Granted Patent B2

US 12,320,449 · App. 18/536,737 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Inventors: Donald Bradley Campbell (Gallatin, TN); Jordan Strunk (Portland, TN)

Assignee: Titeflex Corporation

F16L11/08B32B1/08B32B7/12B32B15/09B32B15/20B32B2307/30B32B2307/54B32B2307/732B32B2597/00F16L59/12F16L59/14

Abstract

Claims (21)

1. A pipe assembly for conveying a fluid and having a pipe length, the pipe assembly comprising:

(a) an inner pipe having an inner pipe length, the inner pipe made from a plastic or metallic material, or combination thereof, and having an outer surface,

(b) an outer pipe surrounding the inner pipe and having an inner surface, the outer pipe made from a plastic or metallic material, or combination thereof, the inner surface of the outer pipe spaced from the outer surface of the inner pipe along the pipe length to create a gap between the outer surface of the inner pipe and an inner surface of the outer pipe;

(c) a plurality of spacer structures, each of the spacer structures positioned in intervals along the length of the pipe assembly, each spacer structure maintaining the gap between the outer surface of the inner pipe and inner surface of the outer pipe; and

(d) a reflective insulation system positioned at least on the inner surface of the outer pipe, the reflective insulation system comprising a reflective low-e material as part of at least the inner surface of the outer pipe.

2. The pipe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reflective material is a low-e aluminum or metallized film disposed on the inner surface of the outer pipe.

3. The pipe assembly of claim 1 , wherein each spacer structure comprises one of the following:

(i) a clip with an inner surface configured to interface with the outer surface of the inner pipe and an outer surface configured to interface with the inner surface of the outer pipe;

(ii) a plurality of fins extending from an inner surface of the outer pipe, the fins extending across the gap so that an end surface can contact the outer surface of the inner pipe; and

(iii) a protrusion formed in the outer pipe and having an end surface, the protrusion extending across the gap so that the end surface of the protrusion can contact the outer surface of the inner pipe.

4. The pipe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner pipe is made from metallic or non-metallic material or combination thereof.

5. The pipe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer pipe comprises one of:

a non-metallic material;

a metallic material; and

a multilayer pipe construction with an outer layer that is made of one of thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers.

6. The pipe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner pipe is a suction line for a refrigeration system.

7. A refrigeration system comprising:

a compressor;

an evaporator coil;

the pipe assembly of claim 1 coupled between the compressor and the evaporator coil to form a fluid circuit between the compressor and the evaporator coil; and

a refrigerant received within the fluid circuit.

Continuity (12)

References Cited (166)