Tape-wrapped multilayer tubing and methods for making the same

• US 7,913,719 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2007
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vertiv Corporation (Vertiv Holdings Co.)
• Original Assignee: Cooligy Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Cichocki, Zbigniew, Werner, Douglas, Munch, Mark, Firouzi, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Brinson; Patrick F
• Application Number:
  US11/699,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20070193642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: 138/137, 138/140, 138/127, 138/133, 138/134, 138/DIG.10, 138/141
• US Class Current: 138/127
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/0021 combined with joining, lining or laminating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/09 Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/151 Coating hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/21 the layers being joined at their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/276 of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/065 continuously
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/18 using heated tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/133 Fin-type joints, the parts to be joined being flexible the parts to be joined being rigid B29C66/1312
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/4322 by joining a single sheet to itself B29C66/4332 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72321 consisting of metals or their alloys
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7234 comprising a barrier layer
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73715 heat-shrinkable
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83413 cooperating rollers, cylinders or drums
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 23/001 Pipes; Pipe joints pleated hoses B29D23/18
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2009/00 Use of rubber derived from conjugated dienes, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2009/06 SB polymers, i.e. butadiene-styrene polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2019/00 Use of rubber not provided for in a single one of main groups B29K2007/00 - B29K2011/00, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2021/003 Thermoplastic elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/00 : Use of polyalkenes or derivatives thereof as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 : PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/0633 : LDPE, i.e. low density polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/16 : EPM, i.e. ethylene-propylene copolymers; EPDM, i.e. ethylene-propylene-diene copolymers; EPT, i.e. ethylene-propylene terpolymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2025/06 : PS, i.e. polystyrene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/08 : PVDC, i.e. polyvinylidene chloride
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/12 : containing fluorine
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/14 : PVF, i.e. polyvinyl fluoride
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 : Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2077/00 : Use of PA, i.e. polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2101/12 : Thermoplastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0069 : non-permeable
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/00 : Layered products
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2023/22 : Tubes or pipes, i.e. rigid bent tubes not for use as pipe couplings B29L2023/004
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 1/08 : Tubular products
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/08 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/20 : comprising aluminium or copper B32B15/016 and B32B15/017 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/5825 : Tear resistant
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7246 : Water vapor barrier
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/08 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2597/00 : Tubular articles, e.g. hoses, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 : comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/34 : comprising polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/04 : made of rubber or flexible plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2011/047 : with a diffusion barrier layer
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/029 : layered
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/10 : Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 138/10 : Metal foil

Abstract

The multi-layer tape wrapped tubing for effectively impeding the diffusion of vapor is made in a continuous in-line process and has three distinct layers: an inner tubing layer, a middle diffusion barrier layer and an outer jacketing layer. The inner tubing layer comes into contact with liquid and vapor. Vapor that might ordinarily diffuse through the tubing is impeded by the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer is a laminate comprising a diffusion barrier film with a very low vapor diffusion rate sandwiched between layers of thermoplastic. The diffusion barrier layer is wrapped around the inner tubing one or more times. The outer jacket layer is a polymeric jacket which is extruded onto the diffusion barrier layer wrapped inner tubing.

Claims

1. A substantially hermetic tubing comprising:

a. an inner tube; and

b. a diffusion barrier tape laminate substantially hermetically coupled to the outside circumference of the inner tube for substantially the whole length of the inner tube, including;

i. a diffusion barrier material;

ii. a first layer of thermoplastic material applied to a first side of the diffusion barrier material;

iii. a second layer of thermoplastic material applied to a second side of the diffusion barrier material, and;

iv. the first layer and the second layer of thermoplastic material are sealed together;

wherein the diffusion barrier tape laminate more than completely surrounds the circumference of the inner tube and provides a strip of overlapping diffusion barrier tape laminate parallel with the length of the inner tube, further wherein the strip of overlapping diffusion barrier tape laminate couples with underlying diffusion barrier tape laminate and seals the barrier tape laminate around the inner tubing.

2. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 1, wherein the inner tube is made of material selected from a set comprising polyolefins, modified polyolefins, fluoroplastics, polyamides, polyesters, vinyl resins, thermoplastic elastomers based on olefinic, polybutadiene, polyester, styrenic, and vinyl chemistries, elastomers such as butyl, PIB, EPDM, NBR, SBR, and platinum-cured silicones or peroxide cured silicone rubbers.

3. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 1, wherein the diffusion barrier material is polyamide.

4. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 1, wherein each layer of thermoplastic material is configured to provide a strong seal with the inner tube when put in contact with the inner tubing and treated with heat and pressure.

5. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 1, wherein the diffusion barrier tape laminate does not seal to the inner tubing, wherein the inner tubing is able to slide within the diffusion barrier tape laminate.

6. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 1, wherein multiple layers of diffusion barrier material are layered between the at least two layers of thermoplastic.

7. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive is used to bond a layer of thermoplastic to a layer of diffusion barrier material.

8. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 1, wherein the first layer of thermoplastic and the second layer of thermoplastic are extruded directly onto the diffusion barrier material using an extrusion process.

9. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 1, wherein the first layer of thermoplastic and the second layer of thermoplastic are extruded directly onto the diffusion barrier material using a laminate process.

10. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 1, wherein the first layer of thermoplastic and the second layer of thermoplastic are bonded to the diffusion barrier material using a calendering process.

11. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 1, wherein the layers of thermoplastic coupled to the diffusion barrier tape laminate are low density polyethylene.

12. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 1, further comprising a jacket layer, wherein the jacket layer covers the diffusion barrier tape laminate.

13. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 12, wherein the jacket layer is a polymer.

14. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 12, wherein the jacket layer is applied using an extrusion process.

15. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 12, wherein the jacket layer is applied using a heat shrink process.

16. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the jacket ranges from one half millimeter to fifteen millimeters.

17. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 1, wherein an overlap percentage of the strip of overlapping diffusion barrier tape laminate parallel with the length of the inner tube ranges from about ten percent to about twenty-five percent of the circumference of the inner tube.

18. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 1, wherein the diffusion barrier material is aluminum foil.

19. A substantially hermetic tubing comprising:

a. an inner tube; and

b. a diffusion barrier tape laminate substantially hermetically coupled to the outside circumference of the inner tube for substantially the whole length of the inner tube, including;

i. a diffusion barrier material;

ii. a first layer of thermoplastic material applied to a first side of the diffusion barrier material;

iii. a second layer of thermoplastic material applied to a second side of the diffusion barrier material, and;

iv. the first layer and the second layer of thermoplastic material are sealed together;

wherein the diffusion barrier tape laminate does not seal to the inner tubing, wherein the inner tubing is able to slide within the diffusion barrier tape laminate.

20. A substantially hermetic tubing comprising:

a. an inner tube; and

b. a diffusion barrier tape laminate substantially hermetically coupled to the outside circumference of the inner tube for substantially the whole length of the inner tube, including;

i. a diffusion barrier material;

ii. a first layer of thermoplastic material applied to a first side of the diffusion barrier material;

iii. a second layer of thermoplastic material applied to a second side of the diffusion barrier material, and;

iv. the first layer and the second layer of thermoplastic material are sealed together;

wherein the layers of thermoplastic coupled to the diffusion barrier tape are low density polyethylene.

21. A substantially hermetic tubing comprising:

a. an inner tube; and

b. a diffusion barrier tape laminate substantially hermetically coupled to the outside circumference of the inner tube for substantially the whole length of the inner tube, including;

i. a diffusion barrier material;

ii. a first layer of thermoplastic material applied to a first side of the diffusion barrier material;

iii. a second layer of thermoplastic material applied to a second side of the diffusion barrier material, and;

iv. the first layer and the second layer of thermoplastic material are sealed together;

wherein the diffusion barrier tape laminate is wider than the circumference of the inner tube, further wherein an extra width of the diffusion barrier tape laminate meets at one spot of the inner tube and extends perpendicularly therefrom, creating two perpendicularly extending flags, and further wherein a seal exists between the perpendicularly extending flags.

22. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 21, wherein the sealed perpendicularly extending flags are folded back down onto one side of the circumference of the inner tube.

23. The substantially hermetic tubing according to claim 22, wherein the flags range between 1 millimeter and 20 millimeters in length.

24. A substantially hermetic tubing comprising:

a. an inner tube; and

b. a diffusion barrier tape laminate substantially hermetically coupled to the outside circumference of the inner tube for substantially the whole length of the inner tube, including;

i. a diffusion barrier material;

ii. a first layer of thermoplastic material applied to a first side of the diffusion barrier material;

iii. a second layer of thermoplastic material applied to a second side of the diffusion barrier material, and;

iv. the first layer and the second layer of thermoplastic material are sealed together;

wherein the diffusion barrier tape laminate is wound in a helical fashion around the circumference of the inner tube, wherein the diffusion barrier tape partially overlaps itself as it is wound down the length of the inner tube and is configured with an overlap area, further wherein the overlapping barrier tape laminate seals the barrier tape laminate around the inner tubing, and

wherein an additional layer of diffusion barrier tape laminate is wound in the opposite direction around a once-wrapped inner tubing.