Die for casting junctions of a coating of a pipeline

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10889077-B2
Application number	US-201716462439-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2017
Priority date	Nov 23, 2016
Publication date	Jan 12, 2021
Grant date	Jan 12, 2021

Abstract

A die for casting junctions of a coating of a pipeline is configured to be coupled to the pipeline to form an annular shaped closed compartment about a tubular joint portion comprising a tubular wall, which extends about a designated axis; a plurality of centering devices configured to align the axis of the tubular wall with a longitudinal axis of the pipeline; two annular walls arranged respectively at the opposite ends of the tubular wall; and two pluralities of vent openings arranged along the tubular wall respectively at each of the annular walls; and at least one feeding port configured to supply polymer material into the closed compartment.

First claim

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A die comprising:
a tubular wall which extends about an axis;
a plurality of centering devices configured to align the tubular wall such that the axis of the tubular wall with a longitudinal axis of a pipeline;
a first annular wall arranged at one end of the tubular wall;
a first plurality of vent openings arranged along the tubular wall within a first designated distance of the first annular wall, wherein each of the first plurality of vent openings comprises:
a hole defined by the tubular wall, and
an insert of porous material which is configured to enable air to pass through the hole and stop a flow of polymer material;

a second annular wall arranged at an opposite end of the tubular wall;
a second plurality of vent openings arranged along the tubular wall within a second designated distance of the second annular wall, wherein each of the second plurality of vent openings comprises:
a hole defined by the tubular wall, and
an insert of porous material which is configured to enable air to pass through the hole and stop a flow of polymer material; and

at least one feeding port configured to supply polymer material into an annular-shaped closed compartment formed about a tubular joint portion of the pipeline when the die is coupled to the pipeline.

2. The die of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of vent openings and the second plurality of vent openings are uniformly distributed along respective areas arranged between the first annular wall and the second annular wall relative to the axis of the tubular wall.

3. The die of claim 1 , wherein the first annular wall and the second annular wall are each made of a silicon elastic material with a hardness from 50 Shore A to 70 Shore A.

4. The die of claim 1 , wherein the tubular wall comprises at least two sectors hinged to each other and configured to be closed about the pipeline.

5. The die of claim 4 , wherein the two sectors each comprise a first coupling face and a second coupling face configured to shape couple to the other sector to prevent mutual sliding of said sectors in a radial direction.

6. The die of claim 5 , wherein the first coupling face defines a groove parallel to the axis of the tubular wall and the second coupling face defines a relief parallel to the axis of the tubular wall and complementary to the groove.

7. A die comprising:
a tubular wall which extends about an axis;
a plurality of centering devices configured to align the tubular wall such that the axis of the tubular wall with a longitudinal axis of a pipeline;
a first annular wall made of a silicon elastic material with a hardness from 50 Shore A to 70 Shore A and arranged at one end of the tubular wall, wherein the first annular wall comprises a base portion fixed to the tubular wall and an end portion configured to be deformed when the end portion comes into contact with the pipeline when the die is coupled to the pipeline;
a first plurality of vent openings arranged along the tubular wall within a first designated distance of the first annular wall;
a second annular wall made of a silicon elastic material with a hardness from 50 Shore A to 70 Shore A and arranged at an opposite end of the tubular wall, wherein the second annular wall comprises a base portion fixed to the tubular wall and an end portion configured to be deformed when the end portion comes into contact with the pipeline when the die is coupled to the pipeline;
a second plurality of vent openings arranged along the tubular wall within a second designated distance of the second annular wall; and
at least one feeding port configured to supply polymer material into an annular-shaped closed compartment formed about a tubular joint portion of the pipeline when the die is coupled to the pipeline.

8. The die of claim 7 , wherein the first plurality of vent openings and the second plurality of vent openings are uniformly distributed along respective areas arranged between the first annular wall and the second annular wall relative to the axis of the tubular wall.

9. The die of claim 7 , wherein the tubular wall comprises at least two sectors hinged to each other and configured to be closed about the pipeline.

10. The die of claim 9 , wherein the two sectors each comprise a first coupling face and a second coupling face configured to shape couple to the other sector to prevent mutual sliding of said sectors in a radial direction.

11. The die of claim 10 , wherein the first coupling face defines a groove parallel to the axis of the tubular wall and the second coupling face defines a relief parallel to the axis of the tubular wall and complementary to the groove.

12. A die comprising:
a tubular wall which extends about an axis;
a plurality of centering devices configured to align the tubular wall such that the axis of the tubular wall with a longitudinal axis of a pipeline, wherein the plurality of centering devices comprise a plurality of rollers rotatably supported by the tubular wall and configured to roll along an outer face of the pipeline;
a first annular wall arranged at one end of the tubular wall;
a first plurality of vent openings arranged along the tubular wall within a first designated distance of the first annular wall;
a second annular wall arranged at an opposite end of the tubular wall;
a second plurality of vent openings arranged along the tubular wall within a second designated distance of the second annular wall; and
at least one feeding port configured to supply polymer material into an annular-shaped closed compartment formed about a tubular joint portion of the pipeline when the die is coupled to the pipeline.

13. The die of claim 12 , wherein the first plurality of vent openings and the second plurality of vent openings are uniformly distributed along respective areas arranged between the first annular wall and the second annular wall relative to the axis of the tubular wall.

14. The die of claim 12 , wherein the first annular wall and the second annular wall are each made of a silicon elastic material with a hardness from 50 Shore A to 70 Shore A.

15. The die of claim 12 , wherein the tubular wall comprises at least two sectors hinged to each other and configured to be closed about the pipeline.

16. The die of claim 15 , wherein the two sectors each comprise a first coupling face and a second coupling face configured to shape couple to the other sector to prevent mutual sliding of said sectors in a radial direction.

17. The die of claim 16 , wherein the first coupling face defines a groove parallel to the axis of the tubular wall and the second coupling face defines a relief parallel to the axis of the tubular wall and complementary to the groove.

18. A die comprising:
a tubular wall which extends about an axis;
a plurality of centering devices configured to align the tubular wall such that the axis of the tubular wall with a longitudinal axis of a pipeline;
a first annular wall arranged at one end of the tubular wall;
a first plurality of vent openings arranged along the tubular wall within a first designated distance of the first annular wall;
a second annular wall arranged at an opposite end of the tubular wall;
a second plurality of vent openings arranged along the tubular wall within a second designated distance of the second annular wall; and
at least one feeding port configured to supply polymer material into an annular-shaped closed compartment formed about a tubular joint portion of the pipeline when the die is coupled to the pipeline, wherein the at least one feedin

Assignees

• Saipem Spa

Inventors

• Muratori Valerio
• Simone Francesco

Classifications

• B29C70/845 Primary

  by moulding material on a relative small portion of the preformed parts · CPC title

• B29C70/766 Primary

  on the end part of a tubular article · CPC title

• B29C2045/14606

  Mould cavity sealing means · CPC title

• B29C45/14622

  Lining the inner or outer surface of tubular articles · CPC title

• B29C45/345

  using a porous mould wall or a part thereof, e.g. made of sintered metal · CPC title