RICUPERATI, Giampaolo (Via Morandi 7, Albino, I-24021, IT)
| CLAIMS 1. A protective sheath (1) for piping, characterized in that it comprises a substantially flat synthetic fabric tape (2) having a first (11) and a second (12) surface and a first (21) and a second (22) longitudinal edge, said first surface (11) being provided, in proximity of said first edge (21), with first reversible coupling means (31) applied to said synthetic fabric tape (2), said second surface (12) being provided, in proximity of said second edge (22), with second reversible coupling means (32) integral with said synthetic fabric tape (2), said first (31) and second (32) reversible coupling means being mutually couplable and decouplable to obtain a substantially tubular structure of said fabric tape (2). 2. A protective sheath (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second reversible coupling means (32) comprise a plurality of loops co-woven with said fabric tape. 3. A protective sheath (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said second reversible coupling means (31) comprise a tape provided with a plurality of hooking means suitable to reversibly engage with said integral loops applied to said first surface (11) at said first edge (21). 4. A protective sheath (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the yarn count used to produce said synthetic fabric tape (2) varies between the count Ne 5/2 and the count Ne 60/2. 5. A protective sheath (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said tape the reduction of threads is substantially between 8 and 60 threads per centimetre, with a tolerance of ±5 threads per centimetre. 6. A protective sheath (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said synthetic fabric tape (2) is produced with a yarn made of FTR polyester fibre. 7. A protective sheath (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said synthetic fabric tape (2) is produced with a yarn made of aramid, meta-aramid or para-aramid fibre, preferably pre-oxidized. 8. A protective sheath (1) according to one or more of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that said loops are produced with a yarn having a count between 30 denier and 3000 denier. 9. A protective sheath (1) according to one or more of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that said loops are produced with a yarn made of FTR polyester, aramid, meta-aramid or para-aramid fibre, preferably pre-oxidized. 10. A protective sheath (1) according to one or more of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that said first reversible coupling means (31) comprise a plurality of hook or mushroom head hooking means suitable to engage with said loops. |
The present invention relates to a protective sheath for piping, in particular for flexible pipes, having particular constructional specifications and particular flame-resistance properties. More in particular, the present invention relates to a self-extinguishing or fireproof protective sheath for covering flexible and non-flexible pipes, which are normally used in hydraulic, oil hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical systems of various types of plants, machines, equipment and vehicles.
The protective sheath according to the present invention combines high flame resistance-properties with considerably simple and convenient use, as it can be applied to and removed from said flexible pipes without requiring to disassemble them.
As it is known, protective sheaths are normally used to protect the flexible cables and piping of plants and machinery from external factors which can damage said flexible cables and pipes. These factors are, for example, due to machining processes which can cause the detachment of particles such as welding sprays, machining scrap of any kind, or can derive from accidental knocks or occasional rubbing caused by contact with other surfaces.
Besides sufficient mechanical strength, protective sheaths must be provided with sufficient resistance to thermal actions (i.e. caused by contact with welding sprays or similar factors) which can cause at least partial combustion thereof, with the possibility of consequent damage of the protected piping and possible leakage of fluids therefrom. This implies considerable risks both for operators and for the environment; for example, risks associated with leakage of oil from pressurized oil hydraulic systems or risks deriving from a bare electrical cable should be considered.
To perform this function, self-extinguishing or fireproof sheaths must ensure during use an adequate degree of safety and reliability for the operating requirements of the systems to which they are applied. These requirements differ considerably as a function of type of system (i.e., hydraulic, oil hydraulic, electrical, fluid or gas based, pressurized or non- pressurized systems) and as a function of environmental operating conditions (presence of external factors such as particles, scraps, knocks, rubbing, thermal events and other situations which can impair the overall operation of these systems).
