Umbilical
AssigneeTechnip France
InventorMichael Bell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An umbilical comprising an outer sheath, a core enclosed by the outer sheath and comprising a plurality of helically wound umbilical components, and a tape wound between the outer sheath and the core, wherein the tape comprises a plurality of rigid elements adapted to press into or against the outer sheath and the core when subject to loading. By combining a plurality of rigid elements with a tape, the present invention is able to increase the friction between the core and its outer sheath as part of an existing manufacturing step of adding a final tape or band around the core prior to adding the outer sheath. This particular assists steel tube umbilicals being vertically laid using VLS at deep water depths.
Claims15
An umbilical comprising an outer sheath, a core enclosed by the outer sheath and comprising a plurality of helically wound umbilical components, and a tape wound between the outer sheath and the core, wherein the tape comprises a plurality of rigid elements adapted to press into or against the outer sheath and the core when subject to loading.
A tape for an umbilical comprising an outer sheath and a core enclosed by the outer sheath and comprising a plurality of helically wound umbilical components, the tape comprising a plurality of rigid elements integrally provided with said tape, the rigid elements providing raised formations extending from the remainder of the tape and adapted to press into or against the parts of the umbilical which the tape contacts in use, the tape thereby increasing the frictional coefficient between said parts.
A method of improving the interlocking in an umbilical between an outer sheath and an enclosed core comprising a plurality of helically wound umbilical components, comprising at least the steps of:
- winding a tape comprising a plurality of rigid elements between the outer sheath and the core, and
- subjecting the umbilical to loading to press the tape into or against the outer sheath and the umbilical components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.