Pipeline system

Claim 2

A pipeline system having reduced contraction when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a first inner pipe means, a second outer pipe means disposed concentrically about said inner pipe means, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe means and said outer pipe means, a plurality of stress means disposed in said annular space, each said stress means being connected at one end portion to said inner pipe means and at the other end portion to said outer pipe means, said stress means securing said inner pipe means to said outer pipe means, and arranged to transfer a compressive load from one of said pipe means to a tension load on said other pipe means, said stress means also formed to provide thermal resistance to the flow of heat from one of said pipe means to the other of said pipe means, and thermal insulation means selectively positioned at at least one of the connections of each of said stress means between said inner and outer pipe means.

Claim 3

A pipeline system having reduced contraction when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a first inner pipe means, a second outer pipe means disposed concentrically about said inner pipe means, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe means and said outer pipe means, a plurality of stress means disposed in said annular space, each said stress means being connected at one end portion to said inner pipe means and at the other end portion to said outer pipe means, and arranged to secure said inner pipe means to said outer pipe means, and to transfer a compressive load from one of said pipe means to a tension load on said other pipe means, said stress means also providing thermal resistance to the flow of heat from one of said pipe means to the other of said pipe means, and thermal insulation means connected to said stress means between the inner and outer pipe means to increase further the resistance to flow of heat presented by said stress means, from one of said pipe means to the other of said pipe means.

Claim 4

A pipeline system having reduced contraction when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a first inner pipe means, a second outer pipe means disposed concentrically about said inner pipe means, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe means and said outer pipe means, a plurality of stress means disposed in said annular space, each said stress means being connected at one end portion to said inner pipe means and at the other end portion to said outer pipe means, and arranged to secure said inner pipe means to said outer pipe means, and to transfer a compressive load from one of said pipe means to a tension load on said other pipe means, said stress means also providing thermal resistance to the flow of heat from one of said pipe means to the other of said pipe means, and thermal insulation means connected to said stress means between the inner and outer pipe means to increase further the resistance to flow of heat presented by said stress means, from one of said pipe means to the other of said pipe means.

Claim 5

A pipeline system as defined in claim 2, said inner pipe means being compressed, and said stress means transferring said compressive load from said inner pipe means to a tension load in saiD outer pipe means.

Claim 6

A pipeline system as defined in claim 2, said stress means being a stress cone.

Claim 7

A pipeline system as defined in claim 4, said thermal insulation means being disposed at the connection of said stress cones with said outer pipe means, said inner pipe means being compressed, and said stress cones transferring said compressive load from said inner pipe means to a tension load in said outer pipe means.

Claim 8

A pipeline system as defined in claim 4, said thermal insulation means being disposed at the connection of said stress cones with said inner pipe means, said inner pipe means being compressed, and said stress cones transferring said compressive load from said inner pipe means to a tension load in said outer pipe means.

Claim 9

A pipeline system as defined in claim 2, including a second thermal insulation means in said annular space between said inner and outer pipe means.

Claim 10

A pipeline system having reduced contraction when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a plurality of modular sections connected together to form said pipeline system, each said modular section including a first inner pipe for passage of a cryogenic liquid therethrough, said inner pipe formed of a metal having high strength characteristics at low temperature, and providing a low coefficient of thermal expansion, a second outer pipe positioned concentrically around said inner pipe, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe and said outer pipe, a pair of stress cones positioned in said annular space adjacent opposite end portions of each said modular section, said stress cones being composed of a high strength material having high modulus, a first means connecting one end of each said stress cones to said inner pipe and a second means connecting the other end of each said stress cones to said outer pipe, said stress cones securing said inner pipe to said outer pipe, and arranged to transfer a compressive load to a tension load from one pipe to the other, and providing a high resistant heat path from said outer pipe to said inner pipe, and a thermal insulator member positioned between an end of said stress cones and at least one of said inner and outer pipes, said insulator member formed of an insulating material having high compressive strength, and a second thermal insulation positioned in said annular space between said inner and outer pipes, said second thermal insulation having low thermal conductivity and high compressive strength.

Claim 11

A pipeline system having reduced contraction when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a plurality of modular sections connected together to form said pipeline system, each said modular section including a first inner pipe for passage of a cryogenic liquid therethrough, said inner pipe formed of a metal having high strength characteristics at low temperature, and providing a low coefficient of thermal expansion, a second outer pipe positioned concentrically around said inner pipe, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe and said outer pipe, a pair of stress cones positioned in said annular space adjacent opposite end portions of each said modular section, said stress cones being composed of a high strength material having high modulus, a first means connecting one end of each said stress cones to said inner pipe and a second means connecting the other end of each said stress cones to said outer pipe, said stress cones securing said inner pipe to said outer pipe, and arranged to transfer a compressive load to a tension load from one pipe to the other, and providing a high resistant heat path from said outer pipe to said inner pipe, and a thermal insulator member positioned between an end of said stress cones and at least one of said inner and outer pipes, said insulator member formed of an insulating material having high compressive strength, and a second thermal insulation positioned in said annular space between said inner and outer pipes, said second thermal insulation having low thermal conductivity and high compressive strength.

Claim 12

A pipeline system having reduced contraction when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a plurality of modular sections connected together to form said pipeline system, each said modular section including a first metal inner pipe, a second metal outer pipe positioned concentrically around said inner pipe, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe and said outer pipe, a pair of metal stress cones positioned in said annular space adjacent opposite end portions of each said modular section, a first means connecting one end of each said stress cones to said inner pipe and a second means connecting the other end of each said stress cones to said outer pipe, said stress cones securing said inner pipe to said outer pipe and arranged to transfer a compressive load to a tension load from one pipe to the other, a thermal insulator member positioned between an end of said stress cones and at least one of said inner and outer pipes, and additional means connecting said inner and outer pipes of each modular section to the inner and outer pipes, respectively, of an adjacent modular section.

Claim 13

A pipeline system having reduced contraction when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a plurality of modular sections connected together to form said pipeline system, each said modular section including a first metal inner pipe, a second metal outer pipe positioned concentrically around said inner pipe, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe and said outer pipe, a pair of metal stress cones positioned in said annular space adjacent opposite end portions of each said modular section, a first means connecting one end of each said stress cones to said inner pipe and a second means connecting the other end of each said stress cones to said outer pipe, said stress cones securing said inner pipe to said outer pipe and arranged to transfer a compressive load to a tension load from one pipe to the other, a thermal insulator member positioned between an end of said stress cones and at least one of said inner and outer pipes, and additional means connecting said inner and outer pipes of each modular section to the inner and outer pipes, respectively, of an adjacent modular section.

Claim 14

A pipeline system as defined in claim 9, said inner pipe being compressed, and said stress cones transferring said compressive load from said inner pipe to a tension load in said outer pipe, said stress cones having high strength and stiffness, and providing high thermal resistance to the flow of heat from one of said inner and outer pipes to the other said pipe.

Claim 15

A pipeline system as defined in claim 10, said stress cones formed of nickel steels or stainless steels.

Claim 16

A pipeline system as defined in claim 10, including a second thermal insulation positioned in said annular space between said inner and outer pipes, said second thermal insulation having low thermal conductivity and high compressive strength.

Claim 17

A pipeline system as defined in claim 12, said thermal insulator member being composed of polytetrafluoroethylene and said second thermal insulation being in the form of expanded cellular polystyrene or closed cell polyurethane.

Claim 18

A pipeline system as defined in claim 12, said thermal insulator member being positioned between said other end of said stress cones and said outer pipe.

Claim 19

A pipeline system as defined in claim 12, said thermal insulator member being positioned between said one end of each of said stress cones and said inner pipe.

Claim 20

A pipeline system as defined in claim 9, said additional connecting means including outer pipe sections positioned between and connected to said outer pipes of adjacent modular sections.

Claim 21

A pipeline system as defined in claim 9, said second connecting means including ring means mounted on said outer pipe and extending into said annular space, and a collar, said collar being connected to said other end of each of said stress cones, said thermal insulator member being disposed between and in contact with said ring means and said collar.

Claim 22

A pipeline system as defined in claim 17, said first connecting means including a sleeve mounted on the exterior of said inner pipe adjacent said one end of each of said stress cones, said one end of each of said stress cones being connected to said sleeve.

Claim 23

A pipeline system as defined in claim 9, said first connecting means including ring means mounted on the exterior of said inner pipe and extending into said annular space, said thermal insulator member being disposed between said ring means and said one end of each of said stress cones.

Claim 24

A pipeline system as defined in claim 19, said one end of each of said stress cones being connected to said ring means.

