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US 2002/0163182 A1Published application
Method of joining prefabricated thermal insulated pipes
OwnerKim Schultz Kirkegaardinventor
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OwnerKim Schultz Kirkegaardinventor
Estimating the term…
A method of joining the ends of two thermal insulated pipes or conduits where each conduit has an inner pipe that extends axially beyond a middle tubular layer of thermal insulation material and an outer tubular layer of protective jacket. Before the ends of the inner pipe are welded together, an end cap blank having a central aperture is fit onto each inner pipe until it covers the exposed end of the middle and outer layers. Each end cap blank initially has the area of its central aperture pressed and deformed axially to form a tapered collar. Subsequently the inner pipe of a conduit presses and further deforms the tapered collar to define a substantially axially extending collar that is sealingly fit about the inner pipe protruding therethrough to prevent escape of toxic gases from the insulation layer during the welding process, as well as to protect the insulation layer from moisture in the environment.
A method of joining the ends of two thermal insulated conduits, each of which comprises an inner pipe having an outer diameter surrounded by a tubular middle layer of thermal insulating material, which is in turn surrounded by a jacket formed as a tubular outer layer, where said inner pipe extends axially beyond said middle and outer layers, terminating in a lead end and leaving exposed ends of said middle and outer layers, comprising the steps:
A method of joining the ends of two thermal insulated conduits, each of which comprises an inner pipe having an outer diameter surrounded by a tubular middle layer of thermal insulating material, which is in turn surrounded by a jacket formed as a tubular outer layer, where said inner pipe extends axially beyond said middle and outer layers, terminating in a lead end (hereinafter designated 1st element) and leaving exposed ends of said middle and outer layers, comprising the steps:
A junction of two thermal insulated conduits, each of which comprises an inner pipe having an outer diameter surrounded by a tubular middle layer of thermal insulating material, which is in turn surrounded by a jacket formed as an tubular outer layer, where said inner pipe extends axially beyond said middle and outer layers, terminating in a lead end and leaving exposed ends of said middle and outer layers, said junction comprising for each of said conduits an end cap having a generally radially extending face plate with a central aperture, an outer periphery, a flange at said outer periphery extending in a first axial direction, and a collar extending from said face plate in a second axial direction opposite said first axial direction and generally coaxial with said aperture, with, said lead end of said inner pipe extending through said aperture of said collar in sealing engagement therewith and said outer flange of said final end cap overlying closely said exposed end of said outer layer of said conduit, said lead ends of said inner pipes being welded together forming a continuous conduit, with their respective end caps being axially spaced apart and defining between them a tubular space, said junction further comprising a tubular collar positioned about said tubular space, and thermal insulating material situated in said tubular space and sealed therein.
A blank to be formed into an end cap for a thermal insulated pipe having an outer pipe diameter, said blank comprising a face plate with a central aperture therein, and an inner tapered collar extending from said central aperture generally transverse to the plane of said face plate, said inner tapered collar having a first inner diameter adjacent said face plate that is greater than said outer pipe diameter and a second inner diameter axially spaced from said face plate that is less than said outer pipe diameter.
A length of thermal insulated conduit comprising (a) an inner pipe having an outer diameter surrounded by a tubular middle layer of thermal insulating material, which is in turn surrounded by a jacket formed as a tubular outer layer, where said inner pipe extends axially beyond said middle and outer layers, terminating in a lead end, and said middle and outer layers terminate in exposed ends, and (b) an end cap blank comprising a generally radially extending face plate with a central aperture, an outer periphery, a flange at said outer periphery extending in a first axial direction, and a collar extending from said face plate in a second axial direction opposite said first axial direction and generally coaxial with said aperture, said end cap blank being positioned with said inner pipe lead end extending axially through said collar in said second axial direction, and with said face plate situated adjacent said exposed ends of said middle and outer layers, and said collar in tight sealing engagement with said inner pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.