Multilayer marine wraps

Abstract

A multilayer marine wrapping is proposed wherein each layer has a removal strip and the removal strips are staggered, such that a single layer can be removed at a time.

Claims

1. A marine protective covering, said covering surrounding a marine piling and comprising a plurality of layers of plastic film, every two layers having a removal strip associated therebetween, the layers arranged so that removal strips are staggered in location with respect to one another and so that a single outermost layer can be removed from said marine piling using an outermost removal strip.

2. The marine protective covering of claim 1, further comprising a release layer between every two layers of plastic film.

3. The marine protective covering of claim 2, said release layer being a release liner.

4. The marine protective covering of claim 2, said release layer being a release coating.

5. The marine protective covering of claim 1, wherein said plastic film is shrink wrap film.

6. The marine protective covering of claim 1, wherein said removal strip comprises a line of perforations.

7. The marine protective covering of claim 1, wherein the plurality of layers comprise three layers of plastic film.

8. The marine protective covering of claim 1, wherein the plurality of layers comprise four layers of plastic film.

9. The marine protective covering of claim 1, wherein the plurality of layers comprise five layers of plastic film.

10. The marine protective covering of claim 1, wherein said removal strip comprises a line of filament having a grippable tab at one end for gripping and pulling so as to cut said plastic film with said filament.

11. The marine protective covering of claim 1, wherein said plastic film is shrink wrap film, wherein said removal strip comprises a line of filament embedded under said plastic film, said filament having a grippable tab at one end for gripping and pulling so as to cut said plastic film.

12. The marine protective covering of claim 1, wherein said plastic film is shrink wrap film, wherein said removal strip comprises a line of filament embedded under said plastic film, said filament having a grippable tab at one end for gripping and pulling so as to cut said plastic film, and wherein a release layer is provided between each layer of plastic film.

13. A method of protecting a device, said method comprising a) applying a first layer of plastic film over a device, b) applying a first removal strip over said first layer, c) applying a second layer of plastic film over said device, d) applying a second removal strip over said second layer, such that said first and second removal strips are at least partially staggered with respect one another, e) repeating step c and d for as many additional layers of plastic protection are desired.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said plastic film is shrink wrap film, and said method further comprising heat shrinking said shrink wrap film over said device before applying an additional layer of shrink wrap film.

15. The method of claim 13 or 14, said method further comprising step b2) adding a release layer before proceeding to step c).

16. A method of protecting a storage tank or piling, said method comprising a) applying a first layer of shrink wrap film having a first removal strip associated therewith over a storage tank or piling, b) heat shrinking said first layer of shrink wrap film over said storage tank or piling, c) applying a second layer of heat shrink film having a second removal strip associated therewith over said storage tank or piling, such that said first and second removal strips are at least partially staggered, d) heat shrinking said second layer of shrink wrap film over said storage tank or piling, and e) repeating steps c-d for as many layers of plastic protection are desired.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising step b2) and d2) adding a release layer over said storage tank or piling.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1. Schematic of the four main stages of biofouling, from Brujis (2006).

(2) FIG. 2. Biofouling mass on 90-10 CuNi sheathed Steel pilings at 5 and 10 years, from Powers.

(3) FIGS. 3A and 3B show cross section and perspective views of a dual wrapped piling.

(4) FIGS. 4A and 4B show cross section and perspective views of a triple layer wrapped truss leg.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a dual wrapped piling wherein layers are perforated for easy removal.

(6) FIGS. 6A and 6B show a top and side views of a four layer wrapped piling with a removal strip under each layer. FIG. 6B shows a knife inserted into the space created by the removal strip, which can now be used to slice through and remove the outermost layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) The disclosure provides novel multilayer wrappings that can be used wherever regular maintenance of equipment is needed. The multi-wrapped layers are preferably equipped with a removal strip for easy removal of a single layer at a time, and the removal strips are preferably staggered in subsequent layers.

(8) The present invention is exemplified with respect to a simple concrete piling, such as might be used on near-shore construction or offshore concrete gravity structures, as well as with a lattice-type piling such as is typical on jack-up rigs. However, this is exemplary only, and the invention can be broadly applied to any submerged marine structure that can benefit from fewer cleaning cycles.