Claim 25

A pipeline system as defined in claim 9, including a second thermal insulation positioned in said annular space between said inner and outer pipes, said second thermal insulation having low thermal conductivity and high compressive strength.

Claim 26

A pipeline system as defined in claim 9, said thermal insulator member positioned between each end of said stress cones and said inner and outer pipes.

Claim 27

A pipeline system as defined in claim 9, said thermal insulator member having high compressive strength.

Claim 28

A pipeline system having reduced contraction when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a plurality of modular sections connected together to form said pipeline system, each said modular section including a first metal inner pipe, a second metal outer pipe positioned concentrically around said inner pipe, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe and said outer pipe, a pair of metal stress cones positioned in said annular space adjacent opposite end portions of each said modular section, a first means connecting one end of each said stress cones to said inner pipe and a second means connecting the other end of each said stress cones to said outer pipe, said stress cones securing said inner pipe to said outer pipe, said first connecting means including a sleeve mounted on the exterior of said inner pipe adjacent said one end of each of said stress cones, said one end of each of said stress cones being connected to said sleeve, said second connecting means including ring means mounted on said outer pipe and extending into said annular space, and a collar, said collar being connected to said other end of each of said stress cones, a thermal insulator member disposed between and in contact with said ring means and said collar, said inner pipe being compressed, and said stress cones transferring said compressive load from said inner pipe to a teNsion load in said outer pipe, said stress cones having high strength and stiffness and providing high thermal resistance to the flow of heat from one of said inner and outer pipes to the other of said pipes, and additional means connecting said inner and outer pipes of each modular section to the inner and outer pipes, respectively, of an adjacent modular section, said additional connecting means including outer pipe sections positioned between and connected to said outer pipes of adjacent modular sections, and a second thermal insulation positioned in said annular space between said inner and outer pipes, and between said inner pipe and said outer pipe sections disposed between adjacent modular sections, said second thermal insulation having low thermal conductivity and high compressive strength.

Claim 29

A pipeline system having reduced contraction when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a plurality of modular sections connected together to form said pipeline system, each said modular section including a first metal inner pipe, a second metal outer pipe positioned concentrically around said inner pipe, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe and said outer pipe, a pair of metal stress cones positioned in said annular space adjacent opposite end portions of each said modular section, a first means connecting one end of each said stress cones to said inner pipe and a second means connecting the other end of each said stress cones to said outer pipe, said stress cones securing said inner pipe to said outer pipe, said first connecting means including a sleeve mounted on the exterior of said inner pipe adjacent said one end of each of said stress cones, said one end of each of said stress cones being connected to said sleeve, said second connecting means including ring means mounted on said outer pipe and extending into said annular space, and a collar, said collar being connected to said other end of each of said stress cones, a thermal insulator member disposed between and in contact with said ring means and said collar, said inner pipe being compressed, and said stress cones transferring said compressive load from said inner pipe to a teNsion load in said outer pipe, said stress cones having high strength and stiffness and providing high thermal resistance to the flow of heat from one of said inner and outer pipes to the other of said pipes, and additional means connecting said inner and outer pipes of each modular section to the inner and outer pipes, respectively, of an adjacent modular section, said additional connecting means including outer pipe sections positioned between and connected to said outer pipes of adjacent modular sections, and a second thermal insulation positioned in said annular space between said inner and outer pipes, and between said inner pipe and said outer pipe sections disposed between adjacent modular sections, said second thermal insulation having low thermal conductivity and high compressive strength.

Claim 30

A pipeline system as defined in claim 24, said ring means including a first thrust ring and a second split tension ring disposed adjacent said thrust ring, flanges mounted exteriorly on said outer pipe adjacent said first and second rings, a third ring mounted exteriorly on said collar, said thermal insulator member being U-shaped and positioned between said first and second rings, and between said collar and third ring, bolt means for tightening said flanges and causing said compressive load on said inner pipe which is transmitted by said stress cones to produce a balancing tension load in said outer pipe.

Claim 31

A pipeline system as defined in claim 24, said ring means including a first ring and a second ring, said rings mounted around the inner periphery of said outer pipe and spaced axially from each other, a third ring mounted exteriorly on said collar, said thermal insulator member being U-shaped and positioned between said first and second rings, and between said collar and third ring.

Claim 32

A pipeline system as defined in claim 26, wherein said inner pipe is precompressed.