Composite Wrapped Steel Tubes for Use in Umbilicals
AssigneeOceaneering International, Inc.
InventorStephen Owen Mast
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Umbilicals may contain one or more steel tubes as well as low and medium voltage electricals and/or fillers, where one or more of the steel tubes comprise both steel and a carbon fiber composite. In an embodiment, the umbilical cable comprises an outer umbilical sheath and one or more signal conduits disposed within the outer umbilical sheath. In an embodiment, the signal conduit comprises a metallic inner wall and a carbon fiber composite outer wall disposed substantially continuously about an outer surface of the metallic inner wall. One or more conductors are typically disposed within the signal conduit. One or more fillers may be disposed about the signal conduit within the outer umbilical sheath.
Claims19
An umbilical cable, comprising:
- a. an outer umbilical sheath;
- b. a conduit disposed within the outer umbilical sheath, the conduit comprising:
- i. a metallic inner wall;
- and
- ii. a carbon fiber composite outer wall disposed substantially continuously about an outer surface of the metallic inner wall;
- c. a conductor disposed within the signal conduit;
- and
- d. a filler disposed proximate the conduit within the outer umbilical sheath.
A method of manufacturing an umbilical cable, comprising:
- a. providing a predetermined length of a conduit to a coating station, the conduit comprising a metal sheath;
- b. coating an outer surface of the conduit with a carbon fiber in the coating station to create a substantially continuous composite outer wall disposed about the outer surface of the conduit;
- c. taking up the coated umbilical conduit from the coating station;
- and
- d. disposing the coated conduit within an outer umbilical sheath.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.