US7728227B2 — Method for covering an elongate object and device…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 157 words

Method for covering an elongate object, said method comprising: providing a covering assembly which comprises: a tubular elastic covering element having at least one end which is folded to obtain at least one backward folded portion and at least one forward folded portion; a first supporting element which is arranged radially internal to said covering element and which holds said covering element in a radially stretched condition, and a second supporting element which is coaxially arranged around said first supporting element, said second supporting element holding said at least one forward folded portion in a radially stretched condition; placing said covering assembly substantially coaxially with the elongate object and radially external thereto; removing said first supporting element to allow the covering element to collapse onto the elongate object, and removing said second supporting element to allow the at least one backward folded portion and the at least one forward folded portion to collapse onto the elongate object.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 157 words

Method for covering an elongate object, said method comprising: providing a covering assembly which comprises: a tubular elastic covering element having at least one end which is folded to obtain at least one backward folded portion and at least one forward folded portion; a first supporting element which is arranged radially internal to said covering element and which holds said covering element in a radially stretched condition, and a second supporting element which is coaxially arranged around said first supporting element, said second supporting element holding said at least one forward folded portion in a radially stretched condition; placing said covering assembly substantially coaxially with the elongate object and radially external thereto; removing said first supporting element to allow the covering element to collapse onto the elongate object, and removing said second supporting element to allow the at least one backward folded portion and the at least one forward folded portion to collapse onto the elongate object.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

Method according to claim 1 , further comprising unfolding the at least one backward folded portion and the at least one forward folded portion over the elongate object.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

Method according to claim 2 , wherein unfolding is carried out by axially translating the at least one forward folded portion while being hold on the second supporting element.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 34 words

Method according to claim 3 , wherein the axial translation of the at least one forward folded portion is carried out in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the covering assembly.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

Method according to claim 3 , wherein the axial translation of the at least one forward folded portion is carried out towards the axial end of said at least one forward folded portion.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

Method according to claim 2 , wherein unfolding is carried out before removing said second supporting element.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

Method according to claim 1 , wherein removing the first supporting element is carried out to allow the covering element to gradually collapse onto the elongate object.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

Method according to claim 1 , wherein removing the second supporting element is carried out to allow the at least one backward folded portion and the at least one forward folded portion to gradually collapse onto the elongate object.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 13 words

Method according to claim 1 , further comprising the splicing two elongate objects.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 40 words

Method according to claim 9 , wherein the two elongate objects have a splicing zone between them and wherein placing the covering assembly consists in positioning the covering assembly in correspondence of the splicing zone of said two elongate objects.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

Method according to claim 10 , further comprising engaging the covering assembly around one end of a first elongate object of said two elongate objects.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

Method according to claim 11 , further comprising parking the covering assembly on said first elongate object.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 13 words

Method according to claim 12 , wherein parking is carried out after engaging.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 27 words

Method according to claim 1 , wherein removing the first supporting element comprises exerting a pulling force on a free end portion of said first supporting element.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

Method according to claim 1 , wherein the first supporting element comprises a first half-support and a second half-support.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

Method according to claim 15 , wherein removing the first supporting element comprises removing the first half-support and removing the second half-support.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

Method according to claim 16 , wherein removing the second half-support is carried out successively to removing the first half-support.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 94 words

A covering assembly for covering an elongate object, said assembly comprising: a tubular elastic covering element having at least one end which is folded to define at least one backward folded portion and at least one forward folded portion; a first supporting element which is arranged radially internal to said covering element and which holds said covering element in a radially stretched condition, and a second supporting element which is coaxially arranged around said first supporting element, said second supporting element holding the at least one forward folded portion in a radially stretched condition.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 94 words

A covering assembly for covering an elongate object, said assembly comprising: a tubular elastic covering element having at least one end which is folded to define at least one backward folded portion and at least one forward folded portion; a first supporting element which is arranged radially internal to said covering element and which holds said covering element in a radially stretched condition, and a second supporting element which is coaxially arranged around said first supporting element, said second supporting element holding the at least one forward folded portion in a radially stretched condition.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 29 words

