Buckle arrestor for pipe using closely spaced turns of rod to form a coil

Abstract

A flexible buckle arrestor (20) is provided at somewhat regular intervals (l) along the length of a pipeline (10) as it is being laid underwater for arresting the propagation of any buckle (22) that may occur in the pipeline during or after pipeline laying operations. The buckle arrestor is comprised of a rod (20a) tightly wound around the pipe to form a number of spaced apart turns, the ends (20a and 20b) of which are secured either to the rod itself, to the pipe, or to the rod and pipe to prevent the turns from expanding while a buckle propagating in the pipe is arrested. The turns may be individual and unconnected, with each turn welded to itself, to the pipe, or itself and the pipe. The rod may be wound on the pipe as it is being payed out from a reel, or may be wound on the pipe before it is placed on the pipe laying vessel, particularly when a concrete coating (24) is applied to sections welded together as the pipe is laid. The flexibility of the arrestors thus formed at regular intervals will allow the pipe to conform to natural bends as it is laid.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.