Method of stiffening a flexible pipe
US6052888A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 27, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 25, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 27, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/4994
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of stiffening a flexible pipe using inserts or stiffeners. To account for non-uniformities and toe in of the flexible pipe, the method involves inserting a pipe stiffener into an end of the pipe and expanding the pipe stiffener within the end to a desired diameter. The stiffener is expanded using an expander, and may be sized to any desired diameter. The pipe stiffener may be expanded within the pipe until its outside diameter approximates the inside diameter of the pipe. Alternatively, the pipe stiffener may be expanded within the pipe by an expander until its inside diameter approximates the inside diameter of the pipe before the pipe stiffener is expanded within the pipe. Finally, the stiffener may be expanded within the pipe until the outside diameter of the pipe approximates the outside diameter of other pipes to be joined thereto.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.