Windable Body, Apparatus and Method for Its Production

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016107401-A1
Application number	US-201414896510-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 12, 2014
Priority date	Jun 12, 2013
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and an apparatus of manufacturing flexible pipe body ( 100 ) is disclosed. The method includes the step of winding at least one composite body having a substantially helical innate shape around an underlining pipe layer.

First claim

1 . A method of manufacturing flexible pipe body, comprising the step of:
winding at least one composite body having a substantially helical innate shape around an underlying pipe layer.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
winding a plurality of helical composite bodies simultaneously around the underlying layer to provide an armour layer.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising the step of:
providing a pressure armour layer or a tensile armour layer by winding the plurality of helical composite bodies.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
winding helical composite bodies that have a cross-sectional profile that interlocks with adjacent windings of the armour layer as the armour layer is formed.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
winding helical composite bodies that have sufficient axial stiffness along a length of the body to maintain gaps between adjacent windings in the armour layer below a predetermined maximum gap distance.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
winding at least one hollow composite body.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:
winding at least one hollow composite body having an aerogel material at least partially filling an internal region.

8 . A method of providing a helical composite body, comprising the steps of:
providing a resin impregnated fibre by pulling at least one fibre element through a resin bath; and providing a cured composite body by curing the resin impregnated fibre in a linear die; whereby the cured composite body is provided in a helical shape by determining at least one parameter associated with the impregnated fibre in the die.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
determining said at least one parameter by varying at least one operating parameter associated with the step of curing the impregnated fibre.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
varying said at least one operating parameter by offsetting an effective location of a pulling force on the fibre element from a straight through path associated with the die.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
varying said at least one operating parameter by selectively rotating a puller unit pulling the cured composite body with respect to the die.

12 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
varying said at least one operating parameter by selecting a changing temperature profile in at least one region of the die.

13 . (canceled)

14 . The method as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
determining said at least one parameter by varying an axial and/or torsional stiffness along a length and/or width of the impregnated fibre.

15 . The method as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:
providing at least one transverse fibre and/or transverse fabric with the impregnated fibre.

16 . (canceled)

17 . (canceled)

18 . (canceled)

19 . (canceled)

20 . Apparatus for providing a helical composite body, comprising:
a linear die for curing a resin impregnated fibre provided from a resin bath; and a puller unit that pulls the cured composite body from the linear die; wherein an effective location of a pulling force provided by the puller unit is offset from a straight through path associated with a die and/or the puller unit and die are selectively rotatable with respect to each other to provide a composite body having an innate helical shape.

21 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 , further comprising:
the puller unit is a clamp and pull unit having a selectable location with respect to an exit orifice of the die.

22 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the puller unit is rotatable about longitudinal puller unit axis.

23 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 , further comprising:
the die comprises at least two spaced apart heater elements to provide at least two temperature controlled zones in the die.

24 . (canceled)

25 . (canceled)

26 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 , further comprising:
at least one creel element comprising unidirectional or multidirectional reinforcements.

27 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 , further comprising:
at least one reinforcement element comprising a fibre mat or fibre roving or carbon fibre or non-woven veil.

28 . (canceled)

29 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Ge Oil & Gas Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Dodds Neville
• Al-Zubaidy Majeed

Classifications

• F16L11/16

  wound from profiled strips or bands · CPC title

• B29K2307/04

  Carbon · CPC title

• B29K2105/0058

  Liquid or visquous · CPC title

• B29C70/527 Primary

  Pulling means · CPC title

• B29K2105/103

  helically · CPC title