A STRAKE RECEPTOR FOR A PIPE

Abstract: A strake receptor for a pipe deployed from an off-shore installation vessel comprises a formation (24) of flexible material for engagement with a strake (29) also of the flexible material and for adhesively bonding to an outer surface of the pipe. As the pipe is received in pipe handling equipment located on the vessel, the strake (29) yields (as shown in chain dotted lines). A removable dust cover protects the recess (25) until the strake (29) is received in the recess (25).

Description: A STRAKE RECEPTOR FOR A PIPE This invention relates to a strake receptor for a pipe deployed from an off- shore installation vessel. In US-A-4 722 367 there is disclosed a pipeline vortex spoiler system comprising elongate plastic strakes of inverted 'T' shape transverse cross section which are secured end to end on outer surfaces of pipelines so as to form helical configurations around the pipelines. However, a problem associated with the deployment of strakes on external surfaces of pipelines is that, where the pipelines have been reeled on-shore and laid off-shore, it is necessary to direct the pipelines through straightening and tensioning apparatus which apply reverse curvature to the pipelines to counter-act the curvature resulting from the reeling process. Since the apparatus engages firmly with an outer surface of a pipeline, strakes can only be applied after the pipeline passes through the apparatus. Generally, attachment of strakes to a pipeline after it has passed though such apparatus is a cumbersome and hazardous procedure. The same problems arise with apparatus which deploys from a installation vessel a pipeline which has not been reeled since it is still necessary to feed the pipeline through tensioning apparatus which grips the outer surfaces of the pipeline. According to the present invention, there is provided a strake receptor for a pipe deployed from an off-shore installation vessel, characterised in that the receptor comprises an elongate formation for engagement with the strake and for deployment on the pipe when the pipe is received in pipe handling equipment located on the vessel. Therefore, a strake receptor in accordance with the present invention provides a facility whereby pipes and pipelines may be provided with strakes on-shore and may be subsequently deployed from an off-shore installation vessel without pipe handling equipment located on the vessel interfering with the strakes. The invention thus provides considerable cost saving because most of the preparatory work can be carried out on-shore. Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one method of carrying the invention into effect. In the drawings :- Figure 1 is an elevation of a pipeline section having strakes deployed thereon, Figure 2 is a transverse cross section of a pipe having strakes deployed thereon, Figure 3 is a transverse cross section of a portion of a pipe having a strake deployed thereon and having in engagement therewith an embodiment of a receptor in accordance with the present invention, Figure 4 is a transverse cross section of an oil pipe having a plurality of strakes deployed thereon and having in engagement therewith receptors in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, Figure 5 is a transverse cross section of another embodiment of a receptor in accordance with the present invention having a strake in engagement therewith, Figure 6 is a transverse cross section of a strake shown in Figure 5, Figure 7 is a transverse cross section of the receptor shown in Figure 5 having a temporary insert located therein and a dust cover engaged by the temporary insert, Figure 8 is a diagrammatic representation showing the temporary insert and the co-operating dust cover, Figure 9 is a longitudinal cross-section of a guide ramp and Figure 10 is a diagrammatic representation of the guide ramp and a receptor located in association therewith. Referring now to Figure 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a pipe 10 having strakes 11 deployed thereon and extending in helical configuration longitudinally of the pipe 10. The pipe 10 is formed of steel and the strakes 11 are formed of rubber, or other compliant material, and are adhesively bonded to an outer surface of the pipe 10. Each strake 11 comprises a flange portion 12 and one or more radially outwardly extending longitudinal projections 13 of substantially arrow head configuration in transverse cross section, the apices of which are remote from the flange 12. Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, there is shown an embodiment of a receptor 14 in accordance with the present invention. The receptor 14 is formed of resilient material, such as rubber, and has an arcuate outer surface 15 and a concave inner surface 16. The concave inner surface 16 is provided with recesses 17 each for receiving a corresponding one of the projections 13. Each of the recesses 17 is provided with a constriction 18 for snap engagement under the arrow head configuration of each corresponding projection 13 when received in the corresponding recess 17. The arrangement is such that the receptor 14 is connectable by snap engagement with a strake 11 and the material of the receptor 14 is such that the receptor 14 may easily be flexed so as to disengage with the strake 11. Provision of the receptor 14 in engagement with a strake 11 ensures protection of the strake 11, when located on a pipe 10, when the pipe 10 is fed through pipe handling equipment, for example for straightening a tube after is has been reeled or for feeding a tube from a installation vehicle. Such strake receptors provide a facility whereby pipes may be provided with strakes at an on-shore location and may then be transported off-shore to a installation vessel. Referring now to Figure 4 of the drawings, there is shown a pipe 10 having a plurality of strakes 11 carried thereon and a plurality of receptors 19 each in engagement with a corresponding one of the strakes 11. The receptors 19 are similar to the receptors 14 except that longitudinal side faces extending in a direction radially outwardly from the pipe 10 are each provided with a lower recess 21. The receptors 14 are intended for cooperation with intermediate arcuate spacers 22 each of which are provided