With Interlocked Or Clamped Edge Patents (Class 138/135)
  • Patent number: 11712726
    Abstract: A machine that includes a first feeder, able to unwind a first tape; a profiler comprising an upstream profiling stage able to profile the first tape to form a pre-profiled first tape; a second feeder, able to unwind a second tape, the second tape being a flat tape. A profiler that includes an intermediate joining stage able to receive the second tape as a flat tape from the second feeder and able to join the pre-formed first tape and the flat second tape; and at least a downstream profiling stage configured to jointly profile the first tape and the second tape received from the intermediate joining stage and form a combined profiled strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventors: Rafael Pacheco Stikan, Onoraldo Soares Alves, Luiz Gustavo Polez
  • Patent number: 11554400
    Abstract: A product having a metal strip and a central longitudinal axis. The strip has two or more strip parts, each having a common radius of curvature defining a helix having an angle being offset from one another in the direction of the axis. A cross section of the strip parts causes them to be interlocked together throughout their lengths to define a flexible metal tube. The outside diameter of the tube is between ?? and 1?? and the helix angle of each strip part is between eight and thirty degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventors: Marc Fitzner, Paul Mcmillen
  • Patent number: 11406798
    Abstract: A guide wire which is flexible in a distal portion and which can prevent occurrence of damage such as breakage and separation of a coil in the distal portion has an elongated core member and a tubular body located so as to cover a periphery of a distal portion of the core member. The tubular body is formed using a belt-shaped member wound in a spiral shape, and has an engagement portion which causes side portions adjacent in a longitudinal axis direction of the core member to engage with each other in the belt-shaped member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kayo Kambara
  • Patent number: 11364660
    Abstract: Manufacture of a pre-impregnated fibrous material which contains continuous fibers and a thermoplastic matrix, the material being made as a plurality of unidirectional parallel ribbons or sheets, and the method involving a step of pre-impregnating, in dry conditions, N parallel strands divided into X groups of Ni strands, by the thermoplastic matrix in powder form in a tank, ?Ni=N et X 3, one thereof from each series being immersed in the powder, each group of strands running on the same number Y of tensioning parts, and the parallel strands being separated by a spacing at least equal to the width of each strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: ARKEMA FRANCE
    Inventors: Gilles Hochstetter, Arthur Pierre Babeau, Axel Salinier, Thibaut Savart
  • Patent number: 11320068
    Abstract: A flexible pipe body and a method of providing electrical continuity are disclosed. The flexible pipe body comprises a first armour layer formed from a helical winding of a metal tape element, a further armour layer formed from a helical winding of a further metal tape element, and at least one intermediate layer between the first and further armour layers, said intermediate layer comprising a helically wound electrically insulating tape element (8000, 8001, 8002, 8003, 8004) and a helically wound electrically conductive tape element (8100, 8101, 8102, 8103, 8104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited
    Inventors: Sui Wang, Andrew Roberts, Laurence Baldwin
  • Patent number: 11169106
    Abstract: A method for nondestructive inspection of a flexible underwater pipe capable detecting a flooding of the annular space in which the armor layers are found. The method comprises the steps of arranging in the vicinity of the external sheath at least one pair of electrodes, measuring the impedance at the terminals of the pair of electrodes, at a frequency advantageously between 10 Hz and 10 MHz, and comparing the measured impedance with reference values so as to determine the nature of the fluid contained in the annular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventors: Yann Nicolas, Jean-Marc Decitre, Laura Pucci, Denis Premel
  • Patent number: 11085559
    Abstract: Apparatus, flexible pipe body and methods are disclosed. The apparatus comprising at least one connector body comprising a first restraining arm portion and an opposed further restraining arm portion, each extending outwardly away from a common intersecting region of the connector body and comprising a respective locking surface, and at least one support arm portion that extends from the common intersecting region substantially perpendicular to the opposed arm portions and terminates with a flared end portion providing an abutment surface, wherein a distance between the common intersecting region and an abutment surface is less than 60% of said predetermined thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES ENERGY TECHNOLOGY UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Richard Clements
  • Patent number: 10350660
