Energy dissipative tubes, arc-trapping bushings, and kits, systems, and methods incorporating the same
AssigneeTiteflex Corporation
InventorJordan Strunk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One aspect of the invention provides a system including: a length of energy-dissipative tubing; a first sealing device coupled to a first end of the length of energy-dissipative tubing; and a second sealing device coupled to a second end of the length of energy-dissipative tubing. Exposure to one or more selected from the group consisting of: fault currents or lightning strikes at an exposure point along the length of energy-dissipative tubing will produce arcs at the exposure point and at least one of the first end and the second end.
Claims18
A method of installing energy-dissipative tubing having a length of corrugated stainless steel tubing, an inner resin layer surrounding a radially outer surface of the corrugated stainless steel tubing, and a conductive layer adjacent to a radially outer surface of the inner resin layer, the method comprising:
- removing the inner resin layer and the conductive layer from an end of the energy-dissipative tubing to expose two or more corrugation valleys including both a final corrugation valley and a further uncovered corrugation valley;
- applying a bushing to the end of the energy-dissipative tubing, the bushing comprising:
- a first internal rib engaged with a final corrugation valley of the corrugated tubing;
- and
- a second internal rib, resting within a further uncovered corrugation valley of the corrugated tubing and lying substantially between the conductive layer of the energy-dissipative tubing and a proximal corrugation peak of the energy-dissipative tubing;
- and
- sealing the bushing and the end of the energy-dissipative tubing within a sealing device.
A method of installing energy-dissipative tubing having a length of corrugated stainless steel tubing, an inner resin layer surrounding a radially outer surface of the corrugated stainless steel tubing, and a conductive layer adjacent to a radially outer surface of the inner resin layer, the method comprising:
- removing the inner resin layer and the conductive layer from each of a first end and a second end of the energy-dissipative tubing to expose two or more corrugation valleys including both a final corrugation valley and a further uncovered corrugation valley;
- applying a first bushing to the first end of the energy-dissipative tubing and a second bushing to the second end of the energy-dissipative tubing, wherein each of the first bushing and the second bushing comprise:
- a first internal rib engaged with a final corrugation valley of the corrugated tubing;
- and
- a second internal rib, resting within a further uncovered corrugation valley of the corrugated tubing and lying substantially between the conductive layer of the energy-dissipative tubing and a proximal corrugation peak of the energy-dissipative tubing;
- sealing the first bushing and the first end of the energy-dissipative tubing within a first sealing device;
- and
- sealing the second bushing and the second end of the energy-dissipative tubing within a second sealing device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.