US 12,247,686 B2
Gripping body
Linfa Zhu, Katy, TX (US); Zhimin Tan, Katy, TX (US); Everton Vieira de Almeida, Rio de Janeiro (BR); and Andrew Roberts, Ouston (GB)
Assigned to Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited, Bristol (GB)
Filed by Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited, Bristol (GB)
Filed on Jul. 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/358,555.
Prior Publication US 2025/0035246 A1, Jan. 30, 2025
Int. Cl. F16L 55/00 (2006.01); F16L 11/08 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 55/00 (2013.01) [F16L 11/081 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for locating respective end regions of wires of an armour layer of a segment of flexible pipe body at respective desired positions in an end fitting, comprising the steps of:
providing an annular element radially around an exposed region of an armour layer, of flexible pipe body, that comprises a plurality of wires;
locating the annular element against a terminal end of a first collar member disposed radially around the armour layer;
bending the wires away from a longitudinal axis of the flexible pipe body against a guiding surface of the annular element, at a predetermined location;
urging the annular element away from the first collar member in a first direction; and
gripping the wires between an abutment region of the guiding surface and a cooperating abutment surface of a further collar member thereby locating respective end regions of the wires at respective desired positions in an end fitting.