Reinforcement layer and methods

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a flexible pipe member, a flexible pipe member, and apparatus for providing a plurality of flexible tape elements at a desired location are disclosed. The method comprises providing a tubular layer; for each of at least one precursor reinforcement tape, via a respective at least one separator element, separating at least a first strip portion of a respective precursor reinforcement tape from a further strip portion thereby providing a plurality of minor tapes, each corresponding to a respective strip portion, disposed in an edge wise side-by-side relationship; and helically winding the minor tapes simultaneously in an edge wise side-by-side relationship over an outer surface of the tubular layer thereby providing a reinforcement layer over the tubular layer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.