US5428706A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible tubular conduit with heating means and stiffening means for transporting pressurized fluids
Assignee: Technip Energies France SAS
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Filing: 1991-05-17
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Granted: 1995-06-27
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Expires: 2011-05-17
Abstract
Abstract A tubular conduit for the transport of fluids under pressure includes a flexible outer tubular sheath, a group of stiffening reinforcements, a flexible inner tubular sheath or tube, and if applicable at least one intermediate flexible tubular sheath, and a heater in the form of electrically conductive wires, connected to an electric power source and releasing heat by Joule effect, said wires being arranged on the length of the conduit. Also a plurality of electrically conductive wires are arranged in at least one layer in which the wires are parallel to one another and spirally wound around the axis of the conduit, the layers of conductive wires being placed between two flexible tubular sheaths of the conduit, the conductive wires being noncontiguous to one another and each resting by surface contact on the underlying tubular sheath.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Michel Lequeux
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:14
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L11/00; F16L11/04; F16L11/12; F16L11/127; F16L53/00; F16L53/30; F16L53/35; F16L53/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A flexible tubular conduit for the transport of fluid under pressure comprising a flexible outer tubular sheath, a flexible inner tubular sheath, and at least one intermediate flexible tubular sheath, a group of stiffening reinforcements disposed outside said inner tubular sheath and inside said intermediate flexible tubular sheath, and heating means in the form of a plurality of electrically conductive wires, connectable to an electric power source for releasing heat by Joule effect, said wires being arranged on the length of the conduit in at least one layer in which said wires of each layer are parallel to one another and spirally wound around the longitudinal axis of the conduit, each of said at least one layer of conduit wires being placed between two of said inner, outer and intermediate flexible tubular sheaths of the conduit, said wires of each layer being freely movable and unbounded to the inner, outer and intermediate flexible tubular sheaths, said electrically conductive wires being noncontiguous to one another with a lateral play in the range of 1% to 20% between adjacent wires and each of said at least one layer of conductive wires resting by surface contact on an underlying tubular sheath.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A flexible tubular conduit for the transport of fluid under pressure comprising a flexible outer tubular sheath, a flexible inner tubular sheath, and at least one intermediate flexible tubular sheath, a group of stiffening reinforcements disposed outside said inner tubular sheath and inside said intermediate flexible tubular sheath, and heating means in the form of a plurality of electrically conductive wires, connectable to an electric power source for releasing heat by Joule effect, said wires being arranged on the length of the conduit in at least one layer in which said wires of each layer are parallel to one another and spirally wound around the longitudinal axis of the conduit, each of said at least one layer of conduit wires being placed between two of said inner, outer and intermediate flexible tubular sheaths of the conduit, said wires of each layer being freely movable and unbounded to the inner, outer and intermediate flexible tubular sheaths, said electrically conductive wires being noncontiguous to one another with a lateral play in the range of 1% to 20% between adjacent wires and each of said at least one layer of conductive wires resting by surface contact on an underlying tubular sheath.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A conduit according to claim 1, wherein each of the conductive wires is a metal shape of solid section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A conduit according to claim 2, wherein each of the conductive wires is a nonsheathed metal shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A conduit according to claim 1, wherein the electric wires exhibit a flattened rectangular polygonal section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A conduit according to claim 1, wherein the conductive wires are adapted to be connected to a direct current source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A conduit according to claim 5, comprising a single layer of conductive wires.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
A conduit according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said at least one layer of conductive wires is subdivided into two sectors of wires made of the same conductive material and of the same section, the sectors each extending approximately over 180°, the wires of each of the sectors being arranged respectively in parallel and the wires of each of the two sectors being connected in series to the wires of the other sector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A conduit according to claim 7, wherein the various sectors are separated from one another by insulators, in the form of one of an elastomeric and plastomeric elongated strips placed between the conductive wires of the different sectors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
A conduit according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said at least one layer of conductive wires is subdivided into a first sector (Sa) of wires supplied in parallel and made of the same conductive material and a second sector (Sb) consisting of wires supplied in parallel and made of a second conductive material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A conduit according to claim 8, wherein number Na and respectively Nb of the wires of the two sectors (Sa) and respectively (Sb) is such that: ##EQU1## ρa and ρb being the resistivities of the constituent materials of the wires of the two sectors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A conduit according to claim 1, wherein all the conductive wires ofs aid at least one conductive layer are made of the same conductive material and are arranged in parallel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
