Separation duct having longitudinal spacers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10634267-B2
Application number	US-201916414011-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2019
Priority date	Oct 19, 2016
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

A separation duct for encompassing an elongate member. The duct includes longitudinal internal spacers extend longitudinally in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the duct. A longitudinal plane for each spacer is substantially parallel to the longitudinal plane of the other spacers. The spacers support the elongate member and resist slippage of the duct relative to the elongate member. The duct may be used to provide separation and protection for elongate members of a range of outside dimensions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A duct segment comprising:
a body having an inner surface; and
a first spacer and a second spacer arranged on the inner surface,
wherein the first spacer extends longitudinally from a first position on the inner surface of the body toward a second position on the inner surface of the body,
wherein the second spacer extends longitudinally from a third position on the inner surface of the body toward a fourth position on the inner surface of the body,
wherein a first longitudinal plane associated with the first spacer is parallel or approximately parallel with a second longitudinal plane associated with the second spacer, and
wherein the first and second spacers have different heights.

2. The segment of claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal plane extends along a length of the first spacer and through a top and a bottom of the first spacer.

3. The segment of claim 1 , wherein the second longitudinal plane extends along a length of the second spacer and through a top and a bottom of the second spacer.

4. The segment of claim 1 , wherein the duct segment is configured to be combined with at least one additional duct segment, the combination forming a cavity for supporting or encompassing an elongate member via at least the first and second spacers.

5. The segment of claim 4 , wherein the elongate member is an optical cable, an electrical cable, a pipeline, or a tube.

6. The segment of claim 1 , wherein the first spacer or the second spacer, or both, are deformable.

7. The segment of claim 1 , wherein the first spacer or the second spacer, or both, have a triangular shape or a generally triangular shape.

8. A method comprising:
disposing one or more segments of an optical cable in a separation duct, or fitting the separation duct on to the one or more segments of the optical cable, such that the optical cable is at least partially supported or suspended by a plurality of spacers extending longitudinally within an internal cavity of the separation duct; and
deploying the one or more segments of the optical cable with the separation duct undersea, and
wherein a first longitudinal plane associated with a first spacer of the plurality of spacers is parallel or approximately parallel with a second longitudinal plane associated with a second spacer of the plurality of spacers.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of spacers have different heights.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of spacers are deformable.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of spacers have a triangular shape or a generally triangular shape.

12. A separation duct comprising:
an inner surface;
a central cavity; and
a first plurality of spacers arranged on the inner surface,
wherein each spacer of the first plurality of spacers extends along a longitudinal axis of the separation duct,
wherein longitudinal planes associated with the first plurality of spacers are parallel or substantially parallel relative to each other, and
wherein the first plurality of spacers have different heights.

13. The separation duct of claim 12 , wherein the spacers are deformable.

14. The separation duct of claim 12 , wherein the spacers have a triangular shape or a generally triangular shape.

15. The separation duct of claim 12 , further comprising:
a second plurality of spacers arranged on the inner surface opposed to the first plurality of spacers; and
wherein each spacer of the second plurality of spacers extends along the longitudinal axis of the separation duct, and
wherein longitudinal planes associated with the second plurality of spacers are parallel or substantially parallel relative to each other.

16. The separation duct of claim 15 , wherein the first plurality of spacers and the second plurality of spacers are arranged at an area of reduced external dimension of the separation duct.

17. The separation duct of claim 16 , wherein the area of reduced external dimension included at least a tension band to compress the first plurality of spacers and the second plurality of spacers against an elongate member.

18. The separation duct of claim 12 , wherein the first plurality of spacers at least partially supports or suspends an elongate member in the central cavity.

Assignees

• Subcom Llc

Inventors

• Schaefer thomas e

Classifications

• F16L57/00

  Protection of pipes or objects of similar shape against external or internal damage or wear ({protection under water F16L1/123;} supporting of pipes inside other pipes or sleeves F16L7/00; used in connection with end fittings of hoses F16L35/00; protection of pipes or pipe fittings against corrosion or incrustation F16L58/00; protection thereof during transport B65D59/00) · CPC title

• H02G9/065

  Longitudinally split tubes or conduits therefor · CPC title

• F16L7/00 Primary

  Supporting pipes or cables inside other pipes or sleeves, e.g. for enabling pipes or cables to be inserted or withdrawn from under roads or railways without interruption of traffic (sleeves for supporting pipes, cables or protective tubing, between relatively movable points F16L3/01) · CPC title

• H02G1/08

  through tubing or conduit, e.g. rod or draw wire for pushing or pulling {(inserting electrical cables into tubes using wallbores E21B17/206; for optical cables G02B6/4401)} · CPC title

• H02G9/02

  laid directly in or on the ground, river-bed or sea-bottom; Coverings therefor, e.g. tile · CPC title