It must also be considered that protective sheaths are normally also used to protect flexible piping and cables in complex plants and systems (such as automated or robotized industrial plants). It is therefore essential to be able to apply and remove the protective sheaths (i.e. for replacement thereof or for plant maintenance) in a simple and rapid manner, and without the need to disassemble or disconnect the piping it is intended to protect.
Conventional protective sheaths are used in relation to general and undifferentiated parameters of use, which in the majority of cases do not match those of the final user.
In fact, protective sheaths that combine self-extinguishing or fireproof properties with a structure that allows easy application to and removal from the piping to be protected are not currently known.
The present invention seeks to provide a protective sheath, in particular a self- extinguishing or fireproof protective sheath, which is very simple and convenient to use.
Within this aim, the present invention also seeks to provide a protective sheath with a greater degree of operating safety and reliability than is obtainable with prior art protective sheaths.
Moreover, the present invention seeks to provide a protective sheath which is capable of precisely satisfying the requirements of use in the various operating conditions.
Finally, the present invention seeks to provide a protective sheath which is highly reliable, relatively easy to produce and at competitive costs.
The protective sheath for piping according to the present invention comprises a substantially flat synthetic fabric tape having a first and a second surface and a first and a second longitudinal edge; the first surface is provided, in proximity of said first edge, with first reversible coupling means applied to said synthetic fabric tape, while the second surface is provided, in proximity of said second edge, with second reversible coupling means integral with said synthetic fabric tape; in the sheath according to the present invention, said first and second reversible coupling means are mutually couplable and decouplable to obtain a substantially tubular structure of said fabric tape.
The protective sheath thus produced has numerous advantages, above all linked to its flexible and practical use, without detracting from the safety characteristics required.
In particular, the self-extinguishing or fireproof properties are protected while at the same time maintaining the advantages of simple and convenient use.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a protective sheath for flexible pipes according to the present invention, shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sheath according to the present invention shown in an open and partially folded position;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a sheath according to the present invention shown in a partially closed position.
For the purposes of the present invention, the term piping is intended as any type of piping, conduit or cable which must be protected from external agents. Non-limiting examples of piping are given by: flexible and non- flexible pipes of hydraulic or oil hydraulic systems; flexible and non- flexible pipes to convey fluids of various kinds, both pressurized and non- pressurized; electrical or communications cables; hydraulic or pneumatic piston rods.
With reference to the accompanying figures, the protective sheath according to the present invention, in its most general embodiment, comprises a synthetic fabric tape 2, substantially flat, which presents a first 11 and a second 12 surface and a first 21 and a second 22 longitudinal edge.
The first surface 11 is provided, in proximity of said first edge 21, with first reversible coupling means 31 applied to said synthetic fabric tape 2, while the second surface 12 is provided, in proximity of said second edge 22, with second reversible coupling means 32 integral with said synthetic fabric tape 2.
The first 31 and second 32 reversible coupling means, which will be described in more detail below, are mutually couplable and decouplable to obtain a substantially tubular structure of said fabric tape 2.
In other words, the sheath 1 according to the present invention is essentially composed of a suitable tape which is provided, on opposite surfaces and at opposite edges, with reversible closing means which, as can be seen in Figure 2, allow the tape to be closed over itself thus producing a protective tubular structure.
Preferably, the second reversible coupling means 32 comprise a plurality of integral loops which are co-woven with said synthetic fabric tape 2. At the same time, the first reversible coupling means 31 advantageously comprise a tape provided with a plurality of hooking means suitable to reversibly engage with said integral loops; said tape provided with hooking means is applied to said first surface 11 at said first edge 21.
In this way it is possible to produce a fastening of "Velcro" type, in which the female element (loops) is produced integral with the synthetic fabric tape 2 during weaving, while the male element is composed of a tape with hooking means which is applied (by stitching and/or gluing) to the synthetic fabric tape 2 in the position described previously.
In fact, it has surprisingly been found that, through appropriate choice of the materials used to produce the tape 2, the sheath 1 offers self-extinguishing or fireproof properties which cannot be obtained with conventional sheaths. It has also been found that if the female element of the fastening is applied to the synthetic fabric tape 2 instead of be produced integral therewith, the same performances in terms of self-extinguishing or fireproof capacity are not obtained, even using the same materials.
From a practical viewpoint, the sheath 1 according to the present invention can conveniently be obtained from a synthetic tape 2 of adequate dimensions produced with looms for woven fabrics or with circular machines for knitted fabrics.
The height of the synthetic fabric tape 2 can be selected as a function of the applications for which the sheath 1 is intended, ad is normally between 50 mm and 300 mm. Other dimensions and heights are naturally possible according to application requirements.
The closing system of the synthetic fabric tape 2, composed of reversible coupling means 31 and 32, is preferably disposed along the entire extension of the edges 21 and 22.
However, it is also possible to produce a protective sheath 1 in which reversible coupling means 31 and 32 are only provided at intervals. In particular, the first reversible coupling means 31 can be composed of lengths of tape provided with a plurality of coupling means which are positioned at intervals in proximity of the corresponding edge 21.
In the case in which a protective sheath with self-extinguishing properties is to be produced, the count of the self-extinguishing yarn used to produce the synthetic tape 2 varies between the count of Ne 5/2 and the count of Ne 60/2, and the reduction of threads per centimetre is between 8 and 60 threads per centimetre, with a tolerance of 5 threads per centimetre.
From the viewpoint of materials, to produce a protective sheath 1 with self- extinguishing properties, yarns, for example made of FTR Polyester fibre or FTR Polyester fibre with fiberglass, can conveniently be used.
In the case in which a protective sheath with fireproof properties is to be produced, the count of the fireproof yarn used to produce the synthetic tape 2 varies between the count of Ne 5/2 and the count of Ne 60/2, and the reduction of threads per centimetre is between 8 and 60 threads per centimetre, with a tolerance of ±5 threads per centimetre.
From the viewpoint of materials, to produce a protective sheath 1 with fireproof properties, yarns, for example made of aramid, meta-aramid or para-aramid fibre (with/without, e.g., fiberglass or basalt fiber), preferably pre-oxidized, can conveniently be used.
As stated above, the second reversible coupling means 32 can conveniently be composed of a plurality of integral loops which are co-woven with said synthetic fabric tape 2. For this purpose, said integral loops can conveniently be produced with a yarn having a count between 30 denier and 3000 denier. The material used to produce the integral loops can be selected as a function of the characteristics to be obtained; for example, said integral loops can be produced with a yarn made of FTR polyester, aramid, meta-aramid or para-aramid fibre, preferably pre-oxidized.
The first reversible coupling means 31 can conveniently be composed of a male tape with a rip fastening of conventional type which is stitched and/or glued to the first surface 11 of the synthetic fabric tape 2, at the first longitudinal edge 21. Said first reversible coupling means 31 can conveniently be composed of a plurality of hooking means, for example hook or mushroom head means, positioned on said male tape of a rip fastening system, and suitable to engage with said loops integral with the synthetic fabric tape 2.
As can be seen from the description given, the protective sheath 1 according to the present invention allows a tubular protection of desired length to be obtained, which is easy to apply to any piping or cable.
Moreover, as the sheath 1 does not require disassembly or disconnection of the piping to be protected, it can be applied and removed at any time, thus allowing inspection or maintenance operations to be performed on the pipes or cables it is intended to protect.
At the same time, due to the appropriate choice of materials, the protective sheath 1 according to the present invention is provided with self-extinguishing or fireproof properties and thus offers a high degree of safety and reliability during operation.
From the manufacturing viewpoint, the sheath 1 can be produced with known technologies and without requiring particular investments.
On the basis of the description given, other characteristics, modifications or improvements are possible and evident to one with average skill in the art. These characteristics, modifications or improvements are therefore to be considered as part of the present invention. In practice, the materials used, the dimensions and contingent shapes can be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.
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