Insulative pipe jacket
The insulative pipe jacket addresses corrosion and temperature limitations in offshore platform pipes by using discrete sectors with thermal insulation and fire-resistant layers, ensuring safety and integrity.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- GB · GB
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ADVANCED INSULATION LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-05
AI Technical Summary
Offshore platform pipes used for hydrocarbon conveyance face issues with corrosion, abrasion, and temperature limitations, leading to potential breakdown of composite repair systems when exposed to high temperatures, posing a hazard.
An insulative pipe jacket composed of discrete jacket sectors with thermal insulation materials, including jet fire-resistant layers and connectors, providing thermal insulation and protection against high-temperature hazards.
The insulative pipe jacket effectively protects pipes from corrosion, abrasion, and high-temperature hazards, ensuring the integrity and safety of offshore hydrocarbon operations.
Smart Images

Figure 00000001_0000 
Figure 00000001_0001 
Figure 00000002_0000
Abstract
Description
5 TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD Examples of the disclosure relate to an insulative pipe jacket for use on the topside of an offshore platform. 10 BACKGROUND An offshore platform may be used for the extraction, processing and storage of hydrocarbons such as crude oil and natural gas. The topside of the offshore platform may include pipes that are for conveying fluids in the form of hydrocarbons or water, 15 for example. Such pipes may suffer from corrosion or abrasion overtime, causing the wall thickness of the pipes to be reduced. Pipes could also be may be damaged in other ways. Composite repair systems exist which enable such pipes to be repaired. These 20 composite repair systems may involve the use of a resin. Such composite repair systems can typically only withstand temperatures of up to 100°C. If the composite repair system is subject to higher temperatures, the repair may break down, creating a hazard. 25 BRIEF SUMMARY According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided an insulative pipe jacket comprising a plurality of discrete jacket sectors, wherein each discrete jacket sector comprises: an elongate casing having an upper wall, a first side wall, a 30 second side wall and a base, wherein the first and second side walls taper inwardly from the upper wall to the base; at least one thermal insulation material located inside the elongate casing, where the at least one thermal insulation material comprises at least one jet fire resistant layer that comprises at least one flame retardant; and at least one connector arranged to connect the discrete jacket sector to at least one other 18 03 25 discrete jacket sector, wherein: when the discrete jacket sectors are located around a pipe having a substantially circular outer surface and fastened to each other, the thermal insulation material of the discrete jacket sectors collectively provides at least an annulus of thermal insulation around the substantially circular outer surface of the Pipe. The base of each of the elongate casings of the discrete jacket sectors may be arranged, when the discrete jacket sectors are located around the pipe, to contact the pipe. The bases of the elongate casings of the discrete jacket sectors may be arranged to collectively define a substantially circular cross-sectional shape around the outer surface of the pipe. The upper walls may collectively define a substantially circular cross-sectional shape around the outer surface of the pipe when the discrete jacket sectors are located around the pipe. Each casing may further comprise a front wall and a rear wall, The front wall, the rear wall, the upper wall, the first side wall, the second side wall and the curved base may collectively substantially define a trapezoidal prism. When the discrete jacket sectors are located around the pipe, the first side wall of the elongate casing of one of the discrete jacket sectors may contact the second side wall of the elongate casing of another of the discrete jacket sectors. At least one of the upper wall, first side wall, the second side wall or the curved base may be formed, at least in part, from an insulative cloth. The insulative cloth may comprise at least one of glass fibres or ceramic fibres. The insulative cloth may comprise an insulative coating. The insulative coating may be formed at least in part from silicone or a plastics material. The thermal insulation material comprises at least one jet fire resistant layer. The jet fire resistance layer comprises at least one flame retardant. The flame retardant may be in particulate form. The jet fire resistance layer may comprise a retention structure having a plurality of individual cells. Each individual cell may have the particulate flame 18 03 25 retardant located therein. The retention structure may be formed at least partially from a cloth. The thermal insulation material may comprise at least one fibrous thermal insulation layer. The fibrous thermal insulation layer may comprise at least one of glass fibres or ceramic fibres. Each of the discrete jacket sectors may further comprise at least one heat reflector located inside the elongate casing. The thermal insulation material may comprise at least one further fibrous thermal insulation layer. The heat reflector may be located at least partially between the fibrous thermal insulation layer and the further fibrous thermal insulation layer. The further fibrous thermal insulation layer may comprise at least one of glass fibres or ceramic fibres. The connector may be configured to enable a user to connect the discrete jacket sector to at least one other discrete jacket sector by hand, without the use of a tool. The connector may be configured to enable a user to disconnect the discrete jacket sector from the other discrete jacket sector by hand, without the use of a tool. The connector may comprise at least one flap extending from the elongate casing of the discrete jacket sector and arranged to connect to the other discrete jacket sector. At least one fastener may be located at least partially on an underside of the flap of the discrete jacket sector and may be arranged to fasten to at least one other fastener located at least partially on the upper wall of the elongate casing of the other discrete jacket sector. According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided a jacket sector for an insulative pipe jacket, the jacket sector comprising: an elongate casing having an upper wall, a first side wall, a second side wall and a base, wherein the first and second side walls taper inwardly from the upper wall to the base; at least one thermal 18 03 25 4 insulation material located inside the elongate casing; and at least one connector arranged to connect the jacket sector to at least one other jacket sector. According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising means for performing at least part of one or more methods described herein. The description of a function and / or action should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function and / or action. Functions and / or actions described herein can be performed in any suitable way using any suitable method. According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided examples as claimed in the appended claims. While the above examples of the disclosure and optional features are described separately, it is to be understood that their provision in all possible combinations and permutations is contained within the disclosure. It is to be understood that various examples of the disclosure can comprise any or all the features described in respect of other examples of the disclosure, and vice versa. BRIEF DESCRIPTION Some examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1A illustrates a front view of a jacket sector; FIG. 1B illustrates a first side view of the jacket sector; FIG. 1C illustrates a rear view of the jacket sector; FIG. 1D illustrates a second side view of the jacket sector; FIG. 1E illustrates a plan view of the jacket sector; FIG. 1F illustrates an underside view of the jacket sector; FIG. 1G illustrates an isometric view of the jacket sector; FIG. 2 illustrates a sandwich structure located inside a casing of the jacket sector 100; FIG. 3 illustrates a plurality of jacket sectors that are in the process of being connected together; FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of jacket sectors that have been connected together; 18 03 25 FIGs 5A and 5B illustrate isometric views of a plurality of jacket sectors that are in the process of being connected together around a pipe; FIGs 6A and 6B illustrate an isometric view and a front view of the plurality of jacket sectors respectively after they have been connected together around the pipe; and FIG. 7 illustrates an isometric view of the sandwich structure inside the casings of the jacket sectors when the jacket sectors are located around the pipe. The figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features and views of the figures can be shown schematically or exaggerated in scale in the interest of clarity and conciseness. For example, the dimensions of some elements in the figures can be exaggerated relative to other elements to aid explication. Similar reference numerals are used in the figures to designate similar features. For clarity, all reference numerals are not necessarily displayed in all figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Embodiments of the invention relate to an insulative pipe jacket for a pipe, such as a repaired pipe, in order to provide thermal insulation and possibly fire protection for the pipe. The insulative pipe jacket is provided by a plurality of discrete jacket sectors, which can be connected together around the exterior circumference of the repaired pipe. Different numbers of jacket sectors may be connected together depending on the diameter of the pipe. FIGs. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F and 1G illustrate a front view, a first side view, a rear view, a second side view, a plan view, an underside view and an isometric view respectively of a discrete jacket sector 100. Cartesian coordinate axes are illustrated in FIGs 1A to 1G to enable the reader to orientate FIGs 1A to 1G relative to each other. The jacket sector 100 comprises an elongate casing 10. The casing 10 has a width dimension, a height dimension and a length dimension. In the FIGs, the width dimension is defined by the x-axis, the height dimension is defined by the y-axis and the length dimension is defined by the z-axis. 18 03 25 The illustrated elongate casing 10 comprises an upper wall 2, a front wall 3, a first side wall 4, a rear wall 5, a second side wall 6 and a base 8. The front wall 3 and the rear wall 5 may each be substantially flat, and may be parallel with one another. Each of the front wall 3 and the rear wall 5 may define a plane in the x and y dimensions. The upper wall 2 extends, in the width dimension, from the first side wall 4 to the second side wall 6. It can be seen in the FIGs that the upper wall 2 may extend from an upper extremity of the first side wall 4 to an upper extremity of the second side wall 6. The upper wall 2 extends, in the length dimension, from the front wall 3 to the rear wall 5. It can be seen in the FIGs that the upper wall 2 may extend from an upper extremity of the front wall 3 to an upper extremity of the rear wall 5. The upper wall 2 might or might not be curved. If the upper wall 2 is not curved, it may be substantially flat. The upper wall 2 may, for instance, curve as the upper wall extends from the first side wall 4 to the second side wall 6. As shown in the FIGs, the curvature of the upper wall 2 may define a convex shape. The radius of curvature of the upper wall 2 may be constant. The base 8 extends, in the width dimension, from the first side wall 4 to the second side wall 6. It can be seen in the FIGs that the base 8 may extend from a lower extremity of the first side wall 4 to a lower extremity of the second side wall 6. The base 8 extends, in the length dimension, from the front wall 3 to the rear wall 5. It can be seen in the FIGs that the base 8 may extend from a lower extremity of the front wall 3 to a lower extremity of the rear wall 5. The base 8 might or might not be curved. If the base 8 is not curved, it may be substantially flat. The base 8 may, for instance, curve as the base 8 extends from the first side wall 4 to the second side wall 6. As shown in the FIGs, the curvature of the base 8 may define a convex shape. The radius of curvature of the base 8 may be constant. The extent of the upper wall 2 in the width dimension may be greater than the extent of the base 8. The first and second side walls 4, 6 may taper inwardly as they extend 18 03 25 from the upper wall 2 to the base 8. Said differently, the first and second side walls 4, 6 may taper outwardly as they extend from the base 8 to the upper wall 2. The casing 10 is elongate in its length dimension, in that the extent of the casing 10 is somewhat greater in its length dimension than the extent of the casing 10 in the width or height dimensions. For example, the extent of the casing 10 in the length dimension may be more than three times the extent of the casing in the width and height dimensions. In some implementations, the extent of the casing 10 in the length dimension may be more than five times the extent of the casing in the width and height dimensions, or even more than eight times the extent. In one example, the extent of the casing in the length dimension is 1 metre and the length of the casing 10 in the width dimension is 106 millimetres. For example, the extent of the upper wall 2 as measured in the width dimension may be 106 millimetres, and the extent of the base 8 as measured in the width dimension may be 56 millimetres. The extent of the first side wall 4, as measured in the direction of travel of the first side wall 4 between the base 8 and the upper wall 2, may be 61 millimetres. The extent of the first side wall 4, as measured in the direction of travel of the first side wall 4 between the base 8 and the upper wall 2, may be 61 millimetres. In the illustrated example, the upper wall 2, the front wall 3, the first side wall 4, the rear wall 5, the second side wall 6 and the base 8 define a (hollow) substantially trapezoidal prism. Each of the front wall 3 and the rear wall 5 defines a substantially face. A cross-section of the casing 10, where the cutting plane is parallel to the width and height dimensions and orthogonal to the length dimension (and taken through the upper wall 2, the first side wall 4, the second side wall 6 and the base 8), may substantially define a trapezoid. The jacket sector 100 further comprises at least one connector 20 that is arranged to connect the jacket sector 100 to at least one other jacket sector 100. The connector 20 may comprise a flap 21 that extends from the casing 10 and is arranged to connect to the other jacket sector 100. As shown in the FIGs, a proximal end 22 of the flap 21 may be connected to the casing 10, such as connected to the second side wall 6 and / or the upper wall 2. A distal end 23 of the flap 21 may be a free end. The flap 21 may extend along at least part of the length of the casing 10, along at least a majority of the 18 03 25 length of the casing 10, or along the entire length of the casing 10. The flap 21 may be connected to the casing 10 along at least part of the length of the casing 10, along at least a majority of the length of the casing 10, or along the entire length of the casing 10. The flap 21 has an upper surface 24 and an underside 25. The connector 20 may comprise at least one fastener 30 that is arranged to fasten to at least one fastener 32 of another (adjacent) jacket sector 100 of the insulative jacket, which may be the same as the jacket sector 100 described herein and illustrated in the FIGs. The fastener 30 may be located on the flap 21, such as on the underside 25 of the flap 21. The fastener 30 is located on the underside 25 of the flap 21 in the illustrated example, as shown in FIG. 1F, to enable the fastener 30 to fasten to another fastener 32 on another jacket sector 100 that is at least partially located on the upper wall 2 of the casing 10 of the other jacket sector 100 and / or located the upper surface 24 of the flap 21 of the other jacket sector 100. Such a fastener 32 on the upper wall 2 of the casing 10 is illustrated in FIGs in respect of the illustrated jacket sector 100. That fastener 32 is configured to fasten to another fastener 30 located on a flap 21 of another jacket sector 100. It can be seen in FIG. 1E that the fastener 32 is at least partly located on the upper wall 2 of the casing 10 and at least partly located on the upper surface 24 of the flap 21. The connector 20 may be configured to enable a user to connect the jacket sector 100 to at least one other jacket sector 100 by hand, without the use of a tool. The connector 20 may be configured to enable the user to disconnect the jacket sector 100 from the other jacket sector 100 by hand, without the use of a tool. In this regard, in some examples, the fasteners 30, 32 may be partof a hookand loop fastening system, where the fastener 30 on the underside 25 of the flap 21 of each jacket sector 100 provides one of the hooks or the loops, and the fastener 32 on the upper wall 2 and / or the upper surface 24 of the flap 21 includes the other of the hooks and the loops. For example, 18 03 25 the fastener 30 on the underside 25 of the flap 21 may comprise hooks and the fastener 32 on the upper wall 2 and / or the upper surface 24 of the flap 21 may comprise loops. The casing 10 and / or the flap 21 may be made from one or more flexible materials. In some embodiments, the casing 10 may be formed, at least in part, from an insulative cloth. For example, one, some or all of the upper wall 2, the front wall 3, the first side wall 4, the rear wall 5, the second side wall 6, the base 8 and the flap 21 may be formed from an insulative cloth. The insulative cloth may comprise at least one of glass fibres or ceramic fibres. The insulative cloth may comprise an insulative coating. The insulative coating may be substantially weatherproof. The coating may comprise silicone, or a plastics material that comprises polyurethane (Pll) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), for instance. In some examples, the insulative cloth may be silicone coated fibreglass cloth. FIG. 2 illustrates a sandwich structure located inside the casing 10 of the jacket sector 100. The jacket sector 100 includes at least one thermal insulation material 31, 33, 34 located inside the casing 10. The illustrated jacket sector 100 includes three layers of thermally insulative material 31, 33, 34. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, however, that other examples might include more or fewer layers. The illustrated example of the sandwich structure includes a first thermal insulation material / layer 31, a heat reflector / reflective layer 32, a second thermal insulation material / layer 33, a third thermal insulation material / layer 34 and an abrasion resistant structure / layer 35. The illustration shows the upper wall 2 of the casing 10, but does not illustrate the base 8 of the casing 10, which is located beneath the first thermal insulation layer 31. The first thermal insulation layer 31 might be formed from the same material as, or different material than, the second thermal insulation layer 33. The first thermal insulation layer 31 and / or the second thermal insulation layer 33 may be a fibrous thermal insulation layer 31, 33; that is, it / they may comprise fibrous material. The fibrous thermal insulation layer(s) 31, 33 may comprise at least one of glass fibres or 18 03 25 ceramic fibres. In some implementations, each of the first and second thermal insulation layers 31, 33 may be alkaline earth silicate wool. The purpose of the first and second thermal insulation layers 31, 33 is to provide thermal insulation fora pipe (e.g., a repaired pipe) when the jacket sector 100 is located on the outer circumference of the repaired pipe. The heat reflector 32 may be located at least partially between the first and second thermal insulation layers 31, 33. The heat reflector 32 may be formed from at least one metal. It might, for example, be a foil layer formed from at least one metal, such as an aluminium foil layer. The purpose of the heat reflector 32 is to reflect heat away from the pipe on which the jacket sector 100 is located. The third thermal insulation layer 34 may be or comprise a jet fire resistant layer. A jet fire is a high temperature flame resulting from the combustion of a fuel, such as crude oil or natural gas, that is continuously released with momentum in a particular direction. Jet fires represent a significant risk on offshore installations. The purpose of the jet fire resistant layer 34 is to protect the integrity of a pipe, on which the jacket sector 100 is located, in the presence of jet fire. The jet fire resistant layer 34 includes at least one fire retardant. The fire retardant may be in particulate form. For instance, the fire retardant might be particulate silica. The particulate silica may be referred to as microporous silica. In this regard, the pores in the silica may each have a diameter of less than 2nm. The jet fire resistant layer 34 may include a retention structure to retain the fire retardant. For example, the retention structure may have a plurality of individual cells. The cells might be arranged in columns and rows. Each individual cell may have particulate flame retardant located therein. Each cell may therefore be considered to be a receptacle for the particulate flame retardant. In some examples, the retention structure is formed at least partially from a flexible material, such as a cloth. If so, the cells may be formed by stitching into the cloth. The particulate flame retardant may be located in the stitched cells. 18 03 25 The abrasion resistant layer 35 may be a mesh layer. The mesh layer may be formed from at least one metal. It may be formed from stainless steel. The abrasion resistant layer 35 is arranged to provide the casing 10 with resistance to abrasion that might otherwise be caused by fire. FIG. 3 illustrates a plurality of jacket sectors 100 that are in the process of being connected together. The fastener 30 located on the underside of the flap 21 of one of the jacket sectors 100 is in the process of being connected to the fastener 32 on the upper wall 2 or the upper surface 24 of the flap 21. FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of jacket sectors 100 that have been connected together. In FIG. 4, six jacket sectors 100 are shown connected together. More or fewer jacket sectors 100 may be connected together in other examples. The number of jacket sectors 100 that are connected together will depend on the circumference of the pipe that the insulative pipe jacket is to be positioned on. It is envisaged that as few as six jacket sectors 100 could be connected together to fully surround a pipe of a relatively small diameter (e.g. a pipe having a diameter of 2 inches), whereas many as thirty-four or more could be connected together if the pipe has a much larger diameter (e.g. of 30 inches or more). At least some of the jacket sectors 100 may be connected together prior to them being located around the circumference of the pipe. Alternatively, the jacket sectors 100 may be connected together as they are being located around the pipe. FIGs 5A and 5B illustrate isometric views of a plurality of discrete jacket sectors 100 that are in the process of being connected together around a pipe 200. The discrete jacket sectors 100 are connected together in the same manner as that described above. FIGs 6A and 6B illustrate an isometric view and a front view of the plurality of discrete jacket sectors 100 after they have been connected together around the pipe 200. FIG. 7 illustrates an isometric view of the sandwich structure inside the casings 10 of the discrete jacket sectors 100 when the discrete jacket sectors 100 are located around the pipe 200. 18 03 25 It can be seen from FIGs 6A, 6B and 7 that the base 8 of each of the connected casings 10 is arranged to contact the pipe 200 when the discrete jacket sectors 100 are located around the pipe 200. The exterior face of the base 8 contacts the circular outer surface 5 of the pipe 200. The jacket sector 100 may be flexible at the base 8, enabling at least a majority of the exterior face of the base 8 to contact the pipe 200, irrespective of whether the base 8 is curved or flat prior to contact with the pipe 200. The (exterior faces of the) bases 8 collectively define a substantially circular cross-sectional shape around the outer surface of the pipe 200 (where the cutting plane is parallel to the width 10 and height dimensions and orthogonal to the length dimension of the casing 10). This substantially circular shape may result irrespective of whether the bases 8 are curved or flat, and irrespective of whether the bases 8 flex when they contact the pipe 200. This is because a plurality of curved or flat bases 8 arranged around the pipe 200 will define a substantially circular shape. 15 The upper wall 2 of each of the casings 10 in the illustrated example is curved, but, as explained above, the upper wall 2 could be flat. In some examples, the jacket sector 100 may be flexible at its upper wall 2. The (exterior faces of the) upper walls 2 may collectively define a substantially circular cross-sectional shape around the outer 20 surface of the pipe 200 (where the cutting plane is parallel to the width and height dimensions and orthogonal to the length dimension of the casing 10). This substantially circular shape may result irrespective of whether the upper walls 2 are curved or flat, because a plurality of curved or flat upper walls 2 arranged around the pipe 200 will define a substantially circular shape. 25 When the discrete jacket sectors 100 are located around the pipe 200 and connected together as shown in FIGs 6A, 6B and 7, the casings 10 of the discrete jacket sectors 100 may abut one another. That is, the first side wall 4 of a one casing 10 may abut the second side wall 6 of another casing 10. Said differently, the first side wall 4 of a 30 first casing 10 may contact the second side wall 6 of a second casing 10, and the second side wall 6 of the first casing 10 may contact the first side wall 4 of a third casing 10. 18 03 25 The connectors 20 of the discrete jacket sectors 100 are used to initially secure the discrete jacket sectors 100 around the pipe 200. Once that has been done, one or more bands 150 may be used to provide further help to hold the discrete jacket sectors 100 in place. Each band 150 may be wrapped around the outside of the discrete jacket sectors 100 and secured in place, after the discrete jacket sectors 100 have been placed around the pipe 200 and connected together using the connectors 20. Each band 150 may be formed from one or more metals. Each band 150 may be in contact with the upper surface 24 of each flap 21 and / or the upper wall 2 of the casings 10. When the discrete jacket sectors 100 are located around a pipe 200 having a substantially circular outer surface and fastened to each other, the thermal insulation material 31, 33, 34 of the discrete jacket sectors collectively provides at least an annulus of thermal insulation around the substantially circular outer surface of the pipe 200. Each layer 31,33, 34 may provide at least an annulus of thermal insulation around the substantially circular outer surface of the pipe 200. The first thermal insulation layer 31 in the casings 10 are may provide at least a first annulus of thermal insulation material, the second thermal insulation layer 33 in the casings 10 may provide at least a second annulus of thermal insulation material, and the third thermal insulation layer 34 in the casings 10 may provide at least a third annulus of thermal insulation material. The first annulus of thermal insulation material is spaced radially from the second annulus of thermal insulation material, which in turn is spaced radially from the second annulus of thermal insulation material, wherein “radially” is a direction that begins at a central axis through the pipe 200 and proceeds towards the pipe wall. The third thermal insulation layer 34 may be or comprise a jet fire resistant layer, and therefore the third annulus of thermal insulation material may be or comprise at least an annulus of jet fire resistance. The heat reflectors 32 in the casings 10 may collectively provide (annular) heat reflectance around outer surface of the pipe 200. The abrasion resistance layers 35 in the casings 10 may collectively provide (annular) abrasion resistance around the outer surface of the pipe 200. 18 03 25 The positioning of the abrasion resistance layer 35 above the thermal insulation layers 31,33, 34 in a casing 10 means that the abrasion resistance layer 35 in a casing 10 is arranged to be located outside the thermal insulation layers 31, 33, 34 when a discrete jacket sector 100 is located on a pipe 200. This enables the abrasion resistance layer 35 to protect the thermal insulation layers 31, 33, 34 in the event of a jet fire, and potentially keep them intact. The positioning of the jet fire resistance layer 34 above the first and second thermal insulation layers 31, 33 in a casing 10 means that the jet fire resistance layer 34 is arranged to be located outside the first and second thermal insulation layers 31, 33 when a discrete jacket sector 100 is located on a pipe 200. This enables the jet fire resistance layer 34 to protect the thermal insulation layers 31, 33 in the event of a jet fire, and potentially keep them intact. Embodiments of the invention provide an insulative pipe jacket that is formed from a plurality of discrete jacket sectors. Advantageously, this enables the insulative pipe jacket to be applied to pipes of differing circumference, by using a different number of discrete jacket sectors. The insulative pipe jacket advantageously provides thermal insulation to the pipe that it is applied to, and may also provide jet fire resistance. Where a structural feature has been described, it may be replaced by means for performing one or more of the functions of the structural feature whether that function or those functions are explicitly or implicitly described. The term ‘comprise’ is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y. If it is intended to use ‘comprise’ with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context by referring to ‘comprising only one...’ or by using ‘consisting.’ In this description, the wording ‘connect’, ‘couple’ and their derivatives mean operationally connected / coupled. It should be appreciated that any number or combination of intervening components can exist (including no intervening components), i.e., to provide direct or indirect connection / coupling / communication. 18 03 25 In this description, reference has been made to various examples. The description of features or functions in relation to an example indicates that those features or functions are present in that example. The use of the term ‘example’ or ‘for example’ or ‘can’ or 5 ‘may’ in the text denotes, whether explicitly stated or not, that such features or functions are present in at least the described example, whether described as an example or not, and that they can be, but are not necessarily, present in some of or all other examples. Thus ‘example’, ‘for example’, ‘can’, or ‘may’ refers to a particular instance in a class of examples. A property of the instance can be a property of only 10 that instance or a property of the class or a property of a sub-class of the class that includes some but not all the instances in the class. It is therefore implicitly disclosed that a feature described with reference to one example but not with reference to another example, can where possible be used in that other example as part of a working combination but does not necessarily have to be used in that other example. 15 Although examples have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. 20 Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described above. Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not. 25 The description of a feature, such as an apparatus or a component of an apparatus, configured to perform a function, or for performing a function, should additionally be considered to also disclose a method of performing that function. For example, description of an apparatus configured to perform one or more actions, or for 30 performing one or more actions, should additionally be considered to disclose a method of performing those one or more actions with or without the apparatus. Although features have been described with reference to certain examples, those features may also be present in other examples whether described or not. 18 03 25 The term ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising a / an / the Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y unless the context clearly 5 indicates the contrary. If it is intended to use ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context. In some circumstances the use of ‘at least one’ or ‘one or more’ may be used to emphasis an inclusive meaning but the absence of these terms should not be taken to infer any exclusive meaning. 10 The presence of a feature (or combination of features) in a claim is a reference to that feature or (combination of features) itself and to features that achieve substantially the same technical effect (equivalent features). The equivalent features include, for example, features that are variants and achieve substantially the same result in substantially the same way. The equivalent features include, for example, features that 15 perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result. In this description, reference has been made to various examples using adjectives or adjectival phrases to describe characteristics of the examples. Such a description of a 20 characteristic in relation to an example indicates that the characteristic is present in some examples exactly as described and is present in other examples substantially as described. The above description describes some examples of the present disclosure however 25 those of ordinary skill in the art will be aware of possible alternative structures and method features which offer equivalent functionality to the specific examples of such structures and features described herein above and which for the sake of brevity and clarity have been omitted from the above description. Nonetheless, the above description should be read as implicitly including reference to such alternative 30 structures and method features which provide equivalent functionality unless such alternative structures or method features are explicitly excluded in the above description of the examples of the present disclosure. Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features believed to be of importance the applicant may seek protection via the claims in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and / or shown in the drawings whether or not emphasis has been placed thereon. LO CXI O CO 18 03 25
Claims
1. An insulative pipe jacket comprising a plurality of discrete jacket sectors, wherein each discrete jacket sector comprises:5 an elongate casing having an upper wall, a first side wall, a second side walland a base, wherein the first and second side walls taper inwardly from the upper wall to the base;at least one thermal insulation material located inside the elongate casing, wherein the at least one thermal insulation material comprises at least one jet fire 10 resistant layer that comprises at least one flame retardant; andat least one connector arranged to connect the discrete jacket sector to at least one other discrete jacket sector, wherein:when the discrete jacket sectors are located around a pipe having a substantially circular outer surface and fastened to each other, the thermal insulation 15 material of the discrete jacket sectors collectively provides at least an annulus of thermal insulation around the substantially circular outer surface of the pipe.
2. The insulative pipe jacket of claim 1, wherein the base of each of the elongate casings of the discrete jacket sectors is arranged, when the discrete jacket sectors are 20 located around the pipe, to contact the pipe.
3. The insulative pipe jacket of claim 2, wherein the bases of the elongate casings of the discrete jacket sectors are arranged to collectively define a substantially circular cross-sectional shape around the outer surface of the pipe.
254. The insulative pipe jacket of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the upper walls are arranged to collectively define a substantially circular cross-sectional shape around the outer surface of the pipe when the discrete jacket sectors are located around the pipe.30 5. The insulative pipe jacket of any of the preceding claims, wherein each casingfurther comprises a front wall and a rear wall, and the front wall, the rear wall, the upper wall, the first side wall, the second side wall and the base collectively substantially define a trapezoidal prism.18 03 256. The insulative pipe jacket of any of the preceding claims, wherein, when the discrete jacket sectors are located around the pipe, the first side wall of the elongate casing of one of the discrete jacket sectors contacts the second side wall of the elongate casing of another of the discrete jacket sectors.
57. The insulative pipe jacket of any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the upper wall, first side wall, the second side wall or the base is formed, at least in part, from an insulative cloth.10 8. The insulative pipe jacket of claim 7, wherein the insulative cloth comprises atleast one of glass fibres or ceramic fibres.
9. The insulative pipe jacket of claim 8, wherein the insulative cloth comprises an insulative coating.1510. The insulative pipe jacket of claim 9, wherein the insulative coating is formed at least in part from silicone or a plastics material.
11. The insulative pipe jacket of any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least 20 one flame retardant comprises at least one flame retardant in particulate form.
12. The insulative pipe jacket of claim 11, wherein the at least one jet fire resistance layer comprises a retention structure having a plurality of individual cells, each individual cell having the at least one particulate flame retardant located therein.2513. The insulative pipe jacket of claim 12, wherein the retention structure is formed at least partially from a cloth.
14. The insulative pipe jacket of any of the preceding claims, at least one thermal 30 insulation material comprises at least one fibrous thermal insulation layer.
15. The insulative pipe jacket of claim 14, wherein the at least one fibrous thermal insulation layer comprises at least one of glass fibres or ceramic fibres.18 03 2516. The insulative pipe jacket of any of the preceding claims, each of the discrete jacket sectors further comprises at least one heat reflector located inside the elongate casing.5 17. The insulative pipe jacket of claim 16 when dependent on claim 14 or 15,wherein the at least one thermal insulation material comprises at least one further fibrous thermal insulation layer, and the heat reflector is located at least partially between the fibrous thermal insulation layer and the further fibrous thermal insulation layer.1018. The insulative pipe jacket of claim 17, wherein the at least one further fibrous thermal insulation layer comprises at least one of glass fibres or ceramic fibres.
19. The insulative pipe jacket of any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least 15 one connector is configured to enable a user to connect the discrete jacket sector to at least one other discrete jacket sector by hand, without the use of a tool.
20. The insulative pipe jacket of claim 19, wherein the at least one connector is configured to enable a user to disconnect the discrete jacket sector from the at least 20 one other discrete jacket sector by hand, without the use of a tool.
21. The insulative pipe jacket of any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one connector comprises at least one flap extending from the elongate casing of the discrete jacket sector and arranged to connect to the other discrete jacket sector.2522. The insulative pipe jacket of claim 21, wherein at least one fastener located at least partially on an underside of the flap of the discrete jacket sector is arranged to fasten to at least one other fastener located at least partially on the upper wall of the elongate casing of the other discrete jacket sector.30
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Insulation cover
CA2329237A1
Metal double-wall dismountable thermal insulation cover and manufacturing method
CN104329541A
Heat insulation casing pipe convenient to distinguish and used for car air conditioner pipe
CN108930866A
Damming fiber insulator for pipings and equipments standing at pressure medium, has sheathing as support for mechanical load of insulator, where damming fiber insulator is provided with additional protective cover
DE102009013208A1
Encapsulated panel systems
US9556615B1