Flexible pipe and method of manufacture of flexible pipe

1. A method of assembling a flexible pipe, comprising:

bending armour wires of a flexible pipe body about 10 to 50 degrees from a longitudinal axis of the pipe body using a temporary, first collar member;

inserting a second collar member radially inwards of the bent armour wires such that a portion of the armour wires lay over the second collar member;

mating the flexible pipe body and second collar member with an end fitting body; and

removing the temporary, first collar member after the armour wires have been secured over the second collar member.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second collar member has a curved cross section for bending the tensile armour wires over.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising clamping the armour wires, at a location in the region of the end of the armour wires, to the second collar member.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising inserting an insert between an outer shield layer and a radially inner layer of the flexible pipe body, and abutting the temporary, first collar member against the insert, prior to the bending step.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bending step comprises bending the armour wires about 10 to 40 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the pipe body.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the bending step comprises bending the armour wires about 10 to 30 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the pipe body.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising locating an outer jacket over the region of bent armour wires and securing an end of the jacket to the end fitting body and a further end of the jacket to an outer shield layer of the flexible pipe body.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the armour wires are tensile armour wires.