    Abstract: An automatic formation device or an automatic formation system sets an equipment operation time from a required manufacturing time per product during the manufacturing of tubes having a round, polygonal, or oblong cross-section, wherein values are calculated from a product diameter (D), and a pitch (P), a product length (L) and a preset time (T) of a metal band plate to be wound, operations of respective components are controlled on the basis of the calculated values while the respective values are being controlled, and the metal band plate is held by a chuck that is disposed on the tip side of a winding core member and rotates in a synchronized manner so as to prevent loosening of the wound metal band plate by tightening/untightening the metal band plate as needed. Also, a rotation speed correction function for a motor system is added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SHOWA RASENKAN SEISAKUSHO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norifusa Suzuki, Ryouichi Fukabori
  • Patent number: 9962750
    Abstract: The present embodiments are directed to systems and methods for forming a pipe carcass. In one embodiment, a first series of forming rollers are configured for forming a primary carcass strip material. A second series of forming rollers are configured for forming a second strip material into a shape different than the primary carcass strip material. The primary carcass strip material and the second strip material, after being fed through the first and second series of rollers, respectively, are each fed concurrently into a plurality of winding rolls for assembly with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: BARTELL MACHINERY SYSTEMS, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Walter Frederick Thompson, Paul David Gatley, Kenneth Brian Turvey
  • Patent number: 9835273
    Abstract: A flexible pipe body and method of producing a flexible pipe body, the flexible pipe body including a collapse resistant layer comprising a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, the radially inner surface comprising a plurality of substantially regular protrusions and/or depressions extending in a direction perpendicular to a tangent of the radially inner surface, for breaking up a boundary layer of fluid flowing along the flexible pipe body in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Richard Alasdair Clements, Krishna Kant Agarwal, Ravindra Devi, Jonathan David Leyland, Senthamil Selvan
  • Patent number: 9341288
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventor: Didier Marchand
  • Patent number: 9303463
    Abstract: The invention relates to a riser for transporting fluid between an upper facility and a subsea facility. The riser has a center axis and a length along the center axis and comprises an unbonded flexible metal armored riser section and an unbonded flexible composite armored riser section arranged in fluid connection to each other. The metal armored riser section comprises at least two cross-wound tensile armor layers each comprising a plurality of helically wound elongate metal armor elements wound with a winding angle of about 60 degree or less relative to the center axis. The composite armored riser section comprises at least one tensile armor layer comprising a plurality of helically wound elongate composite armor elements wound with a winding angle of about 60 degree or less relative to the center axis. The invention also relates to an offshore system comprising such riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO DENMARK I/S
    Inventors: Kristian Glejbol, Niels J. Rishoj Nielsen
  • Patent number: 9220398
    Abstract: The present invention relates, generally, to the reduction or elimination of permanent and catastrophic herniations in Bowden cables or coil pipes in articulating devices or snake-like robots. More particularly, the present invention relates managing the coil pipes in a spiral pattern along the articulating device or snake-like robot to reduce or eliminate the necessity of the Bowden cables or coil pipes to slide along the length of the articulating device or snake-like robot. Reduction or elimination of the necessity for the Bowden cables or coil pipes to slide reduces or eliminates catastrophic herniations in articulating devices or snake-like robots undergoing one or more articulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Robert Woodley, Joshua Oen, Aaron Brown, Chris Julian, Keith P. Laby, Wade Keller, Lawrence Kerver, Marc Kreidler, Scott Reiner, Katherine Whitin
  • Patent number: 9188254
    Abstract: An unbonded flexible pipe for transportation of fluids and comprising a tubular inner sealing sheath defining a bore. At least one armor layer surrounds the inner sealing sheath and a carcass is arranged in the bore to support the inner sealing sheath. The carcass comprises at least one profiled elongate element, which is helically wound to form directly and/or indirectly engaging elongate element windings along the length of the pipe. The carcass provides a quasi fluid permeable inner wall of the bore with discontinuities between successive turns of the wound elongate element(s). The discontinuities have an average width in the axial direction of the pipe which is about 3 mm or less when the pipe is in an unloaded and unbent condition, and the pipe can bend with a minimum bending radius of about 10 m or less in an unloaded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO DENMARK I/S
    Inventors: Jonas Gudme, Karsten Gorm Nielsen
  • Patent number: 9027607
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pre-stressed insulated tubing, including an inner tube (3) and an outer tube (2) nested outside of the inner tube (3), and a closed ring cavity is formed between the inner tube (3) and the outer tube (2), wherein an insulated casing (4) is arranged in the closed ring cavity. The pre-stressed insulated tubing of the present invention features high vacuum degree, high thermal insulation level and long working life, and the insulated casing is reusable for cost saving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: General Machinery Plant of Liaohe Petroleum Exploration Bureau of CNPC
    Inventors: Yaoqing Pan, Yongning Wu, Jinli Zhu, Xiaohui Zhang, Wei Zhang, Zhenyu Xu, Zhenyu Jia, Ji Chen, Yi Wang
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8973618
    Abstract: A stripwound hose expandable from a compressed state to a stretched state includes at least two spiral-wound strips having at least three telescoping portions in a direction of a longitudinal axis. The telescoping portions are arranged in axially overlapping relation, when the stripwound hose assumes the compressed state; and extend in axial side-by-side relation, when the stripwound hose assumes the stretched state. The telescoping portions are hooked to one another when being axially stretched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: WESTFALIA Metallschlauchtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Weiss, Karl-Heinz Münker, Dietmar Baumhoff, Andreas Gerhard, Karsten Schenk, Michael Henkelmann, Oliver Selter, Stefan Hauk
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8714204
    Abstract: A free venting pipe and method of forming same, comprising a permeable tubular core member with at least one permeable hoop reinforcement layer around the core member; a substantially non-permeable membrane layer positioned outside of the hoop reinforcement layer and at least one permeable tensile reinforcement layer positioned outside of the membrane layer whereby a free volume annulus does not exist between any of the layers of the free venting pipe. The hoop and tensile reinforcement layers are comprised of a laminate construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: DeepFlex Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Bryant
  • Patent number: 8640739
    Abstract: An undersea flexible pipe for conveying hydrocarbons, the pipe including from the inside to the outside an inner sealing sheath, at least one ply of traction armors wound about the inner sealing sheath, a deformable holding layer including at least one flexible ribbon or holding band wound about the traction armor ply, and at least one tubular structure surrounding the holding layer, wherein the ribbon includes fiber strands oriented substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ribbon. The ribbon is covered by a reinforcing layer of a polymer material for the deformation resistance of the holding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Anh Tuan Do, Patrice Joël Louis Jung, Alain Coutarel
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8497764
    Abstract: A measurement system for finding the position of a primary part of a linear motor with respect to a secondary part includes an absolute value measurement system for recording a first reference position of the primary part with respect to the secondary part, and an incremental measurement system for recording a fine position of the secondary part relative to the first reference position recorded by the absolute measurement system. The absolute value measurement system includes at least one RFID reader and at least one first RFID tag which is identifiable by the RFID reader, with the first RFID tag intended to identify the first reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Roland Finkler, Stephan Fretzschner, Markus Knorr, Joachim Scharnagl, Georg Schlatterer
  • Patent number: 8474489
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible pipe comprising a plurality of layers surrounding a longitudinal axis and an at least partly integrated sensor arrangement. The plurality of layers comprising an internal sheath and one or more armouring layers, at least one armouring layer comprising at least one folded metal strip helically wound around said longitudinal axis of the pipe, at least a part of said sensor arrangement being placed in a fold of said folded metal strip, the sensor arrangement preferably comprises an optical fiber which is placed in the fold of said folded metal strip. By this flexible pipe with a sensor arrangement, the sensor arrangement may be incorporated into the armouring layer in a simple and safe way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco Denmark
    Inventor: Jonas Gudme
  • 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: 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120018025
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to one or more embodiments of and methods to make a reinforced flexible pipe. The reinforced flexible pipe includes a pipe structure, a first composite tape member having a T-shaped cross section, and a second composite tape member having a T-shaped cross section, in which the first composite tape member is wrapped on the pipe structure in a first orientation and the second composite tape member is wrapped on the pipe structure in a second orientation. One or more embodiments relate to a method of forming the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: DEEPFLEX INC.
