THERMALLY INSULATED PIPE SYSTEM, THERMALLY INSULATING PIPE SECTION AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A THERMALLY INSULATING PIPE SECTION

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a thermally insulated pipe system comprising a pipe having an outer diameter and a thermally insulating pipe section mounted on said pipe, said pipe section comprising two longitudinal parts each having a longitudinal opening, providing an aperture for accommodating the pipe whereby the two longitudinal parts are facing to each other in a symmetry plane, whereby two webs are provided in each longitudinal opening of the parts, each web extending substantially to the symmetry plane and being arranged under an angle (α) between 45° and 90° relative to the symmetry plane, thereby incorporating a first groove between the webs and second grooves between each of the webs and a surface of the longitudinal opening.

Claims

1. A thermally insulated pipe system comprising a pipe having an outer diameter and a thermally insulating pipe section mounted on said pipe, said pipe section comprising two longitudinal parts each having a longitudinal opening, providing an aperture for accommodating the pipe whereby the two longitudinal parts are facing to each other in a symmetry plane, wherein two webs are provided in each longitudinal opening of the parts, each web extending substantially up to the symmetry plane and being arranged under an angle (α) between 45° and 90° relative to the symmetry plane, thereby incorporating a first groove between the webs and second grooves between each of the webs and a surface of the longitudinal opening.

2. The pipe system according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal parts are identical in shape.

3. The pipe system according to claim 1, wherein the first groove has a width (Wc) being larger than the width (Ws) of each second groove, whereby the width (Wc) of the first groove is around the threefold of the width (Ws) of the second groove.

4. The pipe system according to claim 1, wherein each web has a width (Ww) being smaller than the width (Wc) of the first groove, whereby the width (Ww) of the web is preferably between 15% and 50%, such as between 20% and 45%, of the width (Wc) of the first groove.

5. The pipe system according to claim 1, wherein the grooves and the web are arranged symmetrically in the opening.

6. The pipe system according to claim 1, wherein the opening has a diameter being larger as or at least corresponding substantially to the outer diameter of the pipe.

7. The pipe system according to claim 1, wherein the first groove has a depth (dc) corresponding at least to half of the outer diameter of the pipe and a width (Wc) being smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe and in that a total width (Wt) between an outermost edge of the first of both second grooves to an outermost edge of the second of both second grooves is larger than or at least corresponds substantially to the outer diameter of the pipe.

8. The pipe system according to claim 1, wherein the width (Wc) of the first groove is between 30% and 95% of the outer diameter of the pipe, preferably between 35% and 80%, such as between 40% and 70%.

9. A thermally insulating pipe section comprising two longitudinal parts each having a longitudinal opening, providing an aperture for accommodating a pipe, whereby the two longitudinal parts are facing to each other in a symmetry plane, wherein two webs are provided in each longitudinal opening of the parts, each web extending substantially up to the symmetry plane and being arranged under an angle (α) between 45° and 90° relative to the symmetry plane, thereby incorporating a first groove between the webs and second grooves between each of the webs and a surface of the longitudinal opening.

10. The thermally insulating pipe section according to claim 9, wherein the webs are rectangular in cross section.

11. The thermally insulating pipe section according to claim 9, wherein the second grooves are trapezoidal in cross-section.

12. The thermally insulating pipe section according to claim 9, wherein the parts are made of mineral wool.

13. The thermally insulating pipe section according to claim 9, wherein the first groove has a width (Wc) being larger than the width of each second groove, whereby the width (Wc) of the first groove is around the threefold of the width (Ws) of the second groove.

14. The thermally insulating pipe section according to claim 9, wherein each web has a width (Ww) being smaller than the width (Wc) of the first groove, whereby the width (Ww) of the web is preferably between 15% and 50%, such as between 20% and 45%, of the width (Wc) of the first groove.

15. The thermally insulating pipe section according to claim 9, wherein the grooves and the webs are arranged symmetrically in the opening.

16. A method for producing a thermally insulating pipe section comprising two longitudinal parts each having a longitudinal opening, providing an aperture for accommodating a pipe, whereby the two longitudinal parts are facing to each other in a symmetry plane according to claim 9, wherein a first groove between two webs and second grooves between each of the webs and a surface of the longitudinal opening are cut into each longitudinal opening of each part by using a rotatably driven tool which tool is relatively moved to the part thereby forming both webs extending substantially to the symmetry plane and being arranged under an angle (α) between 45° and 90° relative to the symmetry plane.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0025] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0026] Further embodiments and advantages of the thermally insulated pipe system and the thermally insulting pipe section according to this disclosure are described in the following description of the accompanying drawings in which

[0027] FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of a thermally insulating pipe section shown in cross-section;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a second embodiment of a thermally insulating pipe section shown in cross-section;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a third embodiment of a thermally insulating pipe section shown in cross-section;

[0030] FIG. 4 is a fourth embodiment of a thermally insulating pipe section shown in cross-section;

[0031] FIG. 5 shows relative dimensions of the thermally insulating pipe section;

[0032] FIG. 6 is a fifth embodiment of a thermally insulating pipe section shown in cross-section

[0033] FIG. 7 is a tool for producing a thermally insulating pipe section according to FIGS. 1 and 2 shown in cut side view;

[0034] FIG. 8 is a tool for producing a thermally insulating pipe section according to FIGS. 3 and 4 shown in cut side view and

[0035] FIG. 9 is another view of the fifth embodiment according to FIG. 6.

[0036] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] FIGS. 1 to 4 show four embodiments of a thermally insulating pipe section 1 especially differing in its size. The pipe section 1 consists of two longitudinal parts 2 being identical in shape and each having a longitudinal opening 3 forming an aperture 4 for accommodating a pipe being not shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. The parts 2 are facing to each other in a symmetry plane 5 dividing the pipe section into two halve shells.

