Patent ID: 9273806
Filing Date: 2016-03-01
CPC Classification: E21B,F16L,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. An elongate metallic or polymeric or composite tape for forming at least one helically wound layer of interlocked windings in a flexible pipe body for transporting production fluids, the tape having a substantially Zeta-shaped profile and being configured for interlocking of adjacent windings in the layer of tape by nesting of a hooked region of a winding in a valley region of an adjacent winding, wherein the tape comprises a first and a second elongate tape element arranged in contacting relation, thereby providing the Zeta-shaped profile, wherein the first and second elongate tape elements each comprise cooperating formations and wherein the cooperating formations on each of the first and second tape elements comprise complementary profiles such that cooperating formations on each winding of the first tape element are shaped to engage with respective cooperating formations of an adjacent winding of the second tape element and wherein engagement of the cooperating formations is operable to resist relative displacement of the first and second elongate tape elements in a given direction, wherein the first tape element defines said hooked region and includes a first contacting surface having a first contacting region and the second tape element defines said valley region and includes a second contacting surface having a second contacting region, and wherein the contacting regions of the respective contacting surfaces being in contacting relation; wherein the first tape element has an outer peripheral surface defined by a base wall, opposed side walls extending from the base wall and the first contacting surface extending between the respective side walls opposite the base wall, and the second tape element has an outer peripheral surface defined by a base wall, opposed side walls extending from the base wall and the second contacting surface extending between the respective side walls opposite the base wall; and wherein the contacting surface of the first tape element comprises the first contacting region, a lip portion adjacent one of said side walls and a recessed portion, having a recessed floor surface, defined between the lip portion and the first contacting region, the lip portion and the recessed portion defining said hooked region, and the contacting surface of the second tape element comprises the second contacting region, a lip portion adjacent one of said side walls and a recessed portion, having a recessed floor surface, between the lip portion and the second contacting region, the lip portion and the recessed portion defining said valley region.