# US 2014/0196810 A1 · Armouring element for unbonded flexible pipe > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196810 A1 - Document ID: US20140196810A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/238,873 - Filed: 2012-08-14 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-17 - Assignees: National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S - Inventors: Kristian Glejbol; Nicky Weppenaar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196810A1 ## CPC - F16L 11/083: {three or more layers} - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract The invention relates to an armouring element for an unbonded flexible pipe. The armouring element has a longitudinal axis and an elongated outer shape along said axis. The armouring element further has a longitudinal recess configured for fully or partly taking up a sensor element. The recess has a recess surface area and at least a surface area fixing part of the recess surface area has a surface finish comprising a surface roughness Ra. The invention further relates to an armouring element assembly and an unbonded flexible pipe comprising the armouring element, and a method of producing an armouring element assembly. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-48. (canceled) ### Claim 49 An armouring element for an unbonded flexible pipe, the armouring element having a longitudinal axis and an elongated outer shape along said axis, the armouring element further having a longitudinal recess configured for fully or partly taking up a sensor element, the recess having a recess surface area, at least a surface area fixing part of the recess surface area has a surface finish comprising a surface roughness Ra value of about 0.2 μm or more. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The armouring element according to claim 49, wherein the recess is a groove. ### Claim 51 (depends on 49) The armouring element according to claim 49, wherein the surface area fixing part is or comprises substantially the whole recess surface area. ### Claim 52 (depends on 49) The armouring element according to claim 49, wherein the surface area fixing part comprises multiple surface area fixing sections. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The armouring element according to claim 52, wherein at least a first surface area fixing section extends over a substantially full recess width and over a section length along the longitudinal direction and wherein the section length is about 10 mm or more ### Claim 54 (depends on 52) The armouring element according to claim 52, wherein the surface area fixing part has a mean section spacing between neighbouring surface area fixing sections, the mean section spacing being about 1 mm or more. ### Claim 55 (depends on 49) The armouring element according to claim 49, wherein the armouring element comprises at least a first surface area fixing part and a second surface area fixing part and the first and second surface area fixing parts have a part spacing of about 1 m or more. ### Claim 56 (depends on 49) The armouring element according to claim 49, wherein the groove is U-shaped. ### Claim 57 (depends on 49) The armouring element according to claim 49, wherein the groove is box-shaped. ### Claim 58 (depends on 49) The armouring element according to claim 49, wherein the element comprises a longitudinally extending outer surface area section wherein the outer surface area section is coarser than the surface area fixing part. ### Claim 59 (depends on 49) The armouring element according to claim 49, wherein the armouring element is made of or comprises a metal. ### Claim 60 (depends on 49) The armouring element according to claim 49, wherein the armouring element is made of or comprises a fibre-reinforced polymer. ### Claim 61 (depends on 49) The armouring element according to claim 49, wherein the armouring element comprises a substantially rectangular cross-section. ### Claim 62 (depends on 61) The armouring element according to claim 61, wherein the recess is substantially centred on a surface area section of the substantially rectangular cross-section. ### Claim 63 (depends on 49) An armouring element assembly comprising an armouring element according to claim 49 and a sensor element, the sensor element being fixed in the recess of the armouring element in contact with an adhesive. ### Claim 64 (depends on 63) The armouring element assembly according to claim 63, wherein the adhesive is or comprises a polyurethane a polyolefin or a thermoplastic ### Claim 65 (depends on 64) The armouring element assembly according to claim 64, wherein the thermoplastic is or comprises at least one of a polyamide, a polyolefin or an acrylic compound. ### Claim 66 (depends on 63) The armouring element assembly according to claim 63, wherein the recess is adapted to fully contain the sensor element. ### Claim 67 (depends on 63) The armouring element assembly according to any one of claims 63, wherein the sensor element comprises an optical fibre sensor, a strain sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor or an acoustic sensor. ### Claim 68 (depends on 63) An unbonded flexible pipe comprising at least a first armouring element assembly according to claim 63. ### Claim 69 (depends on 68) The unbonded flexible pipe according to claim 68, wherein the pipe comprises a tensile armouring layer, and wherein the tensile armouring layer comprises the first armouring element assembly. ### Claim 70 (depends on 69) The unbonded flexible pipe according to claim 69, wherein the tensile armouring layer additionally comprises at least a first armouring element of a second type, the armouring element of the second type not comprising a sensor element. ### Claim 71 (depends on 70) The unbonded flexible pipe according to claim 70, wherein a mechanical strength, such as a tensile strength, of the first armouring element assembly is substantial equal to the mechanical strength of the first armouring element of the second type. ### Claim 72 (depends on 68) The unbonded flexible pipe according to claim 68, wherein the tensile armouring layer additionally comprises a second armouring element assembly, and optionally a third, a fourth, or a fifth armouring element assembly.