[0039] The pipe section 1 has an outer surface 6 and consists of factory made, bound mineral wool, preferably stone wool. Its density measured in accordance with EN13470:2001 is about 110 kg/m.sup.3.

[0040] In each opening 3 two webs 7 are provided extending substantially up to the symmetry plane 5 and being arranged under an angle (α) of 90° relative to the symmetry plane 5, thereby incorporating a first groove 8 between the webs 7 and second grooves 9 between the webs 7 and an inner surface 10 of the longitudinal opening 3.

[0041] Part 2 and webs 7 are formed as one piece.

[0042] The webs 7 are rectangular in cross-section. Furthermore, the first groove 8 and the second grooves 9 of the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2 are rectangular in cross-section, too.

[0043] The embodiments according to FIGS. 3 and 4 differ in the size of the pipe section 1 and in the shape of the second grooves 9 which have a beveled ground 11 of the groove 9. The ground 11 is in such a way beveled that a wall 12 of the groove 9 is shorter than a parallel wall 13 of the groove 9 whereby the wall 12 is arranged closer to the outer surface 6 of the pipe section 1. Two grooves 9 of two parts 2 have therefore a trapezoidal cross-section.

[0044] As can be seen from the FIGS. 1 to 4 the first groove 8 has a width being larger than the width of each second groove 9, whereby the width of the first groove 8 is around the threefold of the width of the second groove 9, more specifically around 2.4 up to 3.7 times larger. Furthermore, each web 7 has a width being smaller than the width of the first groove 8, whereby the width of the web, depending on the size of the pipe section 1, corresponds to between 15% and 50% of the width of the first groove. The grooves 8, 9 and the webs 7 are arranged symmetrically in the opening 3.

[0045] From the following table 1 the dimensions of the pipe sections 1 in FIGS. 1 to 4 can be seen.

[0046] All dimensions are given in [mm].

TABLE-US-00001 Pipe sizes (range) Pipe diameter (largest) Depth first groove Depth second grooves Total width Width first groove Width webs Width second grooves D dc ds Wt Wc Ww Ws FIG. 1 12-18 18.0 9.5 9.5 23.0 9.5 4.0 2.75 FIG. 2 22-28 28.0 14.0 14.0 30.0 12.0 4.0 5.0 FIG. 3 32-38 38.0 20.0 20.0 45.0 21.0 5.0 7.0 FIG. 4 42-48 48.0 27.0 27.0 57.0 28.0 7.0 7.5

[0047] From table 1 it can be seen that the depth dc of the first groove 8 is equal or bigger than halve of the pipe diameter D, the width Wc of the central first groove 8 is smaller than the diameter D of the pipe, the total width Wt of the opening 3 is equal or bigger than the diameter D of the pipe, the depth dc of the first groove 8 is equal to the depth ds of the side grooves 9, the total width Wt of the opening 3 is bigger than twice the depth dc of the first groove 8. Therefore, the depth dc of the first groove 8 is approximately 95% to 117% of the width Wc of the first groove 8 whereas the width Wc of the first groove 8 is about 43 to 58% of the diameter D of the pipe and the width Ww of the webs 7 is between 71 and 145% of the width Ws of the second grooves 9. Furthermore, the width Wc of the first groove 8 is approximately 40 to 49% of the total width Wt of the opening 3 and the width Ww of the webs 7 is approximately 11 to 17% of the total width Wt of the opening 3 and the width Ws of the second grooves 9 is approximately 12 to 17% of the total width Wt of the opening 3.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows the thermally insulating pipe section 1 according to FIG. 4 with its relative dimensions as given in table 1. These dimensions are valid for all embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 3, 6 and 9, too.

[0049] FIGS. 6 and 9 show a further embodiment of a thermally insulating pipe section 1 according to the disclosure differing from the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 4 by diverging webs 7. In respect of the present example according to FIG. 6 the webs 7 are arranged at an angle (α) of about 70° relative to the symmetry plane. The first groove 8 is shaped trapezoid, and the second grooves 9 have a larger width in the area of its grounds 11 compared to the width Ws close to a free end of the web 7.

[0050] The shape of the opening 3 with the first groove 8 the second grooves 9 and the webs 7 between the first groove 8 and the second grooves 9 are produced by using a rotatably driven tool 14 which tool 14 is relatively moved to a part 2 thereby forming both webs 7 extending substantially to the symmetry plane 5 and being arranged under an angle of 90° relative to the symmetry plane 5. Forming both webs 7 means that in a part 2 formed as a solid material grooves 8 and 9 are cut from this solid material. For this purpose, the tool 14 is a milling cutter which is discoidal having a central opening 15 and border areas with two recesses 16 flanked by cutting elements 17. The edges of the cutting element 17 are rounded edges.

[0051] FIG. 9 shows the embodiment according to FIG. 6 together with a pipe 19 shortly before the two parts 2 of the pipe section 1 are arranged close to an outer surface of the pipe 19, thereby deflecting the webs 7 in directions to the outer surface 6 of the pipe section 1.

[0052] FIG. 7 shows the tool with which the opening 3 of the embodiments of the pipe section 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is cut whereas FIG. 6 shows the tool 14 with which the opening 3 of the pipe section 1 according to FIGS. 3 and 4 is provided in the pipe section 1 and FIG. 8 shows that the outer cutting elements have beveled faces 18 to form the grounds 11 of the second grooves 9.

[0053] During the production of thermally insulating pipe sections 1 several blanks made of mineral fibers and a binder having a semi-circular cross-section are moved in line to a machine having at least one tool 14 being driven rotatably, thereby cutting the first groove 8 and the second grooves 9 into the blanks so that the pipe sections 1 can be produced continuously.

[0054] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.