Double walled apparatus and methods

• US 6,305,427 B1
• Filed: 11/19/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenway Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kenway Corporation
• Inventors: Priest, Kenneth G. II
• Primary Examiner(s): HOOK, JAMES F
• Application Number:
  US09/443,440
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 138/104, 138/125, 138/112, 138/124, 138/133, 138/137, 138/149
• US Class Current: 138/125
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/12 with arrangements for particular purposes, e.g. specially profiled, with protecting layer, heated, electrically conducting F16L11/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 39/005 for concentric pipes

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for handling liquids or gases. In particular, the present invention relates to a double walled apparatus having interwoven fibers between the inner and outer walls of the pipe. The invention may also include sensors in the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a first wall designed to contain a liquid or a gas, a second wall designed to contain any liquid or gas that penetrates the first wall, and interwoven fibers coupled between the first and second wall. The interwoven fibers are preferably resin laminated fibers in a matrix configuration. The apparatus may also comprises a sensor and a wire embedded in the apparatus either in the first wall, the interwoven fibers, or the second wall. The first wall is preferably comprised of three layers that are cohesively bonded together. The invention further provides a method for manufacturing such apparatuses, a network of such apparatuses, and a system and method for monitoring conditions in such apparatuses and the location of the apparatuses and sensors within the network.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first wall, wherein the first wall is designed to contain a liquid or a gas;

a second wall, wherein the second wall is designed to contain any liquid or gas that penetrates the first wall; and

interwoven fibers coupled between the first and second wall, creating a matrix defining a plurality of channels, wherein the plurality of channels allows for continuous flow of the liquid or gas.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fibers are laminated with resin.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor embedded in the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wire embedded in the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a sensor coupled to said wire.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said wire is a fiber optic cable.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wire disposed between the first and second wall.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wire disposed within the first wall.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wire disposed within the second wall.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first wall comprises:

a first layer comprising resin, and veil;

a second layer coupled to the first layer, the second layer comprising a plurality of layers of chopped strand fiber mat, and resin; and

a third layer coupled to the second layer, the third layer comprising chopped strand fiber mat, fiber, and resin.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fiber in the third layer is woven roving fiber.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fiber in the third layer is a filament wound continuous fiber.

13. A network of apparatuses, comprising:

a double walled apparatus comprising

a first wall, wherein the first wall is designed to contain a liquid or a gas;

a second wall, wherein the second wall is designed to contain a liquid or gas that penetrates the first wall; and

interwoven fibers coupled between the first and second wall, creating a matrix defining a plurality of channels, wherein the plurality of channels allows for continuous flow of the liquid or gas, and

a connector, wherein the connector connects the double walled apparatus to another device designed to contain liquid or gas.

14. The network of claim 13, wherein the fibers of an apparatus are laminated with resin.

15. The network of claim 13, further comprising a sensor embedded in the apparatus.

16. The network of claim 13, further comprising a wire coupled to each apparatus.

17. The network of claim 16, further comprising a sensor coupled to said wire.

18. The network of claim 16, wherein said wire is a fiber optic cable.

19. The network of claim 13, further comprising a wire disposed between the first and second wall of each apparatus.

20. The network of claim 13, further comprising a wire disposed within the first wall of each apparatus.

21. The network of claim 13, further comprising a wire disposed within the second wall of each apparatus.

22. The network of claim 13, wherein the first wall of each apparatus comprises:

a first layer comprising resin, and veil;

a second layer coupled to the first layer, the second layer comprising a plurality of layers of chopped strand fiber mat, and resin; and

a third layer coupled to the second layer, the third layer comprising chopped strand fiber mat, fiber, and resin.

23. The network of claim 22, wherein the fiber in the third layer is woven roving fiber.

24. The network of claim 22, wherein the fiber in the third layer is a filament wound continuous fiber.

25. The network of claim 13, further comprising:

a receiver in electronic communication with said cable configured to receive data from said sensors.