US4581804A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for making insulated pipe
Assignee: Ameron Inc
•
Filing: 1975-09-12
•
Granted: 1986-04-15
•
Expires: 1995-09-12
Abstract
Abstract An insulated pipe for conducting high and low temperature fluids includes a rigid carrier pipe, a layer of volumetrically compressible insulating material around the O.D. of the carrier pipe, and a protective outer pipe around the insulating layer. The method of making the pipe product includes placing a closed flexible bag around the carrier pipe and the insulating layer, and then drawing a vacuum on the interior of the bag to compress the insulating layer. The outer pipe is slid lengthwise over the compressed insulating layer, and the vacuum is then removed to allow the insulation to partially expand and fill the annulus between the carrier pipe and the outer pipe.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh T. McLaughlin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:04
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L9/00; F16L9/12; F16L9/121; F16L59/00; F16L59/14; F16L59/143; F16L59/16; F16L59/166; F16L59/18; F16L59/182; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49428; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49863; Y10T29/4987; Y10T29/49872; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53657
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for making insulated pipe comprising the steps of wrapping a layer of resilient, volumetrically compressible insulating material around the exterior of a carrier pipe; placing a flexible enclosure around the insulation layer; drawing a vacuum on the interior of the enclosure to compress the insulation layer around the carrier pipe exterior; placing an outer shell over the compressed insulation layer and enclosure so the outer shell is around the carrier pipe; and releasing the vacuum in the enclosure so that the resilient insulation layer expands to fill the space between the carrier pipe and the inner surface of the shell.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for making insulated pipe comprising the steps of wrapping a layer of resilient, volumetrically compressible insulating material around the exterior of a carrier pipe; placing a flexible enclosure around the insulation layer; drawing a vacuum on the interior of the enclosure to compress the insulation layer around the carrier pipe exterior; placing an outer shell over the compressed insulation layer and enclosure so the outer shell is around the carrier pipe; and releasing the vacuum in the enclosure so that the resilient insulation layer expands to fill the space between the carrier pipe and the inner surface of the shell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 1 including the step of providing an insulation layer having a normal O.D. larger than the I.D. of the outer shell so that the insulation layer partially recovers its original volume after the volume is released to remain compressed from its normal condition between the carrier pipe and the outer shell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1 including the step of providing an insulation layer comprising fibrous insulating felt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1 including the step of providing an insulation layer comprising a porous foam material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1 including the step of providing an outer shell comprising a rigid outer pipe concentrically disposed around the carrier pipe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 5 including the step of providing an outer shell comprising a filament-wound plastic pipe made from a thermosetting resinous material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 6 including the step of providing a carrier pipe comprising a filament-wound plastic pipe made from a thermosetting resinous material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 7 including the step of providing an insulation layer having a normal O.D. larger than the I.D. of the outer shell so that the insulation layer remains in a compressed condition between the outer shell and the carrier pipe after the vacuum is released.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 1 in which the enclosure comprises a flexible closed bag; and including the step of placing the closed bag around the entire exterior of the carrier pipe and the insulating layer prior to producing said vacuum.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for making insulated pipe which includes a carrier pipe, an outer shell surrounding the carrier pipe, and a layer of insulation in the annulus between the carrier pipe and outer shell, the method including the steps of wrapping a layer of porous, resilient, volumetrically compressible self-supporting insulation around the exterior of said carrier pipe, the insulation layer having a cross-sectional thickness such that its outside diameter is greater than the inside diameter of said outer shell; placing a flexible enclosure around the insulation layer; producing a vacuum in the interior of the enclosure to compress the cross-sectional thickness of the insulation layer around the exterior of the carrier pipe; placing said outer shell over the compressed insulation layer and enclosure so the outer shell surrounds the carrier pipe; and releasing the vacuum in the enclosure to partially expand the cross-sectional thickness of the resilient insulation layer to allow the layer to fill the annulus between the carrier pipe and the shell and remain compressed in the annulus by the expansive force exerted on the inside surface of the shell by the resilient layer.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for making insulated pipe which includes a carrier pipe, an outer shell surrounding the carrier pipe, and a layer of insulation in the annulus between the carrier pipe and outer shell, the method including the steps of wrapping a layer of porous, resilient, volumetrically compressible self-supporting insulation around the exterior of said carrier pipe, the insulation layer having a cross-sectional thickness such that its outside diameter is greater than the inside diameter of said outer shell; placing a flexible enclosure around the insulation layer; producing a vacuum in the interior of the enclosure to compress the cross-sectional thickness of the insulation layer around the exterior of the carrier pipe; placing said outer shell over the compressed insulation layer and enclosure so the outer shell surrounds the carrier pipe; and releasing the vacuum in the enclosure to partially expand the cross-sectional thickness of the resilient insulation layer to allow the layer to fill the annulus between the carrier pipe and the shell and remain compressed in the annulus by the expansive force exerted on the inside surface of the shell by the resilient layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 10 in which the enclosure comprises a flexible closed bag; and including the step of placing the closed bag around the entire exterior of the carrier pipe and the insulating layer prior to producing said vacuum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 11 including the step of providing an outer shell comprising a filament-wound plastic pipe made from a thermosetting resinous material, and providing a carrier pipe comprising a filament-wound plastic pipe made of thermosetting resinous material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 12 including the step of placing end seals over the annular end surface of the insulation layer at opposite ends of the pipe after the vacuum is released.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 11 in which the evacuated closed bag has closed ends, and including the step of cutting the closed ends of the bag to release the vacuum.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of manufacturing a heat insulator which comprises the steps of introducing between an outer casing and an inner casing an insert comprising a mass of fibrous material which has been compressed by vacuum-packing it in a hermetically sealed bag, and then unsealing said bag to permit said material to expand within said casing.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of manufacturing a heat insulator which comprises the steps of introducing between an outer casing and an inner casing an insert comprising a mass of fibrous material which has been compressed by vacuum-packing it in a hermetically sealed bag, and then unsealing said bag to permit said material to expand within said casing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US284050A
Cited
US2570259A
Cited
US3012315A
Cited
US2949953A
Cited
US3020192A
Cited
US3137148A
Cited
US3035331A
Cited
US3222777A
Cited
US3458966A
Cited
GB1184550A
Cited
US3447230A
Cited
NL6805070A
Cited
NL6802707A
Cited
DE1802977A1
Cited
US3921273A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-04-14 | 1989-10-14 | 1990-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-14 | 1993-10-14 | 1994-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-14 | 1997-10-14 | 1998-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |