CPC F16L 59/20 (2013.01) [B21D 39/00 (2013.01); B29C 45/00 (2013.01); B29C 45/14614 (2013.01); B29C 45/14639 (2013.01); B29C 45/14819 (2013.01); B29C 65/1412 (2013.01); B29C 65/1432 (2013.01); B29C 65/5042 (2013.01); F16L 3/1066 (2013.01); F16L 3/1075 (2013.01); F16L 9/04 (2013.01); F16L 9/147 (2013.01); F16L 13/00 (2013.01); F16L 59/021 (2013.01); F16L 59/024 (2013.01); F16L 59/029 (2013.01); B29C 65/4815 (2013.01); B29C 65/542 (2013.01); B29K 2075/00 (2013.01); B29L 2023/225 (2013.01); F16L 1/00 (2013.01); F16L 9/121 (2013.01); Y10T 29/4998 (2015.01); Y10T 29/49982 (2015.01)] | 17 Claims |
1. A rigid pipeline comprising an insulating insert that is positioned around a field joint of a pipeline to insulate the field joint, wherein the insert is positioned over a sealing sleeve applied over the field joint, which sleeve bridges a longitudinal gap between truncated parent coatings of pipe joints joined at the field joint, and wherein:
the insert comprises a longitudinal series of annular or part-annular segments of insulating material, curved about a longitudinal axis, that are each joined to one or more adjacent segments of the series by at least one link; and
the at least one link is flexible relative to the segments to facilitate bending of the insert along a length of the insert by enabling relative angular displacement between adjacent segments of the series, wherein the at least one link comprises one or more flexible rods extending longitudinally between adjacent segments of the series.
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