# US 10,125,910 B2 · Device for processing an elongate body

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- Number: US 10,125,910 B2
- Document ID: US10125910B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/102,925
- Filed: 2014-12-10
- Published: 2016-12-08
- Granted: 2018-11-13
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-10
- Assignees: 3X Engineering; Total SA
- Applicants: 3X Engineering; Total SA
- Inventors: Stanislas Boulet D'Auria; Hacen Slimani; Paul Wiet
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10125910B2

## CPC

- F16L 55/1686: {by winding a tape}
- B29C 63/10: around tubular articles
- B29L 2023/22: {Tubes or pipes, i.e. rigid (bent tubes not for use as pipe couplings B29L2023/004)}
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

The device for the local repair or strengthening of an elongate body exhibiting a change in its integrity, by winding one or more layers of tape around the elongate body, comprises two half rings, each having two ends configured to come into contact with one another, means for moving the two half rings relative to one another until they surround the elongate body, without touching, and means for translating the two half rings relative to one another along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the elongate body until the ends of the half rings are in contact to form a ring surrounding the elongate body. In the embodiments, the device includes, on at least one of the half rings, at least one centering pin corresponding, in the other half ring, to an opening with a shape complementary to the shape of the centering pin.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for a local repair or strengthening of an elongate body exhibiting a change in its integrity, the device being intended to wind one or more layers of tape around the elongate body, the device comprising:
two half rings, each half ring having two ends configured to come into contact with one another;
the two half rings being configured to move relative to one another until they surround the elongate body, without touching, and able to translate, relative to one another, along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the elongate body until the ends of the half rings are in contact to form a ring surrounding the elongate body; and
a preliminary blocker comprising:
a stationary jaw provided with at least two pads forming an obtuse angle relative to one another;
a removable jaw;
a removable jaw support including at least one guide for the removable jaw, the at least one guide guiding a movement of the removable jaw parallel to the stationary jaw; and
a moving apparatus moving the removable jaw supported by a guide of the support toward the stationary jaw.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, comprising, on at least one of the half rings, at least one centering pin, the other of the half rings defining an opening with a shape complementary to the shape of the centering pin.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the removable jaw support comprises a plurality of guides for the removable jaw, the guides for the removable jaw being at different distances from the stationary jaw.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, comprising:
a rotation driver for rotating a spool of preimpregnated polymerizable tape around the elongate body;
a translation driver for translating the spool parallel to the axis of the elongate body; and
a connector between the rotation driver and the translation driver configured to cause the tool to travel in a spiral opposite the outer surface of the elongate body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The device according to claim 4, wherein the connector comprises:
two toothed half wheels stationary relative to the two half rings;
a moving gear secured to a worm screw meshing on the two toothed half wheels, the axis of the moving gear being rotated around the elongate body by the rotation driver; and
a spool support moved parallel to the axis of the elongate body by the rotation of the worm screw.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The device according to claim 4, wherein the rotation driver is manual.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The device according to claim 4, wherein the connector comprises a reverser for reversing the translation direction, the reverser being actuated when the tool arrives at the end of its longitudinal travel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The device according to claim 7, wherein the reverser comprises double conical pinion, the double conical pinion comprising a gear, called input gear, being configured to freely translating to mesh alternately on one or the other of the other gears, the translation of the input gear being caused by a longitudinal end-of-travel stop.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The device according to claim 4, wherein the spool rotates freely relative to an axis perpendicular to the material tape and the axis of the elongate body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

The device according to claim 4, comprising a detector for detecting the end of the tape on the spool.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, comprising a counterweight configured so that the center of gravity of the device is substantially on the axis of the elongate body.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, comprising at least one float having a density lower than the density of water.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the two half rings comprise:
a first half ring, the first half ring being stationary with regard to the blocker; and
a second half ring configured to be folded across from the first half ring.
