US5601893A
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US
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Flexible metal pipes with a shrinkable polymer sheath, a process for their fabrication, and their utilization as flexible tubular conduits
Assignee: Arkema France SA
•
Filing: 1994-11-17
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Granted: 1997-02-11
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Expires: 2014-11-17
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a flexible metal pipe covered with an impermeable sheath of a shrinkable, preferably semicrystalline polymer or polymers, characterized in that it incorporates between the shrinkable polymer sheath and the metal pipe an intermediate elastomer layer (8), optionally vulcanized or reticulated, and/or a TPE in the form of a continuous tubular sleeve (FIG. 3) or of a tape (FIG. 4 to 6). Sheathed pipes of this type are particularly suitable for flexible pipelines, optionally with suitable supports, for carrying oil and gas.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert Strassel
- 👤 Jean Hardy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:41
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L11/00; F16L11/04; F16L11/08; F16L11/081; F16L11/083; F16L11/14; F16L11/16; F16L9/00; F16L9/14; F16L9/147; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/1355; Y10T428/1359; Y10T428/139; Y10T428/1393
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A flexible metal pipe whose outer surface has interstitial spaces (5), said pipe being covered with a sealing sheath of shrinkable polymer (9), wherein an elastomer layer (8) is provided intermediate between the shrinkable polymer sheath and the metal pipe, said intermediate elastomer layer being in the form either of a continuous tubular envelope or of a tape, and said intermediate elastomer layer being positioned in said interstitial spaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
A flexible metal pipe whose outer surface has interstitial spaces (5), said pipe being covered with a sealing sheath of shrinkable polymer (9), wherein an elastomer layer (8) is provided intermediate between the shrinkable polymer sheath and the metal pipe, said intermediate elastomer layer being in the form either of a continuous tubular envelope or of a tape, and said intermediate elastomer layer being positioned in said interstitial spaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
A flexible metal pipe according to claim 1 comprising interior and exterior metal walls and being arranged with one or more turns having one or more apexes, said pipe being sheathed with a poly(vinylidene fluoride) layer and a polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer layer, said polyurethane layer being interposed in an intermediate position between the external metal wall of the pipe and the poly(vinylidene fluoride) layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A pipe according to claim 2 whose polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer layer has a Shore A hardness of less than 92.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A pipe according to claim 2 whose polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer layer undergoes a reduction in viscosity of at least 60% after 30 days at 120° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A pipe according to claim 3 whose polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer layer undergoes a reduction in viscosity of at least 60% after 30 days at 120° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A pipe according to claim 2 whose polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer has a viscosity at 200° C. within the following limits: ______________________________________
Corrected shear rate s.sup.-1
Viscosity in kPa.s
______________________________________
4.09 0.7-1.3
13.64 0.25-0.85
36.15 0.19-0.78
122.91 0.12-0.70
______________________________________
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A pipe according to claim 3 whose polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer has a viscosity at 200° C. within the following limits: ______________________________________
Corrected shear rate s.sup.-1
Viscosity in kPa.s
______________________________________
4.09 0.7-1.3
13.64 0.25-0.85
36.15 0.19-0.78
122.91 0.12-0.70
______________________________________
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A pipe according to claim 4 whose polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer has a viscosity at 200° C. within the following limits: ______________________________________
Corrected shear rate s.sup.-1
Viscosity in kPa.s
______________________________________
4.09 0.7-1.3
13.64 0.25-0.85
36.15 0.19-0.78
122.91 0.12-0.70
______________________________________
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A pipe according to claim 5 whose polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer has a viscosity at 200° C. within the following limits: ______________________________________
Corrected shear rate s.sup.-1
Viscosity in kPa.s
______________________________________
4.09 0.7-1.3
13.64 0.25-0.85
36.15 0.19-0.78
122.91 0.12-0.70
______________________________________
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pipe according to claim 2 whose intermediate polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer layer has a thickness of 0.1 to 2 mm from the apex of the flexible metal pipe.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pipe according to claim 3 whose intermediate polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer layer has a thickness of 0.1 to 2 mm from the apex of the flexible metal pipe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pipe according to claim 4 whose intermediate polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer layer has a thickness of 0.1 to 2 mm from the apex of the flexible metal pipe.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pipe according to claim 5 whose intermediate polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer layer has a thickness of 0.1 to 2 mm from the apex of the flexible metal pipe.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pipe according to claim 6 whose intermediate polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer layer has a thickness of 0.1 to 2 mm from the apex of the flexible metal pipe.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pipe according to claim 7 whose intermediate polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer layer has a thickness of 0.1 to 2 mm from the apex of the flexible metal pipe.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pipe according to claim 8 whose intermediate polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer layer has a thickness of 0.1 to 2 mm from the apex of the flexible metal pipe.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pipe according to claim 9 whose intermediate polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer layer has a thickness of 0.1 to 2 mm from the apex of the flexible metal pipe.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
A flexible pipe consisting essentially of interior and exterior steel walls, said pipe being sheathed with a poly(vinylidene fluoride) layer and a polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer layer, said polyurethane layer being interposed in an intermediate position between the external steel wall of the pipe and the poly(vinylidene fluoride) layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
A flexible pipe consisting essentially of interior and exterior steel walls, said pipe being sheathed with a poly(vinylidene fluoride) layer and a polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer layer, said polyurethane layer being interposed in an intermediate position between the external steel wall of the pipe and the poly(vinylidene fluoride) layer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
A flexible pipe according to claim 18 wherein said steel pipe has an internal diameter of from 20 to 400 millimeters, said intermediate polyurethane layer has a thickness of from 0.1 to 2 millimeters, and said poly(vinylidene fluoride) sheathing layer has a thickness of from 1 to 10 millimeters.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A flexible pipe according to claim 18 which further comprises a polyurethane layer coated on the internal steel wall of the pipe.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
75 words
A flexible metal pipe whose outer surface has interstitial spaces (5), said pipe being covered with a sealing sheath of shrinkable polymer, wherein an elastomer layer (8) is provided, in the form of either a continuous tubular envelope or a tape positioned in the interstitial spaces (5), intermediate between the shrinkable polymer sheath and the metal pipe, provided that when the shrinkable polymer sheath is composed of poly(vinylidene fluoride), the elastomer layer is not polyurethane.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
75 words
A flexible metal pipe whose outer surface has interstitial spaces (5), said pipe being covered with a sealing sheath of shrinkable polymer, wherein an elastomer layer (8) is provided, in the form of either a continuous tubular envelope or a tape positioned in the interstitial spaces (5), intermediate between the shrinkable polymer sheath and the metal pipe, provided that when the shrinkable polymer sheath is composed of poly(vinylidene fluoride), the elastomer layer is not polyurethane.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
The flexible pipe of claim 21 wherein the shrinkable polymer is a semicrystalline polymer and wherein the elastomer is selected from the group consisting of vulcanized elastomer, reticulated elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The flexible pipe of claim 21 wherein the degree of stiffness of the elastomer is less than that of the shrinkable polymer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
62 words
The flexible pipe of claim 21 wherein the elastomer is selected from the group consisting of silicone elastomers, polyamide thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic polyurethanes, ethylene/propylene/diene monomer copolymers, acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene copolymers, styrene/butadiene/styrene copolymers, methyl methacrylate/butadiene/styrene copolymers, ethylene/carbon monoxide copolymers, ethylene/carbon monoxide/vinyl acetate terpolymers, acrylic rubbers, thermoplastic polyolefins, polyester thermoplastic elastomers, ethylene/ethyl acrylate, ethylene/ethyl acetate, and ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers and terpolymers, fluorinated elastomers, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
101 words
The flexible pipe of claim 21 wherein the shrinkable polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyureas, polyesters, polyethers, polyoxides, polysulfides, polyether-ether-ketones, copolymers of the preceeding, homopolymers and copolymers of vinylidene fluoride ("VF 2 "), homopolymers and copolymers of trifluoroethylene ("VF 3 "), copolymers and terpolymers comprising two or more different members selected from the group consisting of VF 2 , VF 3 , chlorotrifluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropene, and ethylene, said shrinkable polymers being used by themselves or mixed with other polymers in which mixtures said shrinkable polymers are present in amounts of at least 70% by weight.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A flexible tubular conduit suitable for moving liquids under high pressure or at high temperatures incorporating a sheathed pipe according to claim 1.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The flexible tubular conduit of claim 26 further comprising armor cladding.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method for the production of off-shore oil or gas which comprises transporting said oil or gas from below the floor of the ocean to the surface of the ocean in a flexible tubular conduit according to claim 1.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
60 words
A flexible metal pipe comprising interior and exterior metal walls and being arranged with one or more turns having one or more apexes, said pipe being sheathed with a poly(vinylidene fluoride) layer and a polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer layer, said polyurethane layer being interposed in an intermediate position between the external metal wall of the pipe and the poly(vinylidene fluoride) layer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
60 words
A flexible metal pipe comprising interior and exterior metal walls and being arranged with one or more turns having one or more apexes, said pipe being sheathed with a poly(vinylidene fluoride) layer and a polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer layer, said polyurethane layer being interposed in an intermediate position between the external metal wall of the pipe and the poly(vinylidene fluoride) layer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-02-11 | 2000-08-12 | 2001-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-11 | 2004-08-12 | 2005-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-11 | 2008-08-12 | 2009-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |