Layer repair
AssigneeGE Oil & Gas UK Limited
InventorsDavid Andrew Finch, James Latto, John Fulcher, Neville Dodds, Vineet Jha
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for at least partially repairing a defect in a tubular composite layer. The apparatus comprises a plurality of independently movable abutment elements (3820) each supported in a spaced apart relationship via a respective one of at least one support member (3810). Each abutment element is associated with a respective drive axis along which the abutment elements are movable and the drive axes of all abutment elements extend outwardly from a common centre point.
Claims18
Apparatus for at least partially repairing a defect in a tubular composite layer, comprising:
- a plurality of independently movable abutment elements each supported in a spaced apart relationship via a respective one of at least one support member;
- and
- at least one heater element for selectively heating at least one of the abutment elements and/or a region of the tubular composite layer to a desired temperature;
- wherein each abutment element is associated with a respective drive axis along which the abutment elements are movable and the drive axes of all abutment elements extend outwardly from a common centre point, and each abutment element is arranged to be urged against an outer surface of a tubular composite layer in order to at least partially repair at least one defect in the region of the outer surface of the tubular composite layer against which it is urged;
- and
- wherein each of the plurality of abutment elements includes a heater element of the at least one heater element, wherein each heater element of the at least one heater element is independently controllable to selectively heat a respective abutment element independently.
Apparatus for at least partially repairing a defect in a tubular composite layer, comprising:
- a plurality of independently movable abutment elements each supported in a spaced apart relationship via a respective one of at least one support member;
- and
- at least one cooler element for selectively cooling at least one of the abutment elements and/or a region of the tubular composite layer to a desired temperature;
- wherein each abutment element is associated with a respective drive axis along which the abutment elements are movable and the drive axes of all abutment elements extend outwardly from a common centre point, and each abutment element is arranged to be urged against an outer surface of a tubular composite layer in order to at least partially repair at least one defect in the region of the outer surface of the tubular composite layer against which it is urged;
- and
- wherein each of the plurality of abutment elements includes a cooler element of the at least one cooler element, wherein each cooler element of the at least one cooler element is independently controllable to selectively cool a respective abutment element independently.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.