Flexible conduit with flexible strip reinforcement

Abstract

This flexible tubular pipe 1 comprises at least, from the inside outward, a carcass 3 made of interlocked strip, an internal sealing sheath 4 , a cylindrical pressure vault 5 consisting of a winding of an interlocked profiled metal wire would in a helix with a short pitch, at least one ply 7, 8 of tensile armor tendons wound with a long pitch, and an external protective sealing sheath, and it is characterized in that at least one armor ply is made of steel strip 10 advantageously shaped by bending.

1 . A flexible pipe comprising at least, from the inside outward: an impermeable structural assembly that withstands the radial forces, composed of an inner sealing sheath ( 4 ) and at least one winding ( 5 ) of a metal element, wound in a helix with a short pitch; at least one ply ( 7 ,  8 ) of tensile armor tendons wound with a long pitch, and an external protective sealing sheath ( 9 ), characterized in that at least one armor ply ( 7 ,  8 ) is made of a steel strip ( 10 ) formed by folding or preshaping.  
     
     
         2 . The pipe as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said strip ( 10 ) has a thickness of between about 2 mm and 8 mm.  
     
     
         3 . The pipe as claimed in either of claims  1  and  2 , characterized in that the armor tendon made of strip has a width-to-height ratio L′/H of between 3 and 20 and preferably greater than 4.  
     
     
         4 . The pipe as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the strip ( 10 ) of at least one ply ( 7 ,  8 ) is interlocked.  
     
     
         5 . The pipe as claimed in  claim 4 , characterized in that the strip ( 10 ) of all the armor plies ( 7 ,  8 ) is interlocked.  
     
     
         6 . The pipe as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  5 , characterized in that there are at least ten strips ( 10 ) per armor ply.  
     
     
         7 . The pipe as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  6 , characterized in that the strip ( 10 ) is bent in the form of a T or W with a central bend ( 11 ) and interlocking flanges ( 12 ).  
     
     
         8 . The pipe as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  6 , characterized in that the strip ( 10 ) is in the form of a flat U or C with interlocking flanges ( 12 ).