Tube construction with adjoining layers of tubes

Abstract: A tube construction, intended in particular for hull or shell sections of vessels or wall sections of tanks, consists of a number of layers of adjoining tubes. Some of the tubes extend essentially perpendicularly with respect to the other tubes. In the event of a collision, some of the tubes will be crushed flat and the other tubes will be subjected to buckling. This leads to a situation where the membrane stresses generated in the outer skin are such that the material of the skin displays relatively extensive stretch before tearing could occur. Preferably, the tubes are formed by fixing plate sections to one another or clamping them against one another.

Description: The invention relates to a construction made up of tubes, intended in particular for a ship's shell or bulk head, a tank wall or partition, or the like, comprising: a number of tube layers consisting of plastic composite, each tube layer having a number of parallel tubes, and the tubes of a part of the tube layers extend essentially perpendicular to the tubes of the remaining tube layers. A construction of this type is disclosed in DE-A-2119863. The tubes of this prior art construction are substantially cylindrical and are pressed on each other by two finishing top layers. The strength of such a construction leaves a lot be desired. The aim of the invention is to increase the strength of the construction. According to the invention the construction is to this end characterised in that the plastic composite tube layers are built up of corrugated plates of which the corrugations have the shape of trapezia, which corrugated plates are glued to one another in a corrosion resistant way. In the event of a collision, some of the tubes will be crashed flat and the other tubes subjected to bulking. The combination of crushing flat and buckling leads to a situation where the membrane stresses generated in the outer skin of the construction are such that the material of the skin displays relatively extensive stress before tearing could occur. The collision damage is restricted to a minimum. In may cases, leakage is prevented. When used for a ship's shell of tank wall, a smooth covering skin can be applied to a plate section on at least one side of the tube construction. So as to be able to absorb even more energy in the event of a collision, the tubes can be filled, for example with rock wool or foam. The construction according to the present invention is also be outstandingly suitable for a heat exchanger. An advantage of plastic composite is that this material can be glued in a corrosion resistant way. Steel has the disadvantage that crack corrosion can occur at the location of point welds. If the tubes are filled with a light weight foam or other light weight material, buoyancy can essentially be maintained under all circumstances. Leaving the tubes open changes the useful volume hardly at all. If use is made of closed tubes, the buoyancy is largely retained should leak in the outer skin nevertheless occur in the event of a collision. The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the figures. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a ship's shell consisting of corrugated plates; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a tube construction which can be compared with the tube construction in fig. 1 but is more extensive and can be used, inter alia, as a heat exchanger; Fig. 3 and 4 show two other possible embodiments of a construction consisting of corrugated plates. The embodiment according to figure 1 shows a ship's side shell or bottom essentially made up of trapezium shaped corrugated plate sections 6, 7, 8 and 9 and a flat skin plate 10. The plates 6 and 9 have been rotated through 90 degrees with respect to the plates 7 and 8. The plates 6, 7, 8, 9 are made up plastic composite and the corrugated plates are glued to one another in a corrosion resistant way. In the embodiment according to figure 2 the tube construction is even more extensive, a construction being produced which, apart from being resistant to tearing in the event of a collision, can also be used as a heat exchanger. XYZ denote the various directions. Viewed in the Z-direction the trapezium shaped corrugations of one or two corrugated plates extend in the Y-direction and alternate with the one or two corrugated plates of which the trapezium shaped corrugations extend in the X-direction. Robust, virtually tear-resistant shells or walls can, for example, be designated by the following X-Y codes: XYXXYX, YXYYXY, YYXXYY and XXYYXX. A surprising effect of the invention is that as a result of filling a hollow construction, which may be subjected to collisions, with corrugated plate sections of which the corrugations extend perpendicular to one another in the above described way, tearing will not easily occur in the event of a collision. In the event of fire in the vicinity of a shell or wall according to the invention, cooling water could be fed through the shell or wall in the two directions perpendicular to one another. The shell or wall with trapezium shaped tubes in two directions is outstandingly suitable for feeding through cables.

Claims: Construction made up of tubes, intended in particular for a ship's shell or bulk head, a tank wall or partition, or the like, comprising: a number of tube layers consisting of plastic composite, each tube layer having a number of parallel tubes and the tubes of a part of the tube layers extend essentially perpendicular to the tubes of the remaining tube layers, characterised in that the plastic composite tube layers are built up of corrugated plates of which the corrugations have the shape of trapezia, which corrugated plates are glued to one another in a corrosion resistant way. Construction according to claim 1, characterised in that the construction consists of - in succession - a corrugated plate of which the corrugations extend in the X direction, a corrugated plate of which the corrugations extend in the Y direction, two corrugated plates of which the corrugations extend in the X direction, a corrugated plate of which the corrugations extend in the Y direction and a corrugated plate of which the corrugations extend in the X direction. Construction according to claim 1, characterised in that the construction consists of - in succession - two corrugated plates of which the corrugations extend in the X direction, two corrugated plates of which the corrugations extend in the Y direction and two corrugated plates of which the corrugations extend in the X direction. Construction according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said construction is used for a heat exchanger.

Inventors: LUDOLPHY JOHANNES WILHELMUS LU, LUDOLPHY, JOHANNES WILHELMUS LUBBERTUS
Applicants: SCHELDE MARITIEM B V, SCHELDE MARITIEM B.V.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B63B43
IPC codes: B63B11, B63B3, B63B43