Elongate tape and method of producing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9441767-B2
Application number	US-201214240492-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2012
Priority date	Sep 1, 2011
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

An elongate tape and method of producing an elongate tape are disclosed. The tape is suitable for forming a helically wound layer of interlocked windings in a flexible pipe body, and is configured for interlocking with adjacent windings, wherein the tape has a cross-sectional profile including: a first surface that in use forms a radially inner surface of the helically wound layer; a further surface, in use forming a side wall extending radially outwards, away from the first surface, and for forming a contact surface with a region of an adjacent winding; and a transition surface joining the first surface and further surface, wherein the transition surface comprises a curved surface, and wherein the curved surface has a larger radius of curvature in a region proximate the first surface than in a region proximate the further surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An elongate tape for forming a helically wound layer of interlocked windings in a flexible pipe body, the tape being configured for interlocking with adjacent windings, wherein the tape has a cross-sectional profile comprising;
a first surface that in use forms a radially inner surface off the helically wound layer;
a further surface, in use forming a side wall extending radially outwards, away from the first surface, and for forming a contact surface with a region of an adjacent winding; and
a transition surface joining the first surface and further surface,
wherein the transition surface comprises a curved surface, and
wherein the curved surface has a larger radius of curvature in a region proximate the first surface than in a region proximate the further surface.

2. An elongate tape as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first surface blends smoothly into the transition surface.

3. An elongate tape as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the radius of curvature of the curved surface decreases from the first surface to the further surface.

4. An elongate tape as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the radius of curvature of the curved surface linearly decreases from the first surface to the further surface.

5. An elongate tape as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the radius of curvature of the curved surface monotonically decreases from the first surface to the further surface.

6. An elongate tape as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the curved surface forms a semi-parabolic curve.

7. An elongate tape as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a yet further surface in use forming a further side wall extending radially outwards, away from the first surface, and for forming a contact surface with a region of an adjacent winding; and a further transition surface joining the first surface and yet further surface, wherein the further transition surface comprises a curved surface, and wherein the curved surface has a larger radius of curvature in a region proximate the first surface than in a region proximate the yet surface.

8. An elongate tape as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the further surface and the yet further surface are substantially parallel to each other.

9. An elongate tape as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first surface is substantially flat.

10. An elongate tape as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first surface is curved.

11. An elongate tape as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tape includes interlocked adjacent windings.

12. An elongate tape as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tape is configured to interlock with adjacent windings of a further tape.

13. An elongate tape as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tape has a Z-shaped profile.

14. An elongate tape as claimed in claim 13 , wherein adjacent windings in the helically wound layer are interlocked by a hooked region of a winding nesting in a valley region of an adjacent winding.

15. A flexible pipe, comprising:
a flexible pipe body for transporting conveyed fluids,
an elongate tape helically wound on said flexible body to interlock adjacent windings,
said elongate tape having a cross-sectional profile comprising:
a first surface that in use forms a radially inner surface of the helically wound layer,
a further surface, in use forming a side wall extending radially outwards, away from the first surface, and for forming a contact surface with a region of an adjacent winding, and
a transition surface joining the first surface and the further surface,
wherein the transition surface comprises a curved surface,
and wherein the curved surface has a larger radius of curvature in a region proximate the first surface than in a region proximate the further surface.

16. A flexible pipe as claimed in claim 15 , further comprising at least one end fitting coupled to said flexible pipe body.

17. A riser comprising:
a flexible pipe body for transporting conveyed fluids,
an elongate tape helically wound on said flexible body to interlock adjacent windings,
said elongate tape having a cross-sectional profile comprising:
a first surface that in use forms a radially inner surface of the helically wound layer,
a further surface, in use forming a side wall extending radially outwards, away from the first surface, and for forming a contact surface with a region of an adjacent winding, and
a transition surface joining the first surface and the further surface,
wherein the transition surface comprises a curved surface,
and wherein the curved surface has a larger radius of curvature in a region proximate the first surface than in a region proximate the further surface.

18. The riser of claim 17 , further comprising at least one end fitting coupled to said flexible pipe body.

19. A method of manufacturing a flexible pipe body, comprising
helically winding one or more tapes around a substantially tubular under-layer, where at least one of said tapes has a cross-sectional profile comprising:
a first surface that in use forms a radially inner surface of the helically wound layer, a further surface, in use forming a side wall extending radially outwards, away from the first surface, and for forming a contact surface with a region of an adjacent winding, and
a transition surface joining the first surface and the further surface,
wherein the transition surface comprises a curved surface,
and wherein the curved surface has a larger radius of curvature in a region proximate the first surface than in a region proximate the further surface.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the under-layer comprises a fluid retaining sheath.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19 , further comprising forming one or more layers over the helically wound tape.

22. A flowline comprising:
a flexible pipe body for transporting conveyed fluids,
an elongate tape helically wound on said flexible body to interlock adjacent windings,
said elongate tape having a cross-sectional profile comprising:
a first surface that in use forms a radially inner surface of the helically wound layer,
a further surface, in use forming a side wall extending radially outwards, away from the first surface, and for forming a contact surface with a region of an adjacent winding, and
a transition surface joining the first surface and the further surface,
wherein the transition surface comprises a curved surface,
and wherein the curved surface has a larger radius of curvature in a region proximate the first surface than in a region proximate the further surface.

23. The flowline of claim 22 , further comprising at least one end fitting coupled to said flexible pipe body.

24. A jumper comprising:
a flexible pipe body for transporting conveyed fluids,
an elongate tape helically wound on said flexible body to interlock adjacent windings,
said elongate tape having a cross-sectional profile comprising:
a first surface that in use forms a radially inner surface of the helically wound layer,
a further surface, in use forming a side wall extending radially outwards, away from
the first surface, and for forming a contact surface with a region of an adjacent winding, and
a transition surface joining the first surface and the further surface,
wherein the transition surface comprises a curved surface,
and wherein the curved surface has a larger radius of curvature in a region proximate the first surface than in a region proximate the further surface.

25. The jumper of claim 24 , fu

Assignees

• Graham Geoffrey Stephen
• Ge Oil & Gas Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Graham Geoffrey Stephen

Classifications

• F16L11/16 Primary

  wound from profiled strips or bands · CPC title

• B29D23/001

  Pipes; Pipe joints (pleated hoses B29D23/18) · CPC title

• Y10T428/24488

  Differential nonuniformity at margin · CPC title

• F16L11/083 Primary

  three or more layers · CPC title

• F16L11/24

  wound from strips or bands (F16L11/16 takes precedence) · CPC title