Thermacor Process, Inc.

Thomas Joseph Keyes

James S Bass

Clinton James Riggin

A method is shown for installing a heat tube on a section of pre-insulated piping. A metal carrier pipe is covered with a first layer of foam insulation. Next, a routing device is used to cut a longitudinal slot along the length of the pipe so that the pipe exterior surface is exposed from the insulation. A heat tube is then installed within the longitudinal slot, whereby the heat tube contacts the exterior surface of the metal carrier pipe. A second layer of foam insulation is then sprayed onto the exterior of the metal carrier pipe, covering the previously formed longitudinal slot and installed heat tube. A polyolefin coating is then applied over the insulation to form a protective outer jacket for the insulated pipe.

Method of installing a heat tube on pre-insulated piping

A method is shown for installing a heat tube on a section of pre-insulated piping. A metal carrier pipe is covered with a first layer of foam insulation. Next, a wire brush is used to cut a longitudinal slot along the length of the pipe so that the pipe exterior surface is exposed from the insulation. A heat tube is then installed within the longitudinal slot, whereby the heat tube contacts the exterior surface of the metal carrier pipe. A second layer of foam insulation is then sprayed onto the exterior of the metal carrier pipe, covering the previously formed longitudinal slot and installed heat tube. A polyolefin coating is then applied over the insulation to form a protective outer jacket for the insulated pipe.

A method for the continuous production of pre-insulated piping having an inner metal carrier pipe having an interior surface and an exterior surface and an envelope of foamed insulation surrounding the inner metal carrier pipe exterior surface. A molding apparatus is provided for forming an annulus about a pipe to be insulated into which foam can be injected. The pipe is continuously moved through the apparatus with foaming material being injected into the annulus where it is molded and cured to form a foam insulated pipe. The molding apparatus is a roller-drum having a cylindrical length and a plurality of individual rollers arranged in a series of linearly staggered, circular arrays which define the annulus where the foaming material is cured.

Continuous method for producing pre-insulated piping

A section of pipe is used in a pre-insulated piping system where the system is made up of lengths of insulated and jacketed pre-insulated piping. Each length of piping is made up of an inner carrier pipe having an interior surface and an exterior surface. An envelope of bonded foam insulation surrounds the inner pipe exterior surface and an outer protective jacket surrounds the envelope of foamed insulation. The length of piping has a joining end for joining to an adjacent length of piping, whereby the adjacent lengths of piping provide a continuous length of fluid conduit for conveying high temperature fluids. A series of metal thrust collars are located at spaced intervals along the length of the inner carrier pipe are enveloped within the layer of foamed insulation. The presence of the metal thrust collars along the length of the inner metal carrier pipe increases the surface area contact of the insulation and metal components of the system and serves to prevent disbondment of the foam insulation from the inner metal carrier pipe over time.

Method and apparatus for preserving the long term structural integrity of bonded foam pre-insulated piping systems

An anchor system is shown for use with a pre-insulated piping system having an inner steel carrier pipe surrounded by a layer of insulation and then by an outer protective jacket. The anchor system includes an inner carrier pipe for insertion within the length of the piping system at a selected point. A steel anchor sleeve surrounds a portion of the length of carrier pipe and insulation. It terminates at one end at an outwardly flaring anchor plate which is subsequently embedded within a concrete anchor block. A steel end cap is welded to a second, opposite end of the sleeve and to the inner carrier pipe at a point along the length of piping which is outside the concrete anchor block and which is spaced apart from the location of the anchor plate, whereby heat from the high temperature fluids in the piping is transferred to the end cap at a location along the length of piping which is distant from the location of the anchor plate.