    Inventor: Bin Chen
  • Patent number: 8100150
    Abstract: A flexible duct with a frame made by winding a S-profiled metal strip into clamped turns, wherein the edges of two adjacent turns overlap each other in order to form between them a helical closed space having an essentially rectangular cross-section and at least partially filled by a helically-wound spacer separate from the metal strip and resting on at least two opposing walls of the lower surface and the upper surface, wherein the spacer has, in the winding radial direction, a crush resistance substantially equal to zero and, in the winding longitudinal direction along the pipe, a substantial crush resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Patrice Joël Louis Jung, Philippe Secher
  • Patent number: 8082954
    Abstract: A flexible pipe for transporting a fluid in a marine environment. The pipe comprises a liner for confining the fluid, an armoring layer surrounding the liner, and an outer protective sheath surrounding the armoring layer and allowing radial expansion and contraction of the armoring layers. The outer protective sheath comprises at least two protective layers of helically wound composite wires with essentially opposite winding angles and locally held together, providing a relatively flexible yet fixed structure of the outer sheath. The outer sheath is held together in an array of discrete spots or along linear or curved paths. Flexibility is maintained because the stiffness in shear in the wires of adjacent protective layers may be made much larger in areas being locally held together than outside these areas. This allows a change of angles between the wires of two adjacent layers of the outer protective sheath during elongation or shortening of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: NKT Flexibles I/S
    Inventor: Jan Rytter
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110214771
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing flexible pipe body and flexible pipe body of a type suitable for transporting production fluids is disclosed. The flexible pipe body includes an armour layer comprising interlocked windings of armour tape comprising at least one armour locating element and a reinforcement layer comprising a layer of reinforcement tape comprising at least one reinforcement locating element over the armour layer. The armour locating element and reinforcement locating element locate windings of the reinforcement tape with respect to respective windings of the armour tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventor: Geoffrey Stephen Graham
  • Patent number: 7987875
    Abstract: A flexible, typically un-bonded, armored pipe, and a method manufacturing a flexible pipe. The pipe has a center axis and comprises an inner liner surrounded by a radial armoring and an axial armoring, the radial and axial armoring each comprising at least one armoring layer of armoring profiles wound with winding angles ?i relative to the center axis. The winding angle of the innermost armoring layer ?innermost is larger than the winding angle of the outermost armoring layer ?outermost. The outer radial armoring layer has sufficient strength and flexibility to prevent prohibitively large radial deformations of underlying axial armoring layers without considerably increasing the radial contact pressure on underlying axial armoring layer. At least one fibrous layer, comprising at least two fibrous cords wound on an underlying layer, surrounds the outermost armoring layer. The flexible pipe is useful in terrestrial and/or subsea transport of fluids at elevated temperature and/or pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: NKT Flexibles I/S
    Inventor: Jan Rytter
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7946313
    Abstract: A flexible pipe for fluid transport especially in offshore application has a first extruded tube having nylon and a first layer having aromatic polyamide disposed about the first tube. A plurality of rings composed of stainless steel are disposed about the first layer. Each of the rings has first ends with circumferential lips and second ends with circumferential grooves interconnecting together. These lips and grooves permit adjacent ones of the rings to tilt relative to one another by about 1.5-degrees for every 4-inches of flexible pipe. A second extruded tube having fiberglass is disposed about the plurality of rings, and an exterior jacket having nylon is disposed about the second tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Inventor: Dang The Vo
  • Patent number: 7891384
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible tubular duct for transporting gases under high pressure in the field of offshore oil exploitation. The duct is of the unlinked and smooth passageway type, and comprises from inside to outside an inner polymer tube, a pressure vault formed by the short-pitch rolling of at least one wire, a first inner pair of crossed traction armor plies, an intermediate polymer sleeve, a second outer pair of crossed traction armor plies and an outer polymer sleeve. The inner pair of traction armor plies is wound with a helical angle of less than 35° and the outer pair of traction armor plies is wound with a helical angle substantially equal to 55°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Eric Binet, Tim Crome
  • Publication number: 20110036441
    Abstract: A flexible duct with a frame made by winding a S-profiled metal strip into clamped turns, wherein the edges of two adjacent turns overlap each other in order to form between them a helical closed space having an essentially rectangular cross-section and at least partially filled by a helically-wound spacer separate from the metal strip and resting on at least two opposing walls of the lower surface and the upper surface, wherein the spacer has, in the winding radial direction, a crush resistance substantially equal to zero and, in the winding longitudinal direction along the pipe, a substantial crush resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Patrice Joël Louis Jung, Philippe Secher
  • Patent number: 7870725
    Abstract: An exhaust mounting system includes an exhaust component having a pair of ridges along an outer perimeter. A mounting band is disposed around the outer perimeter of the exhaust component between the ridges. An isolation pad is disposed between the exhaust component and the mounting bracket for absorbing vibration energy between the mounting band and the exhaust component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Gary J. Hazelton
