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US 7,024,941 B2Granted
Method of mounting a sensor arrangement in a tubular member, and use of the method
AssigneeNKT Flexibles I/S
InventorMartin Andersen
Life of this patent
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AssigneeNKT Flexibles I/S
InventorMartin Andersen
Estimating the term…
For use in the monitoring of a tubular member (1) having at least a helically wound reinforcement layer (10), the invention provides a method of mounting a sensor arrangement (17, 18), wherein the reinforcement layer is formed with a groove (16) which is filled with a liquid material (19), such as an epoxy type, and wherein the sensor arrangement is passed into the liquid material by means of a pressure applied by a roller prior to the solidification of the liquid material. In a preferred embodiment, the groove is formed in the reinforcement layer before this is helically wound on the tubular member. Hereby, the sensor arrangement is arranged well-protected without any risk of damage, which may e.g. occur if the tubular member is of the unbonded type, where the reinforcement layer may consist of two layers that may move relative to each other. Furthermore, the sensor arrangement is protected against the external mechanical impacts that may occur if the groove is provided in a reinforcement layer which is freely exposed to the surroundings. The invention is particular suitable for tubular members, including umbilicals that are used for the recovery, refining and transport of oil and gasses.
A method of mounting a sensor arrangement in a tubular member, wherein at least a reinforcement layer is provided on the tubular member by helical winding of an armor wire, said armor wire being provided with at least one groove wherein said groove comprises a bottom portion having lower groove walls and an upper portion having upper groove walls, said bottom portion being capable of containing the widest part of the sensor arrangement, said method comprising the steps of:
A method of mounting a sensor arrangement in a tubular member, wherein at least a reinforcement layer is provided on the tubular member by helical winding of an armor wire, said method comprising the steps of:
A method of mounting a sensor arrangement in a tubular member, wherein at least a reinforcement layer is provided on the tubular member by helical winding of an armor wire, said method comprising the steps of:
A tubular member comprising a sensor arrangement and at least one reinforcement layer provided on the tubular member by helical winding, wherein said sensor arrangement is integrated or concealed in one or more grooves in the reinforcement layer by use of a deformation of the groove with or without use of adhesion, said one or more grooves comprises a bottom portion having lower groove walls and an upper portion having upper groove walls, said bottom portion being capable of containing the widest part of the sensor arrangement, said tubular member being obtainable by a method comprising the step of deforming the upper portion of the groove so that the upper groove walls are brought closer to each other than the width of said widest part of the cross section of the sensor arrangement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.