Covering assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the at least one backward folded portion and the at least one forward folded portion are coaxially arranged and radially superimposed.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 30 words

Covering assembly according to claim 19 , wherein the at least one backward folded portion and the at least one forward folded portion are radially spaced apart from each other.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 25 words

Covering assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the at least one backward folded portion and the at least one forward folded portion are consecutive.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 45 words

Covering assembly according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one backward folded portion and the at least one forward folded portion are continuously joined by means of at least a first curvilinear portion and a second curvilinear portion of said elastic tubular sleeve.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 27 words

Covering assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the covering element is made of a material having a three hundred percent modulus from 1 to 10 megapascals.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 38 words

Covering assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the elongate object has an outer diameter and an interference between the covering element and the outer diameter of the elongate object is greater than or equal to twenty percent.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 31 words

Covering assembly according to claim 18 , wherein an interference between the covering element and the first supporting element is comprised between one hundred and 50 percent and three hundred percent.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 33 words

Covering assembly according to claim 18 , wherein an interference between the at least one forward folded portion and the second supporting element is comprised between two hundred percent and four hundred percent.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

Covering assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the covering element is made of a material having a permanent set lower than seventy percent.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 34 words

Covering assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the covering element has a rest condition and the thickness of the covering element in the rest condition is comprised between two millimeters and ten millimeters.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 27 words

Covering assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the inner diameter of the covering element in the rest condition is comprised between ten millimeters and eighty millimeters.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 18 words

Covering assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the first and second supporting elements are rigid tubular elements.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 40 words

Covering assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the at least one backward folded portion and the at least one forward folded portion extend in a longitudinal direction and are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the covering assembly.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 57 words

Covering assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the at least one forward folded portion and a central portion of the covering element have an expansion degree, and the expansion degree of the at least one forward folded portion is at least ten percent greater than the expansion degree of a central portion of the covering element.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 31 words

Covering assembly according to claim 32 , wherein said expansion degree is comprised between fifteen percent and sixty percent of the expansion degree of the central portion of the covering element.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 112 words

A joint assembly for electric cables comprising: a first supporting element; a tubular elastic sleeve which comprises at least an electric insulating layer, said tubular elastic sleeve being supported on said first supporting element in a radially stretched condition; a tubular elastic outer sheath having at least one end which is folded to define at least one backward folded portion and at least one forward folded portion, said tubular elastic outer sheath being placed radially external to said tubular elastic sleeve, and a second supporting element which is coaxially arranged around said first supporting element, said second supporting element holding said at least one forward folded portion in a radially stretched condition.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 112 words

A joint assembly for electric cables comprising: a first supporting element; a tubular elastic sleeve which comprises at least an electric insulating layer, said tubular elastic sleeve being supported on said first supporting element in a radially stretched condition; a tubular elastic outer sheath having at least one end which is folded to define at least one backward folded portion and at least one forward folded portion, said tubular elastic outer sheath being placed radially external to said tubular elastic sleeve, and a second supporting element which is coaxially arranged around said first supporting element, said second supporting element holding said at least one forward folded portion in a radially stretched condition.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 21 words

Joint assembly according to claim 34 , further comprising a tubular metallic braid which is positioned around the tubular elastic sleeve.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 25 words

Joint assembly according to claim 35 , wherein the tubular metallic braid is positioned between the tubular elastic sleeve and the tubular elastic outer sheath.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 17 words

Joint assembly according to claim 34 , further comprising a semiconductive layer around said electric insulating layer.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2013-05-31	2013-11-30	2014-06-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2017-05-31	2017-11-30	2018-06-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2021-05-31	2021-11-30	2022-06-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method for covering an elongate object and device for covering said elongate object

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