US 12,390,980 B2
Adjustable molding system for forming material on pipe
Randall Perkins, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to Bayou HoldCo, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Bayou Holdco, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Dec. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/564,345.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/132,698, filed on Dec. 31, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0203603 A1, Jun. 30, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 63/00 (2006.01); B29C 33/26 (2006.01); B29C 33/30 (2006.01); B29L 23/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 63/0073 (2013.01) [B29C 33/26 (2013.01); B29C 33/308 (2013.01); B29L 2023/225 (2013.01)] 29 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A molding system for applying insulation to a pipe, the molding system comprising:
an elongate mold having a length along a longitudinal axis extending from a first end portion to a second end portion, the elongate mold including a mold member having a base mold member and at least one lid mold member mounted on the base mold member for opening and closing the elongate mold, and an inner form wall defining a mold cavity in which to receive the pipe such that the pipe is supported at the first end portion and the second end portion of the elongate mold and is allowed to sag in the mold cavity between the first end portion and the second end portion of the elongate mold; and
a mold adjustment mechanism connected to the mold member to adjust the base mold member from a straight configuration to a curved configuration in which the base mold member bows downward to match a curvature of the pipe as the pipe sags and for moving the mold member to adjust a shape of the inner form wall of the mold member to correspond to a shape of the pipe as the pipe sags in the mold cavity.