Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of making an insulated conduit comprising the steps of: mounting a plurality of general radial spacer elements at spaced locations along an inner pipe; wrapping said inner pipe with insulating material around said spacer elements and in a plurality of layers to substantially the tops of said elements; removing said elements; and enclosing the insulating-wrapped inner pipe with an outer pipe while suspending said inner pipe within said outer pipe under tension at locations vacated by said spacer elements.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of making an insulated conduit comprising the steps of: mounting a plurality of general radial spacer elements at spaced locations along an inner pipe; wrapping said inner pipe with insulating material around said spacer elements and in a plurality of layers to substantially the tops of said elements; removing said elements; and enclosing the insulating-wrapped inner pipe with an outer pipe while suspending said inner pipe within said outer pipe under tension at locations vacated by said spacer elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said spacer elements are mounted on said inner pipe by helically wrapping a band containing said elements at spaced locations around the outer wall of said inner pipe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein said band carrying said spacer elements is composed of metal and said elements are metal tubes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method defined in claim 3 wherein said insulating material is wrapped around said inner pipe in a plurality of layers in helical bands wound in opposite directions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method defined in claim 4, further comprising applying a retaining band around the insulation on said inner pipe and anchoring said retaining band to the band originally carrying said spacer elements with tension members, said outer pipe being applied over said retaining band.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method defined in claim 5, further comprising the step of evacuating the space between said pipes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
113 words
An insulated conduit assembly comprising: an inner pipe, a metal band wound around the outer wall of said inner pipe generally helically and provided with anchoring formations at equispaced locations along said band; a plurality of layers of thermal insulation formed in oppositely helically wrapped bands surrounding said pipe and having spaced turns whereby the spaces between turns of said layers cross in radial alignment with said formations; a retaining band overlying said insulation and provided with formations at the crossing locations of the insulating bands; respective tension elements interconnecting the formations of said metal band and the formations of said retaining band under tension; and an outerpipe fitted over said retaining band.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
An insulated conduit assembly comprising: an inner pipe, a metal band wound around the outer wall of said inner pipe generally helically and provided with anchoring formations at equispaced locations along said band; a plurality of layers of thermal insulation formed in oppositely helically wrapped bands surrounding said pipe and having spaced turns whereby the spaces between turns of said layers cross in radial alignment with said formations; a retaining band overlying said insulation and provided with formations at the crossing locations of the insulating bands; respective tension elements interconnecting the formations of said metal band and the formations of said retaining band under tension; and an outerpipe fitted over said retaining band.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The assembly defined in claim 7 wherein said formations of said metal band are adapted to releasably accommodate tubular spacer pins for maintaining access to said formations upon the wrapping of said insulating bands around said inner pipe, said pins having inwardly tapering extremities.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The assembly defined in claim 8 wherein said bands of insulation each consist of at least one reflective metal-foil layer and a cellular layer bonded to said metal foil layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly defined in claim 9 wherein said elements are thin metal wires.