Patent ID: 6530137
Filing Date: 2003-03-11
Classification: B29C,F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
A method intended for thermal insulation of a flexible pipe having a longitudinal axis, comprising the following successive stages:extruding, on an outer surface of said pipe moving longitudinally, a thickness of extrudable insulating material, hardening said insulating material by cooling said insulating material over a substantially rectilinear part downstream from the deposition area to form a rigid insulating material, forming at least one circumferential slot in said thickness of the rigid insulating material in relation to the longitudinal axis of the pipe, the at least one circumferential slot comprising one of at least one helical slot having a width and pitch sufficient to restore flexibility of the pipe once coated with said rigid material and a plurality of annular slots spaced so as to restore flexibility of said pipe once coated with said rigid insulating material.