Pipe assembly for the flow of a fluid and of a current and method for assembling such a pipe assembly

Abstract

This pipe assembly comprises a pipe ( 2 ) having an internal duct ( 4 ) for the fluid and an electrical wire ( 6 ) longer than the pipe ( 2 ). The pipe ( 2 ) comprises: one or more groove(s) ( 8, 10 ) along the pipe ( 2 ); at least one lip ( 11, 12, 13, 14 ) which extends parallel to a groove ( 8, 10 ) and which can be deformed; between a configuration in which the electrical wire ( 6 ) can be introduced into the groove ( 8, 10 ); and a secondary configuration in which a lip ( 11, 12, 13, 14 ) covers the groove ( 8, 10 ). The pipe assembly also comprises means for keeping the or each lip ( 11, 12, 13, 14 ) in the secondary configuration.

1 . Pipe assembly ( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ), for the flow of a fluid and the circulation of an electrical current along a pipe ( 2 ;  102 ;  202 ), the pipe assembly ( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ) comprising:
 a pipe ( 2 ;  102 ;  202 ) having at least one internal duct ( 4 ;  104 ;  204 ) configured for the flow of the fluid; and   at least one electrically conductive wire ( 6 ;  106 ;  206 ) having a length greater than or equal to the length (L2) of the pipe ( 2 ;  102 ;     202 );   the pipe assembly ( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ) being characterized in that the pipe ( 2 ;  102 ;  202 ) comprises:   at least one groove ( 8 ,  10 ;  108 ,  110 ;  208 ,  210 ) extending overall between a first terminal portion ( 2 . 1 ) of the pipe ( 2 ;  102 ;  202 ) and a second terminal portion ( 2 . 2 ) of the pipe ( 2 ;  102 ;  202 );   at least one lip ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ;  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 ;  211 ,  212 ,  213 ,  214 ) which extends substantially parallel to a respective groove ( 8 ,  10 ;  108 ,  110 ;  208 ,  210 ) and which can be deformed so as to change:
 from a primary configuration in which at least one electrically conductive wire ( 6 ;  106 ;  206 ) can be introduced into the respective groove ( 8 ,  10 ;  108 ,  110 ;  208 ,  210 ); 
 to a secondary configuration in which said at least one lip ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) covers, totally or partially, the respective groove ( 8 ,  10 ;  108 ,  110 ;  208 ,  210 ). 
   
     
     
         2 . Pipe assembly ( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ) according to  claim 1 , in which said at least one lip ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) is of a single piece with the pipe ( 2 ;  102 ;  202 ). 
     
     
         3 . Pipe assembly ( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ) according to  claim 1 , in which the pipe ( 2 ;  102 ;  202 ) comprises, for at least one groove ( 8 ,  10 ;  108 ,  110 ;  208 ,  210 ), two lips ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) edging the respective groove ( 8 ,  10 ;  108 ,  110 ;  208 ,  210 ), so that, in the secondary configuration, the two lips ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) are in contact one against the other and cover the respective groove ( 8 ,  10 ;  108 ,  110 ;  208 ,  210 ). 
     
     
         4 . Pipe assembly ( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ) according to  claim 3 , in which the pipe ( 2 ;  102 ;  202 ) comprises at least one so-called long lip ( 112 ,  114 ) and at least one so-called short lip ( 111 ,  113 ), said at least one long lip ( 112 ,  114 ) and said at least one short lip ( 111 ,  113 ) being arranged so that, in the secondary configuration, a respective long lip ( 112 ,  114 ) penetrates into a cavity delimited by a respective short lip ( 111 ,  113 ). 
     
     
         5 . Pipe assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , also comprising a first coupling ( 21 ) and a second coupling ( 22 ) having shapes respectively complementing the terminal portion of the pipe ( 2 ) and the second terminal portion of the pipe ( 2 ), the first coupling ( 21 ) and the second coupling ( 22 ) cooperating with the internal duct ( 4 ) so that the fluid flows from the first coupling ( 21 ) to the second coupling ( 22 ) through the internal duct ( 4 ). 
     
     
         6 . Pipe assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , also comprising retaining means for keeping said at least one lip ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) in the secondary configuration, the retaining means comprising:
 a first jacket ( 24 ) made of thermoplastic material or of elastomer thermoplastic material which is overmolded at least around a part of the first coupling ( 21 ) and around the first terminal portion ( 2 . 1 ) of the pipe ( 2 ); and   a second jacket ( 25 ) made of thermoplastic material or of elastomer thermoplastic material which is overmolded at least around a part of the second coupling ( 22 ) and around the second terminal portion ( 2 . 2 ) of the pipe ( 2 ).   
     
     
         7 . Pipe assembly ( 1 ;  101 ) according to  claim 1 , also comprising retaining means for keeping said at least one lip ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) in the secondary configuration, the retaining means comprising a sheath ( 16 ;  116 ) configured to grip the pipe ( 2 ;  102 ) preferably over the entire length (L2) of the pipe ( 2 ;  102 ). 
     
     
         8 . Pipe assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , in which the material forming the sheath ( 16 ) is selected so that a heating of the sheath ( 16 ) shrinks the sheath ( 16 ) on to the pipe ( 2 ). 
     
     
         9 . Pipe assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 6  and according to one of  claims 7  and  8 , in which the sheath ( 16 ) is a textile sheath, which is braided or woven, the thermoplastic or elastomer thermoplastic material of the first jacket ( 24 ) and the thermoplastic or elastomer thermoplastic material of the second jacket ( 25 ) being inserted between the stitches of the sheath ( 16 ). 
     
     
         10 . Pipe assembly ( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ) according to  claim 1 , in which the pipe ( 2 ;  102 ;  202 ) comprises at least two grooves ( 8 ,  10 ;  108 ,  110 ;  208 ,  210 ), two grooves ( 8 ,  10 ;  108 ,  110 ;  208 ,  210 ) being preferably situated respectively on two opposing sides of the internal duct ( 4 ;  104 ;  204 ). 
     
     
         11 . Pipe assembly ( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ) according to  claim 1 , in which the pipe ( 2 ;  102 ;  202 ) is made of an elastomer, thermoplastic or elastomer thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM), of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and of polypropylene-ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (PP-EPDM). 
     
     
         12 . Pipe assembly ( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ) according to  claim 1 , in which at least one electrically conductive wire ( 6 ;  106 ;  206 ) is formed by a so-called resistive wire which is designed to convert an electrical current into heat by the Joule effect. 
     
     
         13 . Pipe assembly ( 201 ) according to  claim 1 , in which the pipe ( 202 ) comprises at least one fiber ( 231 ,  232 ) which is overall non-extendable and which is co-extruded with the pipe ( 202 ), said at least one fiber ( 231 ,  232 ) being preferably selected from the group consisting of glass fibers and textile fibers. 
     
     
         14 . Method, for assembling a pipe assembly ( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ) according to  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
 implementing a pipe assembly ( 1 ;  101 ;  201 ) according to one of the preceding claims;   placing said at least one lip ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ;  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 ;  211 ,  212 ,  213 ,  214 ) in the primary configuration;   introducing said at least one electrically conductive wire ( 6 ;  106 ;  206 ) into said at least one groove ( 8 ,  10 ;  108 ,  110 ;  208 ,  210 );   changing said at least one lip ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) from the primary configuration to the secondary configuration; and   arranging the retaining means relative to the pipe ( 2 ;  102 ;  202 ) so as to keep said at least one lip ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) in the secondary configuration.