Patent ID: 11873941

Abstract:
The invention relates to a flexible piping and an improved process for capturing accidental pressurized fluid leaks resulting from a pipeline wherethrough these fluids are transported, in the situation of breaking or cracking, and redirecting the fluid flow in a controlled manner to a desired direction.The device according to the invention is made up of a number n≥1 of heat shrinkable strips (A), each provided on both sides with two zippers (B) and (C) having fluid tight toothed rails (7) and (8) with antagonistic directions of operation, in order to allow the interconnecting and closing of the zippers independently from both ends of the piping towards the central part thereof. The strips (A) with antagonistic zippers are each provided, on one of the longitudinal sides with 2 (two) robotic closing sliders (9) and (10) remotely electrically commanded, and at both ends they have provided magnetic inserts (16) and (17) and inserts of shape memory materials (18) and (19) to generate a curvature in the transverse plane of the strips. The strips (A) are provided at the outer side with a layer (14) having properties of thermal protection, and at the inner side with a thermally activable layer (15) of solid adhesive.The process according to the invention, allows the fixing by heat shrinking and vulcanization of both ends of the flexible piping onto the body of the pipelines on which it is mounted, and comprises in a first step, the mounting on the body of a suction pipe (20), of the front ends (c) of some strips (A) by wrapping around and interconnecting the same, concomitantly acting the curvature in the transverse plane of the element (18) made up of shape memory material, and closing the zippers (B) by moving the robotic closing sliders (9). Subsequently, there are activated the electrical heating resistances (3) for heat shrinking and complete molding of the piping, and the thermal activation of the adhesive layer (15) for the vulcanization on the body of the pipeline (20) on which it was mounted. In a subsequent step, on the damaged end (d) of the pipeline (1) there are mounted the rear ends (e) of the strips (A) by wrapping around and interconnecting the same, concomitantly with acting the curvature in the transverse plane of the elements (19) made up of shape memory material, and closing the zippers (C) by moving the robotic closing sliders (10). Subsequently, there are activated the electrical heating resistances (3) for the heat shrinking and complete moldng of the piping, and the thermal activation of the adhesive layer (15) for the vulcanization on the body of the damaged pipeline (1) on which it was mounted. There is commanded the movement of all robotic sliders (9) and (10) up to the contact thereof with the limit stops (11) and (12), so that all the zippers are completely closed, thereby sealing the system and redirecting the fluid flow coming out through the end of the damaged pipeline (1) towards the suction pipeline (20) and towards the pump (21), which creates a controlled depression in the flexible and tight piping, pushing the captured fluid into the pipeline (22).