(9) The invention comprises one or more of the following embodiments, in any combination thereof. A marine protective covering, said covering comprising a plurality of layers of plastic film, each layer having a removal strip associated therewith, the layers arranged so that removal strips do not overlap each other (although they may cross) and so that a single outermost layer can be removed using an outermost removal strip. The marine protective covering comprising a release layer between each layer of plastic film. The marine protective covering, said release layer being a release liner or a release coating. The marine protective covering, wherein said plastic film is shrink wrap film. The marine protective, wherein the removal strip comprises a line of perforations. The marine protective covering comprising three, four, five, six, seven, eight, ten or more layers of plastic film. The marine protective covering wherein the removal strip comprises a line of filament, preferably wire filament, and a grippable tab at one end for gripping and pulling so as to cut said plastic film. The marine protective covering wherein said plastic film is shrink wrap film, wherein said removal strip comprises a line of filament embedded under said plastic film, said filament having a grippable tab at one end for gripping and pulling so as to cut said plastic film. The marine protective covering, wherein said plastic film is shrink wrap film, wherein said removal strip comprises a line of filament embedded under said plastic film, said filament having a grippable tab at one end for gripping and pulling so as to cut said plastic film, and wherein a release layer is provided between each layer of plastic film. A method of protecting a device, said method comprising i) applying a first layer of shrink wrap film having a removal strip associated therewith over a device, ii) applying a second layer of heat shrink film having a removal strip therein over said device, such that said removal strips are at least partially staggered, and iii) repeating step ii) for as many layers of plastic protection are desired. A method, wherein said plastic film is shrink wrap film, and said method further comprising heat shrinking said shrink wrap film over said device before applying an additional layer of shrink wrap film. A method, said method further comprising adding a release layer before applying said second layer. A method of protecting a storage tank or piling, said method comprising i) applying a first layer of shrink wrap film having a first removal strip associated therewith over a storage tank or piling, ii) heat shrinking said first layer of shrink wrap film over said storage tank or piling, iii) applying a second layer of heat shrink film having a second removal strip associated therewith over said storage tank or piling, such that said first and second removal strips are at least partially staggered, iv) heat shrinking said second layer of shrink wrap film over said storage tank or piling, and repeating for as many layers of plastic protection are desired.

(10) FIG. 3A shows a cross section of piling 31 wrapped with a first layer of plastic 33 and a second layer 36. Removal strips 35 and 37 allow sequential removal of one layer at a time. In FIG. 3B the removal strip 35 has a tab 38 at one end for easy grip. To remove outermost layer 36, the user grips tab 40, pulling down on removal strip 37 which separates layer 36 allowing it to be peeled off.

(11) FIG. 4A shows a cross section of a wrapper truss leg comprised of vertical tubes 41 connected by latticed tubes 42. A cutting removal strip (wire shown) 43, 45, 47 is under each layer 49, 36, 48. A perspective view is shown in FIG. 4B, which shows a user pulling removal strip 47, which then cuts outer layer 48, allowing it to be removed.

(12) FIG. 5 shows another embodiment wherein piling 51 is encased in layers 52, 54. Removal strips 55 and 53 are a line of perforations.

(13) FIG. 6A shows a top view of a piling 61 with four layers of plastic. Under each layer is a removal strip 62 that has a small depression 63 into which a cutting edged can be inserted. FIG. 6B shows knife 665 inserted into this small space 63, ready to slice open the outermost layer.

(14) The following references are incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes. Powers & Michels REVIEW OF SPLASH ZONE CORROSION AND BIOFOULING OF C70600 SHEATHED STEEL DURING 20 YEARS EXPOSURE, online at copper.org/applications/marine/cuni/pdf/splash_zone michels_powell.pdf Brujis Pre-survey of marine fouling on turbine support structures of the Offshore Windfarm Egmond aan Zee (2006), available online at noordzeewind.nl/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/OWEZ_R_112_20060725.pdf U.S. Pat. No. 2,724,156 U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,531 U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,229 U.S. Pat. No. 7,871,483 U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,030 US20110098401 U.S. Pat. No. 7,037,980 U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,060 U.S. Pat. No. 8,511,472 U.S. Pat. No. 7,914,638, U.S. Pat. No. 8,187,407 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,361,615