Method of Installing a Heat Tube on Pre-Insulated Piping
AssigneeThermacor Process, LP
InventorThomas Joseph Keyes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is shown for installing a heat tube on a section of pre-insulated piping. A metal carrier pipe is covered with a first layer of foam insulation. Next, a wire brush is used to cut a longitudinal slot along the length of the pipe so that the pipe exterior surface is exposed from the insulation. A heat tube is then installed within the longitudinal slot, whereby the heat tube contacts the exterior surface of the metal carrier pipe. A second layer of foam insulation is then sprayed onto the exterior of the metal carrier pipe, covering the previously formed longitudinal slot and installed heat tube. A polyolefin coating is then applied over the insulation to form a protective outer jacket for the insulated pipe.
Claims11
A method for installing a heat tube on a section of pre-insulated piping where the piping is made up of first and second lengths of insulated and jacketed pipe, each having a joining end to be joined to an end of the other length, each pipe length comprising an inner metal carrier pipe having an interior surface and an exterior surface, an envelope of foamed insulation surrounding the inner metal carrier pipe exterior surface, and an outer protective jacket surrounding the envelope of insulation, the joining ends of adjacent metal carrier pipe lengths being welded together to form fixed joints, whereby the adjacent pipe lengths provide a continuous length of fluid conduit for conveying fluids, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a metal carrier pipe having an exterior surface, an interior surface and a given length extending along a central longitudinal axis;
- applying a first layer of foam insulation onto the exterior surface of the metal carrier pipe;
- using a wire brush to cut a longitudinal slot through the first layer of foam insulation at one point on the circumference of the metal carrier pipe;
- installing a heat tube within the longitudinal slot whereby the heat tube contacts the exterior surface of the metal carrier pipe;
- applying a second layer of foam insulation onto the exterior of the metal carrier pipe, covering the previously formed longitudinal slot and installed heat tube;
- installing a polyolefin coating around at least a portion of the pipe with the insulation thereon to thereby form an outer protective jacket for the insulated pipe.
A method for installing a heat tube on a section of pre-insulated piping where the piping is made up of first and second lengths of insulated and jacketed pipe, each having a joining end to be joined to an end of the other length, each pipe length comprising an inner metal carrier pipe having an interior surface and an exterior surface, an envelope of foamed insulation surrounding the inner metal carrier pipe exterior surface, and an outer protective jacket surrounding the envelope of insulation, the joining ends of adjacent metal carrier pipe lengths being welded together to form fixed joints, whereby the adjacent pipe lengths provide a continuous length of fluid conduit for conveying fluids, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a steel carrier pipe having an exterior surface, an interior surface and a given length extending along a central longitudinal axis;
- rotating the steel carrier pipe while spraying a first layer of foam insulation onto the exterior surface of the metal carrier pipe and allowing the foam insulation to cure to a given radial thickness to thereby form a foam insulated pipe;
- mounting a wire brush in a suitable fixture and moving the foam insulated pipe past the fixture in linear fashion, whereby the wire brush cuts a longitudinal slot through the first layer of foam insulation along the length of the steel carrier pipe, exposing the exterior surface of the steel carrier pipe;
- installing a metal heat tube within the longitudinal slot whereby the heat tube contacts the exposed exterior surface of the metal carrier pipe;
- spraying a second layer of foam insulation onto the exterior of the metal carrier pipe, thereby covering the previously formed longitudinal slot and installed heat tube;
- installing a polyolefin coating around the insulated pipe to thereby form an outer protective jacket for the insulated pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.