US 12,297,941 B2
Low-pressure tubular system comprising expansion joints
Dirk Jan Dingeman Van Waardhuizen, Ridderkerk (NL); and Simon Wolfert, Ridderkerk (NL)
Assigned to TRELLEBORG RIDDERKERK B.V., Ridderkerk (NL)
Appl. No. 17/785,472
Filed by TRELLEBORG RIDDERKERK B.V., Ridderkerk (NL)
PCT Filed Jan. 7, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/050177
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 15, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/144186, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 22, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2024669 (NL), filed on Jan. 14, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0013400 A1, Jan. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. F16L 27/12 (2006.01); F16L 27/107 (2006.01); F16L 27/108 (2006.01); F16L 51/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 27/12 (2013.01) [F16L 27/107 (2013.01); F16L 27/108 (2013.01); F16L 27/1085 (2013.01); F16L 51/022 (2013.01); F16L 51/024 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A low-pressure tubular system, comprising:
a multitude of interconnected tube sections having a longitudinal axis;
wherein each of the tube sections comprise a central part and two outer end parts;
wherein the tubular system is configured to maintain a low-pressure environment within the connected tube sections;
wherein the system further comprises a multitude of expansion joints connecting the tube sections;
wherein each of the expansion joints comprises a sleeve made of a flexible sheet material and comprises a ring shaped endless central part and two ring shaped endless outer end parts;
wherein the flexible sheet material of at least the central part of the sleeves of the expansion joints each include multiple separate layers, comprising:
a first layer of a flexible material that is air impermeable;
a second layer of a flexible material that has a higher tensile strength in the axial direction of the tubular system than the first layer; and
a third layer of a flexible material that has a higher cut resistance and/or a higher puncture resistance against impact of sharp objects from the outside than the first layer and the second layer; and
wherein the first layer surrounds and encapsulates the second and third layers,
wherein each of the ring shaped endless outer end parts includes a ring shaped retainer cable that extends coaxial with the adjacent tube section, and wherein the first and second layers surround and encapsulate the retainer cables,
wherein the outer end parts of each of the tube sections include a flange, and a radial outer surface of each said flange is engaged by a radial inner surface of the ring shaped endless outer end parts of the expansion joint, and wherein the first layer includes a plurality of radially inwardly projecting ribs that engage matching grooves in the radial outer surface of each said flange, and
wherein each of the outer end parts of the expansion joints are arranged to extend coaxial with an adjacent tube section and surround and sealingly engage the outer end part of said adjacent tube section.