Patent ID: 7494155

Claim:
A pipeline for the transportation of a cryogenic liquid comprising: a first, inner pipe made of a material having a low thermal expansion coefficient and comprising a plurality of sections, a second, middle pipe made of steel and comprising a plurality of sections, a plurality of first linking parts, for receiving ends of the sections of said first pipe and said second pipe, and for linking sections of said first pipe to sections of said second pipe, and for supporting loads substantially due to differential thermal expansion or contraction between said first and second pipes, thermal insulation in an elongate annular space between said first and second pipes, a third, outer pipe made of steel and comprising a plurality of sections, and a plurality of second linking parts, for receiving ends of sections of said second pipe and said third pipe, and for linking sections of said second pipe to sections of said third pipe, and for supporting loads substantially due to differential thermal expansion or contraction between said second and third pipes, said second and third pipes and said second linking parts forming an elongate annular space between sections of said second pipe and said third pipe, wherein the length of the sections of said second pipe are such that, when assembled, in cooperation with said linking parts, they prevent said first and second linking parts from contacting one another, thereby preventing the formation of a thermal bridge between said first and third pipes.