first fitting and the second fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Senet Partners, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley Senet
  • Patent number: 8056585
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible pipe for transportation of fluids and gasses, e.g. useful in water transportation, and in offshore transportation of crude oil e.g. from seabed to an installation or between installations. The flexible pipe of the invention comprises a new type of armouring layers which is made from a combination of one or more profiled wires and one or more metal strips. A folded strip is an endless unit with at least one fold and a width which in unfolded condition is at least 6 times its thickness, such as at least 10, such as at least 15, such as at least 25 times its thickness or even up to 100 or 500 times its thickness. A profile is a preshaped non-folded cross sectional profile. The profile may preferably have a width of less than 6 times its thickness. The term ‘endless’ is used to indicate that the tapes and profiles are very long compared to their other dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: NKT Flexibles I/S
    Inventor: Jonas Gudme
  • Patent number: 7976920
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible unbonded pipe comprising an inner liner capable of forming a barrier against outflow of a fluid which is conveyed through the pipe, and one or more armouring layers on the outer side of the inner line. The flexible unbonded pipe comprises at least one polymer layer and one film layer, said polymer layer being bonded to said film layer. The film layer may preferably be a metal film layer, such as aluminum film, stainless steel film or duplex film. The polymer layer may preferably be cross-linked polyethylene. The interfacial bonding between the polymer layer and the film layer should preferably be sufficiently strong to prevent creation of gas pockets between the layers when subjected to an increased pressure of aggressive fluids (hydrogen, sulphides, methane and carbon dioxide) on the film side of the pipe. Thereby, it is possible to protect armour layer(s) from aggressive fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: NKT Flexibles I/S
    Inventors: Poul Erik Braad, Inger Margrete Procida
  • Publication number: 20110162750
    Abstract: A flexible tubular duct for conveying corrosive fluids and used in the filed of petroleum extraction at sea. A flexible tubular duct includes at least one inner carcass (2) and a polymer sealing sheath (3). The inner carcass has a reinforcement metal profile (7) that is helically wound. The reinforcement metal profile (7) is made of an alloy having the following weight composition: 30 to 32% of Ni; 26 to 28% of Cr; 6 to 7% of Mo; 0.10 to 0.3% of N; 0.015% of C; 2% at most of Mn; 0.5 to 1.5% of Cu; 0.5% at most of impurities, the remainder consisting of Fe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventor: Didier Marchand
  • Patent number: 7971610
    Abstract: A tubular body comprises an inner hollow core and an outer casing of one or more strips of self mechanically inter-engaging helically wound material having a higher yield strength than that of the core material. Also provided is a method of forming the tubular body comprising the steps of winding the outer core onto the inner core and an end connector for use with said tubular body when said body is provided with helically extending detents on an outer surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: ITI Scotland Limited
    Inventors: John Peter Booth, Gordon David Lovis