Method and apparatus for curing of pre impregnated synthetic components in situ
AssigneeOceaneering International, Inc.
InventorBrett Howard Kline
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cable, which may be produced by the method described herein, comprises a cable with a core jacket comprising a predetermined cable length where the core jacket comprises a thermoplastic material comprising a memory characteristic which changes based on temperature, a set of core components, disposed within the core jacket, which comprise the predetermined length, and a strength member disposed within the core jacket intermediate the core components and the core jacket. The strength member comprises a selectively activated pre-impregnated uncured synthetic material adapted to be cured while in production, the strength member comprising a length substantially equal to the predetermined length.
Claims20
A cable, comprising:
- a. a core jacket comprising a predetermined length substantially equal to a desired cable length, the core jacket comprising a thermoplastic material, the thermoplastic material comprising a memory characteristic which, when at or above a predetermined temperature, increases flexibility of the core jacket and below the predetermined temperature causes the core jacket to retain a memory of a shape of a container about which the core jacket was wound;
- b. a core component disposed within the core jacket, the core component comprising the predetermined length;
- and
- c. a strength member disposed within the core jacket intermediate the core component and the core jacket, the strength member comprising a selectively activated, pre-impregnated, uncured synthetic material adapted to be cured when the cable is produced, the strength member comprising a length substantially equal to the predetermined length.
A method of constructing a cable, comprising:
- a. assembling an inner set of core components, the inner set of core components comprising a length substantially equal to a desired length of a cable;
- b. surrounding the inner set of core components with a strength member substantially comprising the desired length, the strength member comprising a pre-impregnated uncured synthetic material adapted to be cured during production of the cable;
- c. curing the pre-impregnated uncured synthetic material to a predetermined at least partially cured level of cure while producing the cable;
- and
- d. surrounding the inner set of core components and the now at least partially cured pre-impregnated uncured synthetic material with an outer core jacket, the outer core jacket comprising the desired length, the outer core jacket comprising a thermoplastic material, the thermoplastic material comprising a memory characteristic which, when at or above a predetermined temperature, increases flexibility of the core jacket and below the predetermined temperature causes the core jacket to retain a memory of a shape of a container about which the core jacket was wound.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.