Connecting endpiece of a flexible pipe with a spacing member, associated flexible pipe and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10113677-B2
Application number	US-201414902305-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2014
Priority date	Jul 3, 2013
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

This endpiece includes at least one end segment of each armor element, an end vault and a cover, the end vault and the cover delimiting between them a chamber for receiving the end segment and a material for filling the receiving chamber, in which the end segment is embedded. The endpiece includes a spacing member positioned so as to internally bear upon the end segments of the armor elements of at least one armor layer. This spacing member defining, on at least one end segment of a armor element of said armor layer, contact areas axially spaced apart along said end segment, the contact areas delimiting between intermediate contact spaces between the filling material and the end segment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connection endpiece of a flexible pipe for conveying a fluid, the flexible pipe comprising at least one tubular sheath and at least one layer of tensile armors positioned externally with respect to the tubular sheath, the armor layer comprising a plurality of wire-shaped armor elements, the endpiece including:
at least one end segment of each armor element,
an end vault and a cover attached on the end vault, the end vault and the cover delimiting between them a chamber for receiving the at least one end segment;
a material for filling the receiving chamber, in which the at least one end segment is embedded;
at least one spacing member positioned so as to internally bear upon the end segments of the armor elements of at least one armor layer, the at least one spacing member defining, on at least one end segment of an armor element of said armor layer, contact areas axially spaced apart along said end segment, the contact areas delimiting between them intermediate contact spaces between the filling material and the at least one end segment; and
the endpiece includes at least one external collar radially surrounding the end segments of the outmost armor layer, the external collar preventing contact between the cover and the end segments of the outmost armor layer.

2. The endpiece according to claim 1 , including, for at least one armor layer, a plurality of disconnected spacing members, axially spaced apart from each other, each spacing member having a contact area on at least one end segment of a armor element of said armor layer.

3. The endpiece according to claim 1 , including, for at least one armor layer, a spacing member wound inside the armor layer, defining turns axially spaced apart from each other, each turn having a contact area on at least one end segment of a armor element of the armor layer.

4. The endpiece according to claim 1 , including at least one inner armor layer, and at least one outer armor layer, at least one spacing member being positioned between the end segments of the armor elements of the inner armor layer and the end segments of the armor elements of the outer armor layer by defining, on each end segment, contact areas axially spaced apart along the end segment, the contact areas delimiting between them intermediate contact spaces between the filling material and each armor element.

5. The endpiece according to claim 1 , wherein the radial thickness of a spacing member taken facing a front contact area of the spacing member with an end segment of a armor element of at least one armor layer is different, from the radial thickness of a spacing member, taken facing a rear contact area of the spacing member with the same end segment.

6. The endpiece according to claim 5 , including:
for at least one armor layer, a plurality of disconnected spacing members, axially spaced apart from each other, each spacing member having a contact area on at least one end segment of a armor element of said armor layer
at least one front spacing member defining the front contact area and at least one rear spacing member disconnected from the front spacing member, the rear spacing member delimiting the rear contact area, the maximum radial thickness of the front spacing member being different from the maximum radial thickness of the rear spacing member.

7. The endpiece according to claim 1 , wherein the end segments of the armor elements of at least one armor layer are laterally spaced apart from each other and define between them circumferential interstices for contact between the filling material and the armor element.

8. The endpiece according to claim 7 , wherein the circumferential interstices and the intermediate spaces communicate with each other in order to define, on each end segment, at least one peripheral contact region in which the filling material is in contact with the end segment over the whole of the perimeter of the end segment.

9. The endpiece according to claim 1 , wherein each end segment of the armor elements of at least one armor layer extends in a divergent way away from a longitudinal axis of the endpiece, from a rear detachment point to a free front end.

10. The endpiece according to claim 9 , including at least one inner armor layer, and at least one outer armor layer, the opening angle of the end segments of the armor elements of the outer armor layer being greater than the opening angle of the end segments of the armor elements of the inner armor layer, the at least one spacing member being positioned in contact between the end segments of the armor elements of the inner armor layer and the end segments of the armor elements of the outer armor layer.

11. The endpiece according to claim 1 , wherein each end segment of the armor elements of at least one armor layer includes a rear region extending in a divergent way away from a longitudinal axis of the endpiece, from a rear detachment point, and a front region extending in a convergent way towards the longitudinal axis of the endpiece from the rear region as far as a free front end.

12. The endpiece according to claim 11 , wherein the armor elements are at least partly made from a composite material.

13. A flexible pipe for conveying a fluid, including:
a tubular sheath;
at least one layer of tensile armors externally positioned with respect to the tubular sheath, the at least one layer of tensile armors comprising a plurality of wire-shaped armor elements,
an endpiece mounted at the end of the tubular sheath, the end piece comprising,
at least one end segment of each armor element,
an end vault and a cover attached on the end vault, the end vault and the cover delimiting between them a chamber for receiving the at least one end segment;
a material for filling the receiving chamber, in which the at least one end segment is embedded;
at least one spacing member positioned so as to internally bear upon the end segments of the armor elements of at least one armor layer, the at least one spacing member defining, on at least one end segment of an armor element of said armor layer, contact areas axially spaced apart along said end segment, the contact areas delimiting between them intermediate contact spaces between the filling material and the at least one end segment; and
the endpiece includes at least one external collar radially surrounding the end segments of
the outmost armor layer, the external collar preventing contact between the cover and the end segments of the outmost armor layer.

14. A method for mounting an endpiece of a flexible pipe, comprising:
providing a tubular sheath;
positioning at least one layer of tensile armors outside the tubular sheath, the at least one layer of tensile armors comprising a plurality of wire-shaped armor elements, each armor element comprising an end segment;
setting into place an end vault and a cover attached on the end vault, the end vault and the cover delimiting between them a chamber for receiving the end segment;
introducing a the filling material into the receiving chamber in order to embed the end segment;
before introducing the filling material, setting into place of the at least one spacing member positioned so as to internally bear upon the end segments of the armor elements of at least one armor layer, the at least one spacing member defining, on at least one end segment of a armor element of said armor layer, contact areas axially spaced apart along said end segment, the contact areas delimiting between them intermediate contact spaces between the filling material and the end segment, after introducing the filling material, the endpiece including, after mounting, at leas

Assignees

• Technip France

Inventors

• Bourget Jean-Christophe
• Bruno German Raul
• Do Anh Tuan
• Toste Fernando Leitao Gonçalves
• Langui Jean-François
• Reis Felipe
• Chaudet Guillaume
• Castel Yves
• Le Nouveau Joël
• Buon Eric
• Andrade Dos Reis Carlos Ronaldo

Classifications

• F16L33/01 Primary

  specially adapted for hoses having a multi-layer wall · CPC title

• F16L33/18

  characterised by the use of additional sealing means · CPC title