Back to results
US 4,900,488 AGranted
Method of manufacturing a syntactic sleeve for insulating a pipeline
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorsMichael H. Collins, Alan R. Lyle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spincasting technique for forming a syntactic insulation layer around a pipeline includes rotating a drum while or after injecting components for forming syntactic insulation material into said drum. In this manner a syntactic material is formed in which larger, low density, microspheres are biased towards the inner surface of the insulation layer.
Claims8
A method for manufacturing a syntactic sleeve for insulating a pipeline, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a drum having a generally cylindrical shape,
- injecting into said drum components for forming a syntactic insulation material containing microspheres of different densities,
- rotating the drum about a central longitudinal axis thereof, thereby inducing said components to form an annular layer alongside an inner wall of the drum and simultaneously creating a concentration of microspheres having a comparatively low density in an area near an inner surface of said annular layer, and a concentration of microspheres having a comparatively high density in an area near an outer surface of said annular layer, the comparative density of said microspheres varying from said inner surface to said outer surface of said annular layer, and
- allowing said components to cure to a sleeve of syntactic material.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.