Interlocked layer and method of manufacture

1. Flexible pipe body for transporting fluids, comprising:

a pressure resistant layer, having a predetermined thickness, and comprising a plurality of adjacent hoop-like elements; and

apparatus for interposing between adjacent hoop-like elements, the apparatus comprising:

at least one connector body configured for interlocking adjacent hoop-like elements and comprising:

a first restraining arm portion and an opposed further restraining arm portion, each extending outwardly away from a common intersecting region of the connector body and comprising a respective locking surface, wherein each restraining arm portion is a connecting arm portion of the connector body, and wherein each connecting arm portion terminates in a respective bulbous locking member at an end region of the respective connecting arm portion, wherein the bulbous locking member comprises the respective locking surface; and

at least one support arm portion that extends from the common intersecting region substantially perpendicular to the restraining arm portions and terminates with a flared end portion providing an abutment surface, wherein a distance between the common intersecting region and the abutment surface is less than 60% of said predetermined thickness;

wherein said connector body is interposed between the hoop-like elements; and

the restraining arm portions at least partially restrain relative motion of adjacent hoop-like elements in a radially outward or radially inward motion, and the bulbous locking members limit lateral motion of adjacent hoop-like elements; and the at least one support arm portion is arranged to provide said at least one flared out portion at a radially inner and/or radially outer interface region between adjacent hoop-like elements.

2. Flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

each locking member comprises at least one turned out abutment surface at an end region of a respective restraining arm portion that extends away from an axis of the restraining arm portion for preventing an element riding on an outer surface of the restraining arm portion extending beyond an end of the restraining arm portion.

3. Flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising:

the at least one turned out abutment surface comprises a region of an outer surface of a respective arm portion that widens out at an end of the arm portion.

4. Flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

each restraining arm portion comprises a protuberance extending from the common intersecting region and each respective locking surface comprises an outer surface region of a respective protuberance.

5. Flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each flared end portion abutment surface of a support arm portion is substantially flat or arcuate.

6. Flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

each flared end portion abutment surface of a support arm portion comprises at least one projecting member or at least one recessed member.

7. Flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising:

each flared end portion abutment surface comprises at least one groove or blind hole or dimple or slit or slot or boss or post.

8. Flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connector body has a generally T-shape or cross-shaped cross section.

9. Flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

the connector body has a generally cross-shaped cross section and the at least one support arm portion comprises a first support arm portion and an opposed further support arm portion each extending away from the common intersecting region of the connector body in opposed directions and each comprising a respective flared end portion.

10. Flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising:

the flared end portions of the first and further support arm portions have a common shape or have dissimilar shape.

11. Flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

the connector body has a generally T-shaped cross section and the at least one support arm portion comprises only one support arm portion.

12. Flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

the adjacent hoop-like elements comprise adjacent windings of at least one helically wound elongate tape element and the connector body comprises an elongate helically windable tape body; or

the adjacent hoop-like elements comprise a plurality of discrete non-self-interlocking hoop members arranged concentrically in a side-by-side relationship and said at least one connector body comprises a plurality of discrete hoop members each formed as an endless ring.

13. A method for providing resistance to creep of polymer of a polymer layer in a flexible pipe, comprising the steps of:

providing a pressure resistant layer, for a flexible pipe comprising flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1 , by interlocking adjacent hoop-like elements via at least one connector body comprising opposed connecting arm portions, wherein each connecting arm portion terminates in a respective bulbous locking member at an end region of the respective connecting arm portion, wherein the bulbous locking member comprises a respective locking surface; and

simultaneously providing a flared out portion of a support arm portion of the connector body between adjacent interlocked hoop-like elements thereby providing an abutment surface of the flared out portion at a location to face a polymer layer of the flexible pipe juxtaposed with the pressure resistant layer for preventing creep of the polymer material of the polymer layer between the adjacent interlocked hoop-like elements.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising:

providing the pressure resistant layer by helically winding an elongate tape element; and

providing the connector body by helically winding an elongate helically windable body between adjacent windings of the elongate tape element.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising:

providing the pressure resistant layer by providing a plurality of non-self interlocking hoop members concentrically in a side-by-side relationship; and

providing a connector body interlocking hoop members between each pair of adjacent hoop members in a concentric side-by-side relationship with the hoop members.

16. A method for smoothing an inner surface provided by a carcass layer of a flexible pipe, comprising the steps of:

providing a pressure resistant layer as a carcass layer, for a flexible pipe comprising flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1 , by interlocking adjacent hoop-like elements via at least one connector body comprising opposed connecting arm portions, wherein each connecting arm portion terminates in a respective bulbous locking member at an end region of the respective connecting arm portion, wherein the bulbous locking member comprises a respective locking surface; and

simultaneously providing a flared out portion of a support arm portion of the connector body between the adjacent interlocked hoop-like elements thereby providing an abutment surface of the flared out portion at a location to at least partially cover a gap between the hoop-like elements at a radially inner side of the carcass layer.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising:

providing the pressure resistant layer by helically winding an elongate tape element; and

providing the connector body by helically winding an elongate helically windable body between adjacent windings of the elongate tape element.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising:

providing the pressure resistant layer by providing a plurality of non-self interlocking hoop members concentrically in a side-by-side relationship; and

providing a connector body interlocking hoop members between each pair of adjacent hoop members in a concentric side-by-side relationship with the hoop members.