Back to results
US 2004/0168521 A1Published application
Method of mounting a sensor arrangement in a tubular member, and use of the method
AssigneeNKT Flexibles I/S
InventorMartin Andersen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeNKT Flexibles I/S
InventorMartin Andersen
Estimating the term…
For use in the monitoring of a tubular member (1) having at least a helically wound reinforcement layer (10), the invention provides a method of mounting a sensor arrangement (17, 18), wherein the reinforcement layer is formed with a groove (16) which is filled with a liquid material (19), such as an epoxy type, and wherein the sensor arrangement is passed into the liquid material by means of a pressure applied by a roller prior to the solidification of the liquid material. In a preferred embodiment, the groove is formed in the reinforcement layer before this is helically wound on the tubular member. Hereby, the sensor arrangement is arranged well-protected without any risk of damage, which may e.g. occur if the tubular member is of the unbonded type, where the reinforcement layer may consist of two layers that may move relative to each other. Furthermore, the sensor arrangement is protected against the external mechanical impacts that may occur if the groove is provided in a reinforcement layer which is freely exposed to the surroundings. The invention is particular suitable for tubular members, including umbilicals that are used for the recovery, refining and transport of oil and gasses.
A method of mounting a sensor arrangement in a tubular member, wherein at least a reinforcement layer is provided on the tubular member by helical winding of an armor wire, said method comprising the steps of:
A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the groove has a width of 0,5-5 mm and a depth of 0,5-5 mm and preferably the groove are U-shaped in the longitudinal direction.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one groove is formed by cutting or milling.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one groove is coated with a coating layer after placing and/or fixation of the sensor arrangement in the at least one groove.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims comprising the steps of:
A method of mounting a sensor arrangement in a tubular member, wherein at least a reinforcement layer is provided on the tubular member by helical winding of an armor wire, said method comprising the steps of:
A method according to any one of the claims 25-34 wherein the upper groove walls are deformed prior to the application of the sensor arrangement in the armor wire.
A method according to any one of the preceding 25-37 claims wherein the groove has a width of 0,5-5 mm and a depth of 0,5-5 mm and preferably the groove are U-shaped in the longitudinal direction.
A tubular member comprising a sensor arrangement and at least one reinforcement layer provided on the tubular member by helical winding, wherein said sensor arrangement is integrated or concealed in one or more grooves in the reinforcement layer by use of adhesion to the groove and/or by a deformation of the groove.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.