Assembly and method for stiffening a flexible pipe
View Patent ↗An assembly and method for stiffening a flexible member according to which a stiffening member and an adapter surround the flexible member and an insert extends in an annulus between the adapter and the flexible member.
1. An assembly for stiffening a flexible member, the assembly comprising:
a stiffening member extending over a portion of the flexible member;
an adapter secured to the stiffening member and extending over another portion of the flexible member in a spaced relation thereto to form an annulus;
an insert disposed in the annulus; and
a ring connected to an end of the stiffening member, and wherein an end of the adapter is secured to the stiffening member by a weldment extending between the adapter and the ring.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the insert is secured to the adapter and to the ring.
3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the insert is secured to the adapter and to the ring by a weldment extending between the insert and the adapter, and by a weldment extending between the insert and the ring.
4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the insert is secured to the adapter.
5. An assembly for stiffening a flexible member, the assembly comprising:
a stiffening member extending over a portion of the flexable member;
an adapter secured to the stiffening member and extending over another portion of the flexible member in a spaced relation thereto to form an annulus; and
an insert disposed in the annulus, wherein the insert is secured to the adapter;
wherein the insert is secured to the adapter by a weldment extending between the insert and the adapter.
6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the flexible member is a pipe and wherein the stiffening member, the adapter, and the insert are cylindrical.
7. An assembly for stiffening a flexible member, the assembly comprising:
a stiffening member extending over a portion of the flexible member;
an adapter secured to the stiffening member and extending over another portion of the flexible member in a spaced relation thereto to form an annulus; and
an insert disposed in the annulus to prevent the adapter from contacting said another portion of the flexible member, wherein the insert is fabricated from a material to eliminate wear of said another portion of the flexible member;
wherein the flexible member is a pipe and wherein the stiffening member, the adapter, and the insert are cylindrical;
wherein the insert is formed by two semi-circular insert portions.
8. A method for stiffening a flexible member, the method comprising:
surrounding a portion of the flexible member with a stiffening member;
surrounding another portion of the flexible member with an adapter that extends in a spaced relation to the flexible member to form an annulus;
securing the adapter to the stiffening member;
inserting an insert into the annulus; and
connecting a ring to an end of the stiffening member, and wherein the step of securing comprises welding the adapter to the ring.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising securing the insert to the adapter and to the ring.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the latter step of securing comprises welding the insert to the adapter and to the ring.
11. The method of claim 8 further comprising securing the insert to the adapter.
12. A method for stiffening a flexible member, the method comprising:
surrounding a portion of the flexible member with a stiffening member;
surrounding another portion of the flexible member with an adapter that extends in a spaced relation to the flexible member to form an annulus;
securing the adapter to the stiffening member;
inserting an insert into the annulus; and
welding the insert to the adapter.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein the insert is made of an elastomer material.
14. The method of claim 8 wherein the insert is made of polyurethane.
15. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said insert is fabricated from an elastomer material.
16. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said insert is fabricated from polyurethane.