  • Patent number: 7784498
    Abstract: A flexible pipeline with multiple pipes, adapted for hydrocarbon transport, the pipeline comprising a flexible core element inside which flows hydrocarbon, an outer sheath around the flexible core element and at least one peripheral steel alloy pipe extending longitudinally in an annular space located between the outer sheath and the flexible core element, the annular space further comprising metal elements in contact with an aqueous medium containing oxygen and the metal elements is susceptible to being oxidized by fixing oxygen. The oxidizable metal elements and is peripheral pipe are maintained mutually spaced apart to be electrically decoupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Francois Dupoiron, Sébastien Jacquemin
  • Patent number: 7775076
    Abstract: Many types of stabilized lock-seam tubing are provided, as well as devices, apparatus and methods for producing such stabilized tubing. Advantageously, pinch-locked tubing according to the invention, which comprise interlocking, spaced pinched deformations of the lock-seam, greatly resists side-slip and other shape deformations, including those typically produced by cutting the tubing, and by ovalizing it. Many permutations of lock-seam pinching rollers and related devices for producing stabilized lock-seam tubing are provided. Pinch roller assemblies of the invention are suitable for use with conventional machines as well as machines adapted specifically for them. Apparatus of the invention are suitable producing helically wound or straight lock-seam tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventors: Trevor Dale Schultz, Steven Mark Schultz
  • Patent number: 7770603
    Abstract: A flexible tubular conduit for transporting hydrocarbons comprising at least two metal sheathing covers which are separated by a plastic anti-wear layer. Each cover is produced by helically winding a metal longitudinal element. The anti-wear layer is produced by helically winding a plastic material strip. The plastic material comprises an amorphous polymer with a glass transition temperature ranging from 175 to 255° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventor: Jean Hardy
  • Patent number: 7766051
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible pipe for transporting hydrocarbons, comprising the following, from the inside towards the outside: a cylindrical structural set adapted in such a way that it can withstand radial stress and at least one first armure lap, said first armure lap comprising a plurality of armure threads wherein the armure threads consist of formed and flattened metal threads, the width of said armure I being greater than the thickness e when they are wound in parallel in the form of a spiral with a longitudinal pitch around the structure set, said threads forming an angle of less than 60° angle with the generators (G) of said structural set, and the width/thickness ratio of the armure threads is greater than 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Alain Coutarel, Fabrice Bectarte
  • Patent number: 7757720
    Abstract: Modified-profile metal strips, and annular and spiral metal pipes and other products formed from such strips. The strips comprise a plurality of spaced longitudinal ribs of size and transverse location selected to increase the strength of a given thickness or gauge of the strip and the associated strength of a product formed from the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Pacific Roller Die Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Miller
  • Publication number: 20100154915
    Abstract: A hose is provided by the present invention. The hose includes a nut cap, a plastic hose and a metal spiral hose. On at least one end of the metal spiral hose is disposed an outer sleeve and an inner metal sleeve. In which, the inner metal sleeve has an initial outer diameter smaller than a bore diameter of the metal spiral hose so as to be installed therein, and the inner metal sleeve is then enlarged in a stamping manner to form an enlarged section, such that the metal spiral hose is tightly gripped between the outer and inner metal sleeves. The plastic hose is disposed in the metal spiral hose, and on at least one end of the plastic hose is disposed a positioning sleeve, so that the plastic hose is positioned between the inner metal sleeve and the positioning sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventor: Chao-Chung WU
  • Patent number: 7735524
    Abstract: A hose (10) comprising a tubular body (12) of flexible material arranged between an inner and an outer helically wound wire (22, 24). The hose (10) further comprises an elongate member having opposing longitudinal edges, the elongate member being helically wound around the tubular body such that the opposing longitudinal edges of the layer are in an adjacent or overlapping arrangement, wherein each longitudinal edge includes a formation capable of interengaging with a cooperating formation on the opposing longitudinal edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: BHP Billiton Petroleum Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Raymond Nicholas Burke, Eric Joseph Davis, Gerard Anthony Hall, Matthew Vernon Ridolfi, Simon Peter Alexander Thorp, Joel Aron Witz, David Charles Cox, Richard James Anthony Smith, Anthony James Wort
  • Patent number: 7726345
    Abstract: A flexible cable may include an elongated shaped strip helically wound around itself to form a generally tubular body having at least one interior passageway and at least one conductor at least partially disposed within the interior passageway. The elongated shaped strip may include a non-rectangular cross-sectional thickness having a central portion disposed between a first and a second end portion. The first and second end portions may extend generally outwardly from the central portion from generally opposite sides. At least a portion of the central portion may include a cross-sectional thickness TC which is less than a maximum cross-sectional thickness TM of the elongated shaped strip. The first and second end portions may include a first and a second cross-section thickness TS1, TS2, respectively, wherein at least one of the first and second cross-section thicknesses TS1, TS2 is greater than the cross-sectional thickness TC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventor: Allan Stikeleather