with longitudinal projections 23 for engaging under the longitudinal side edges 20 of the receptors 19. The arrangement is such that the spacers 22 connect with the receptors 19 to form a circumferential protecting shield for the pipe 10 when the pipe 10 passes through pipe handling equipment. Referring now to Figures 5 to 10 of the drawings, there is shown a further embodiment of a receptor 24 in accordance with the present invention. The receptor 24 comprises a recess 25 of substantially rectangular configuration and having a restricted opening 26, opposite facing walls of the opening 26 curving upwardly and outwardly away from one another into two longitudinal arcuate formations 27 extending into outwardly downwardly sloping side walls 28. The receptor 24 differs from the receptors 14 and 19 in that the receptor 24 is bonded to an outer surface of a pipe 10 and a strake 29 is subsequently connected thereto. The strake 29 is of substantially inverted "T" transverse cross section in which the substantially rectangular head formation is received in the rectangular recess 25 of the receptor 24 by longitudinally sliding the strake 29 therein. The strake 29 is of material which is sufficiently flexible such as to flex towards the arcuate and rectilinear surfaces 27, 28 of the receptor 24, when a pipe 10 having the receptor 24 and the strake 29 carried thereon is directed through pipe handling equipment, as shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 5. Receptors 24 may be stored separately from the strakes 29 and, in order to ensure that the recesses 25 of the receptors 24 remain dust free, co- operating inserts 30 and dust covers 31 may be provided. Each temporary insert may comprise a base portion 32, of substantially rectangular transverse cross section, and a contiguous upwardly extending bifurcated portion 33 having resilient jaws 34, 35. Each dust cover 31 comprises an elongate cap portion 36 having a central depending web 37 of downwardly extending arrow head configuration in transverse cross section. The arrangement is such that a temporary insert 30 may be located in a receptor 24 by sliding the insert 30 longitudinally of the recess 25 of the receptor 24. A dust cover 31 then is placed on the receptor 24 and pushed downwardly so that the arrow head configuration of the downwardly extending web 37 of the cover 31 snap engages under the jaws 34, 35 of the temporary insert 30. When it is necessary to provide the receptor 24 with a strake 29, the procedure is repeated in reverse so that the temporary insert 30 and the co- operating dust cover 31 are removed from the receptor 24. The temporary insert 30 and dust cover 31 provide two distinct functions. The temporary insert 30 is designed to prevent any permanent distortion to the lower channel slot 25 due to excess pressure from the handling equipment or rough handling during transit. Also it keeps the channel slot 25 clear of debris during this period which could interfere with the withdrawal and subsequent insertion of the strake 29. The upper dust cover 31 is made of a softer material that will deform and form a seal at the shoulder locations 27 of the receptor 24, further protecting the channel slot 25 from dirt ingress. The reason for two different materials is that they fulfil two different functions and so that when the process of withdrawal is taking place the dust cover 31 is removed in an outwards direction, thus making for an easier exit of the temporary insert 30 due to a reduced contact area. The receptor 24 may be provided with an additional guide ramp 38, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, for smoothing inter engagement of the receptor 24 and pipe handling equipment. The guide ramp 38 comprises a forward upwardly inclined ramp 39 and a recess 40 for receiving a strap (not shown) for securing the guide ramp 38 to the pipe 10. The strake 29 may also be provided with a forward leading edge 41 which is inclined in an upward direction away from the guide ramp 38, as shown in Figure 10.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A strake receptor for a pipe (10) deployed from an off-shore installation vessel characterised in that the receptor comprises an elongate formation (14, 19, 24) for engagement with the strake (11, 29) and for deployment on the pipe (10) when the pipe (10) is received in pipe handling equipment located on the vessel. 2. A receptor as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the formation (14, 19, 24) comprises a recess (17, 25) adapted to receive the strake (11, 29). 3. A receptor as claimed in Claim 2 characterised in that the recess (25) comprises a cavity (25) and a constriction (26) in a direction outwardly of the cavity (25). 4. A receptor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the formation (19) is adapted to engage with other components (22) for forming an annulus around the pipe (10). 5. A receptor as claimed in Claim 3 characterised in that the configuration of the cavity (25) is such that, in use, the direction outwardly of the cavity (25) is a direction radially outwardly from the pipe (10). A receptor as claimed in Claim 5 characterised in that the formation (24) is of a configuration such as to provide a pair of opposed curves (27) extending outwardly of the constriction (26). 7. A strake receptor as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 characterised in that the strake (29) is of generally inverted 'T' shape transverse cross section. 8. A strake receptor as claimed in any one of Claims 3 and 5 to 7 characterised in that there is provided a cover (31) for covering the cavity (25) when the cavity does not contain the strake (29). 9. A strake receptor as claimed in Claim 8 characterised in that the cover (31) is adapted to cooperate with an insert (30) adapted to be received in the cavity (25) for locating the cover (31) in a position covering the cavity (25). 10. A strake receptor as claimed in Claim 9 characterised in that the cover (31) and the insert (30) cooperate for releasable snap engagement one with another.

Inventors: BROWN ANDREW, BROWN, ANDREW
Applicants: ALLBROWN UNIVERSAL COMPONENTS, BROWN ANDREW, ALLBROWN UNIVERSAL COMPONENTS LIMITED, BROWN, ANDREW
Application year: 2001
Main classification: F16L1
IPC codes: F15D1, F16L1