Umbilical
AssigneeAker Subsea AS
InventorsArild Figenschou, Finn Peter Gjerull
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An umbilical includes a number of fluid pipes, electric wires and/or optical conductors, filler material located at least partially around and between the fluid pipes and the wires/conductors, and they are collectively gathered in a twisted bundle by a laying operation. The umbilical further includes a protective jacket that encompasses the fluid pipes, the wires/conductors and the filler material, and at least one load carrying element located in the cross section of the umbilical. Optionally, one or more fluid pipes constitute load carrying elements. The fluid pipes, the wires/conductors, the filler material and the at least one load carrying element, are alternately laid, i.e. by continuously alternating direction, in the entire or part of the longitudinal extension of the umbilical.
Claims23
An umbilical comprising:
- a number of fluid pipes, electric wires and/or optical conductors, filler material located at least partially around and between the fluid pipes and the wires/conductors, the number of fluid pipes, the filler material and the electric wires/conductors being gathered in a twisted bundle by means of a laying operation;
- a protective sheath that encompasses the fluid pipes, the wires/conductors and the filler material;
- and
- at least one load carrying element at a predetermined location in the cross section of the umbilical,
- wherein the number of fluid pipes, the electric wires/conductors, the filler material and the at least one load carrying element, are alternately laid, i.e. by continuously alternating direction, in the entire or part of the longitudinal extension of the umbilical, to form a bundle and the laid bundle is kept fixed substantially torsion stiff by the protective sheath.
A method of manufacturing and laying a number of elongate elements into an umbilical which includes a number of fluid pipes, electric wires and/or optical conductors, filler material located at least partially around and between the number of fluid pipes and the electric wires/conductors, the number of fluid pipes, the electric wires/conductors and filler material being collectively gathered into a twisted bundle, a protective sheath that encompasses the number of fluid pipes, the electric wires/conductors and the filler material, and at least one load carrying element at a predetermined location in the cross section of the umbilical in order to take care of axial loads, said method comprising the steps of:
- alternately laying the number of fluid pipes, the electric wires/conductors, the filler material and the at least one load carrying element, i.e. by constantly alternating direction, in the entire or part of the longitudinal extension of the umbilical to form a laid bundle;
- centrally or at least one load carrying element during the manufacture;
- and
- retaining the laid bundle substantially torsional stiff by applying the outer protective sheath.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.