Insulation shroud with internal support structure

• US 7,823,643 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FMC Technologies Incorporated (TechnipFMC, plc)
• Original Assignee: FMC Technologies Incorporated (TechnipFMC, plc)
• Inventors: Mann, Michael, Wong, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Beach; Thomas A
• Application Number:
  US11/757,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20080029270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 166/338, 166/345, 166/356, 166/360, 166/368, 405/224.4, 405/169, 138/149
• US Class Current: 166/302
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/003 Insulating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/18 adapted for joints

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an insulation shroud with internal support structure. In one illustrative embodiment, the insulation shroud includes a body adapted to be positioned around a subsea component, the body including an insulating material having an internal support structure positioned therein and a door.

Claims

1. An insulation shroud, comprising:

a body adapted to be positioned around a subsea component, wherein said subsea component comprises at least one of a pipe and a connector, said body comprising;

an insulating material having an internal support structure embedded within the insulating material, wherein said internal support structure is comprised of a fabricated frame structure and a mesh material positioned on said fabricated frame structure, said fabricated frame structure and said mesh material being comprised of a material other than said insulating material; and

a door operatively coupled to the frame structure.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said fabricated frame structure comprises at least one of a plate structure, an angle iron and a rod, and a mesh material.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a plurality of internal hardware items coupled to said frame structure.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said device comprises a plurality of external hardware items that are coupled to said internal hardware items.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said shroud is positioned around a subsea component in a subsea environment.

6. A system, comprising:

a subsea component located in a subsea environment;

a body positioned around the subsea component, said body comprising;

an insulating material having an internal support structure embedded within the insulating material, wherein said internal support structure is comprised of a fabricated frame structure and a mesh material positioned on said fabricated frame structure, said fabricated frame structure and said mesh material being comprised of a material other than said insulating material; and

a door operatively coupled to the frame structure.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said fabricated frame structure comprises at least one of a plate structure, an angle iron and a rod, and a mesh material.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said device further comprises a plurality of internal hardware items coupled to said frame structure.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said device comprises a plurality of external hardware items that are coupled to said internal hardware items.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said subsea component comprises at least one of a pipe and a connector.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein an outer surface of said internal structure is substantially flush with an outer surface of said insulating material.

12. An insulation shroud, comprising:

a body adapted to be positioned around a subsea component, said body comprising;

an insulating material having an internal support structure embedded within the insulating material, wherein said internal support structure is comprised of a fabricated frame structure and a mesh material positioned on said fabricated frame structure, said fabricated frame structure and said mesh material being comprised of a material other than said insulating material, wherein said shroud is positioned around a subsea component in a subsea environment; and

a door operatively coupled to the frame structure.