Anchor system for pre-insulated piping

A section of pipe is used in a pre-insulated piping system where the system is made up of lengths of insulated and jacketed pre-insulated piping. Each length of piping is made up of an inner carrier pipe having an interior surface and an exterior surface. An envelope of foamed insulation surrounds the inner pipe exterior surface and an outer protective jacket surrounds the envelope of foamed insulation. The length of piping has a joining end for joining to an adjacent length of piping, whereby the adjacent lengths of piping provide a continuous length of fluid conduit for conveying high temperature fluids. A heat dissipating element surrounds the inner carrier pipe for at least a portion of the length thereof. The heat dissipating element is itself insulated, whereby any water which penetrates the outer protective jacket contacts the heat dissipating element and is cooled below boiling before traveling any significant distance along the length of the section of piping.

Water spread limiting system for pre-insulated piping

An installation technique is shown for use with a pre-insulated steam piping system having an inner steel carrier pipe surrounded by a layer of foam insulation and then by an outer protective jacket. An expansion loop is used to create an artificial low point in the overall pipeline which allows the pipeline to avoid a buried obstruction without the necessity of increasing the depth of the remaining portion of the pipeline on either side of the loop. The expansion loop has a pair of oppositely arranged side legs which are joined by a cross-leg portion of the loop, the cross-leg portion of the loop being angled downwardly at a predetermined angle, to thereby provide a change in elevation which avoids the buried obstruction in the pathway of the pipeline.

Method of installing pre-insulated piping

A method is shown for providing status detection, in particular leak detection, in a pre-insulated pipeline for the transportation of media, in particular, steam or hot water. The pipeline has an inner medium-carrying pipe, a surrounding heat-insulating layer of bonded foam, and an outer protective polyolefin jacket. A special length of polymer coated wire is included as a part of the normal bare conductor wire which is used as a part of the electrical sensing system of the pipeline and is used to by-pass various obstructions in the foamed insulation of the pipeline. The insulated length of the coated wire is heat fused at points of egress and ingress through the outer polymeric jacket with the compatible materials of the coated wire and jacket forming a water tight seal.

Method for providing leak detection in pre-insulated piping

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for preventing disbondment in an insulated piping system that is used for conveying high temperature fluids. More specifically, an external slip wrap is shown, capable of surrounding the outer protective jacket of the insulated piping system at a location along the piping before an elbow shaped or angular change in direction. The slip wrap comprises a loosely received outer sleeve which surrounds the outer protective jacket of the piping without being bonded thereto, thereby allowing the insulated and jacketed pipe to move axially relative to the slip wrap for a selected distance once the pipe is buried in the ground.

Method and apparatus for preventing foam disbondment

An flexible coupling is shown for an insulated piping system of the type used to convey steam and other high temperature fluids. The coupling uses a flexible bellows and additional insulating and joining components to couple conventional lengths of insulated pipe. The bellows arrangement compensates for any relative movement of the inner fluid conveying pipes with respect to the outer layers of insulating material and outer jacket in order to protect the integrity of the assembly and prevent the intrusion of water or other contaminants which could lead to corrosion or early failure of the piping system.

High temperature line expansion installation with bellows

A high temperature pre-insulated pipe system is shown which can withstand conveyance temperatures in excess of 250&#xb0; F. The pipe system includes a first and second length of insulated and jacketed pipe. Each pipe length includes an inner metal pipe having an interior surface and an exterior surface and having an envelope of foamed insulation surrounding the inner pipe exterior surface. A thermally protective coating layer is applied between the metal pipe exterior and the surrounding layer of foamed insulation. The thermally protective layer effectively lowers the interface temperature between the inner metal pipe and outer foamed layer to prevent disbondment of the outer foamed layer as the temperature of the inner pipe increases.

Ceramic coating process for pre-insulated piping

A high temperature pre-insulated piping system is shown which can withstand conveyance temperatures in excess of 250&#xb0; F. The piping system includes a first and second length of insulated and jacketed pipe. Each pipe length includes an inner metal pipe having an interior surface and an exterior surface and having an envelope of foamed insulation surrounding the inner pipe exterior surface. A special release agent is applied between the metal pipe exterior and the surrounding layer of foamed insulation. The release agent causes intentional disbondment of the foamed insulation layer from the inner metal pipes under certain conditions of environmental stress.

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Fort Worth, TX, United States of America

Thomas Joseph Keyes