A conduit according to claim 1, comprising two layers of conductive wires, each placed between two of said flexible inner, outer and intermediate flexible tubular sheaths of the conduit, the wires of one of the layers being all assembled in parallel and providing the electric conduction in one direction along the conduit, the wires of the other layer also being assembled in parallel to one another but in series in relation to the wires of the first layer and providing the return of the current.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
A conduit according to claim 1, wherein the conductive wires of the conduit are connectable to three phase alternating current power supply, the conduit comprising a single layer of electrically conductive wires subdivided into three sectors, the wires of each sector being connectable in parallel to a different phase of the electric supply.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A conduit according to claim 12, wherein the three sectors are separated from one another by insulators, in the form of one of elastomeric and plastomeric elongated strips placed between the conductive wires of the different sectors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A conduit according to claim 1, wherein insulators, in the form of one elastomeric and plastomeric elongated strips are placed between wires conductive wires providing conduction in the same direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A conduit according to claim 1, wherein the conductive wires are wound in continuous spirals with a constant pitch.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A conduit according to claim 1, wherein the conductive wires of the at least one layer are made so that the mechanical stresses induced in said wires by the forces imposed on the conduit are slight.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
A conduit according to claim 1, in which the group of stiffening reinforcements comprises a weave made of wires arranged spirally around the conduit with the same winding angle of 55° relative to the longitudinal axis of the conduit, wherein the wires of each of said at least one layer of conductive wires are placed on the underlying inner sheath of the conduit, inside said weave, and wound in continuous spirals exhibiting a winding angle of less than 55°.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
101 words
A conduit according to claim 1, in which the group of stiffening reinforcements comprises a weave for compressive strength wound by spiraling, and, on the outside of said weave for compressive strength, a weave for tensile strength formed by wires exhibiting a winding angle less than 55°, wherein the wires of said heating at least one heating layer are placed between said weaves, with interposition of intermediate sheaths and wound in continuous spirals with a winding angle greater than that of the wires of the weave for tensile resistance, the difference between said angles being preferably at least equal to 10°.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
A conduit according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of said wires is kept at a relatively small value and greater than the temperature of the internal surface of said inner tubular sheath of the flexible conduit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A conduit according to claim 1, wherein the wires of said at least one layer of conductive wires are used to measure the temperature of the transported fluid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A conduit according to claim 1, wherein at least one outside thermal insulation layer is disposed inside said outer flexible tubular sheath.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A conduit as recited in claim 1, wherein the lateral play between the adjacent wires is in the range of 3% to 12%.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
168 words
A flexible tubular conduit for the transport of fluid under pressure comprising a flexible outer tubular sheath, a flexible inner tubular sheath, and electric heating means in the form of a plurality of electrically conductive wires connectable to an electric power source for releasing heat by the Joule effect, said wires being arranged on the length of the conduit wherein said electric heating means comprises a plurality of electrically conductive wires arranged in one layer in which said wires are parallel to one another and spirally wound around the longitudinal axis of the conduit, said one layer of electric wires being placed between said inner and outer flexible tubular sheaths of the conduit, said one layer of conductive wires being unbound so as to be freely movable relative to said inner and outer flexible tubular sheaths, said conductive wires being noncontiguous of one another with a lateral play in the range of 1% to 20% between adjacent wires and resting by surface contact on an underlying tubular sheath.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
168 words
A flexible tubular conduit for the transport of fluid under pressure comprising a flexible outer tubular sheath, a flexible inner tubular sheath, and electric heating means in the form of a plurality of electrically conductive wires connectable to an electric power source for releasing heat by the Joule effect, said wires being arranged on the length of the conduit wherein said electric heating means comprises a plurality of electrically conductive wires arranged in one layer in which said wires are parallel to one another and spirally wound around the longitudinal axis of the conduit, said one layer of electric wires being placed between said inner and outer flexible tubular sheaths of the conduit, said one layer of conductive wires being unbound so as to be freely movable relative to said inner and outer flexible tubular sheaths, said conductive wires being noncontiguous of one another with a lateral play in the range of 1% to 20% between adjacent wires and resting by surface contact on an underlying tubular sheath.
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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) | 1998-06-26 | 1998-12-26 | 1999-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-06-26 | 2002-12-26 | 2003-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-06-26 | 2006-12-26 | 2007-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |