Variable Radius Vertebra Bend Restrictor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A bend restrictor for a flexible conduit, comprising:
- at least two adjacent vertebrae, each vertebra comprising,a central passage for the flexible conduit,a ball portion, anda receiver portion configured to receive the ball portion, wherein the ball portion of one adjacent vertebra is disposed within the receiver portion of the other adjacent vertebra; and
a vertebra insert disposed between the at least two adjacent vertebrae, wherein the vertebra insert prevents a lock out position between the ball portion and the receiver portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bend restrictor for a flexible conduit includes at least two adjacent vertebrae. Each vertebra includes a central passage for the flexible conduit, a ball portion, and a receiver portion configured to receive the ball portion. The ball portion of one adjacent vertebra is disposed within the receiver portion of the other adjacent vertebra. The bend restrictor further includes a vertebra insert disposed between the at least two adjacent vertebrae. The vertebra insert prevents a lock out position between the ball portion and the receiver portion.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A bend restrictor for a flexible conduit, comprising:
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at least two adjacent vertebrae, each vertebra comprising, a central passage for the flexible conduit, a ball portion, and a receiver portion configured to receive the ball portion, wherein the ball portion of one adjacent vertebra is disposed within the receiver portion of the other adjacent vertebra; and a vertebra insert disposed between the at least two adjacent vertebrae, wherein the vertebra insert prevents a lock out position between the ball portion and the receiver portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of varying a minimum bend radius of a vertebra bend restrictor, the method comprising:
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disposing a ball portion of a first vertebra in a receiver portion of a second vertebra, wherein the ball portion of the first vertebra and the receiver portion of the second vertebra lock out at a first relative angle between chords of the first vertebra and second vertebra; passing a flexible conduit through a central passage of the vertebrae; disposing a vertebra insert between the first vertebra and the second vertebra, wherein the vertebra insert restricts the relative angle between the first vertebra and the second vertebra to a second relative angle smaller than the first relative angle between chords of the first vertebra and second vertebra. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method of deploying a flexible conduit to an offshore location, the method comprising:
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assembling a vertebra bend restrictor around a portion of the flexible conduit, wherein the vertebra bend restrictor comprises at least two adjacent vertebrae and provides a first minimum bend radius; spooling the flexible conduit; transporting the spooled flexible conduit to the offshore location; unspooling the flexible conduit; assembling a vertebra insert between the at least two adjacent vertebrae to provide a second minimum bend radius, wherein the vertebra insert reduces a maximum relative angle between chords of the at least two adjacent vertebrae; and deploying the flexible conduit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification