Pipes and tubular conduits – Flexible – Spirally wound material
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-09
2001-09-04
Hook, James (Department: 3752)
Pipes and tubular conduits
Flexible
Spirally wound material
C138S133000, C138S135000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283161
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a flexible tube having an elongated reinforcing element with a T-shaped cross section.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
According to the prior art, reinforcing shapes with a flattened form used for flexible tubes are, either S-shaped or Z-shaped and are consequently are difficult to manufacture and install precisely and stably in a helical wrap, or are U-shaped as disclosed, for example, in FR 2,561,745. However, flattened U-shaped reinforcing shapes do not have optimum performance with a given layer thickness since the U shape reinforcing element must be thin in order to receive the arms of adjacent windings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the present text, an elongated reinforcing element may be designated by the terms “shaped element” or “shape.” The present invention relates to a reinforced flexible tube having an elongated reinforcing element that is easy to manufacture and install, is stable once installed, and gives good performance optimization for a given layer thickness.
Moreover, the shape according to the invention avoids or reduces contact pressures between adjacent reinforcing elements as may be observed in the case of Z or S shapes.
Moreover, the device according to the invention does not require the use of a large number of rings.
In general, the present invention relates to a reinforced flexible tube having at least one elongated reinforcing element.
According to the invention, the elongated element has a T-shaped cross section or profile, and is wound helically.
At least one edge of the elongated element may have a form designed to cooperate with a matching form to effect an interlock.
The matching form may be that of the edge of another elongated element having a cross section with a T shape with, this element being mounted in the reverse direction.
The matching form may be that of the edge of an elongated element, possibly made of metal, with a U-shaped cross section. The U-shaped elongated element may be placed such that the arms of the U extend outwardly or so that the arms of said U extend toward the tube axis, in which case the T-shaped elongated element will be placed appropriately.
When the arms of the U-shaped element extend toward the tube axis (i.e. the U-shaped element is located on the outside relative to the T-shaped element with which it cooperates), its role may be confined to keeping the adjacent-shaped wires in position. In this case, the T-shaped elements will receive most of the stresses due to internal pressure and the U shape may be dimensioned accordingly, i.e. the surface area of the U section may be small by comparison to that of the T-shaped element. The U-shaped element may be made of plastic, steel, or aluminum.
The tube according to the invention may have two elongated elements each having a T-shaped cross section, with the elongated elements being wound helically in the same direction, the first having its part of the cross section, corresponding to the foot of the T, directed toward the tube axis and the similar part of the second element being directed in the opposite direction.
These two elongated elements may have T shapes of the same height.
The first and second elongated elements may have the same section.
The first and second elongated elements may be made of metal.
The first elongated element may have a lower elasticity modulus than that of the second element.
The first and second elongated elements may have the same elasticity modulus.
The width of the part of the first element corresponding to the foot of the T may be greater than the width of the similar part of the second element.
The first and second elongated elements may be made and dimensioned to have the same elongation when the tube is internally pressurized, with no substantial transfer of force from one to the other of the elements by the respective edges of each of these elements.
The tube according to the invention may include aluminum and/or steel. In particular, at least one of the elongated elements with a T shape may be made of or include metal such as steel or an aluminum alloy.
At least one elongated reinforcing element may contain essentially aluminum or an aluminum alloy.
The ratio between the length (l) of the T arm to the height (e) of the T shape may be in a range of 0.5 and 1 and preferably, in a range of 0.66 and 1.
The ratio between the foot width P and the arm length (l) may be in a range of 1 and 3.
The ratio between the foot width P and the height (e) of the T shape may be in a range of 0.66 and 3.
The ratio between the width L of the head of the T shape and the height (e) of the T shape may be in a range of 1.66 and 5.
The width L of the head of the T shape will hereinafter be designated width (L) of the T.
The ratio between the height h of an arm and the height e of the T shape may be in a range of 0.66 and 0.83.
The ratio between the height of a lobe of arm C and the height (e) of the T shape may be in a range of 0.16 and 0.66 and preferably approximately 0.33.
The ratio of radial play between two T shapes nested head to foot in each other to the width of the T shape may be in a range of 2% and 10%.
The tube according to the invention may have an internal pressure-resistant armor or “arch” having at least one elongated element with a T shape.
The tube according to the invention may have a T shape with a winding angle substantially greater than 80° and, preferably, greater than 850 relative to the axis of the flexible tube.
The tube according to the invention may have at least one reinforcing layer and one internal sealing sheath that rests on the layer, which will also be designated internal layer. This internal layer may have a plurality of elongated elements with a T shape. This internal layer may have axial interlocking means.
The tube according to the invention may have several reinforcing layers and, of these layers, only the internal layer may have axial interlocking means.
The tube according to the invention may have two reinforcing layers one of which corresponds to the internal layer. The elongated elements of the internal layer may be wound at a first angle in a first direction relative to the tube axis and the elongated elements of the second layer may be wound at a second angle in the opposite direction, and one of the angles may be greater than or essentially equal to 55° and the other may be less than or essentially equal to 55°.
The tube according to the invention may also have two pairs of layers, one of these layers corresponding to the internal layer, with each of the layers of a given pair having elongated reinforcing elements wound at equal angles but in opposite directions, and the angle of one of the pairs may be greater than or essentially equal to 55° and the angle of the other pair may be less than or essentially equal to 55°.
The present invention also relates to a wire or elongated element for manufacturing flexible tubes, said wire having a T shape.
The material of the wires according to the invention, or the geometry of the shape of these wires, may correspond to that described in the preceding pages relative to the elongated element.
The tube according to the invention may have an internal carcass resistant to external pressure having at least one elongated element with a T shape.
The present invention relates advantageously to “multilayer” reinforced flexible tube structures including:
a pressure-resistant armor having one or more layers of rings or wires, cables, or shapes wound at a large angle, for example, 80° or 85° relative to the axis of the flexible tube.
a traction-resistant armor having at least two layers and preferably one or more pairs of cross layers of wires, cables, or shapes wound generally at an angle of less than or approximately 55°, with this angle not being too small to preserve the flexibility of the pipe, and
an inner armor, that is, an internal carcass resistant in particular to crushing forces, with the inner armor being generally composed of a helically wound layer of a shape at a large angle.
These layers may be disposed in any orde
Feret Jany
Herrero Jose Mallen
Antonelli Terry Stout & Kraus LLP
Hook James
Institut Francais du Pe'trole
LandOfFree
Flexible tube having at least one elongated reinforcing... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Flexible tube having at least one elongated reinforcing..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Flexible tube having at least one elongated reinforcing... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2469763