GB2099952A

GB2099952A - Transport hose

Info

Publication number: GB2099952A
Application number: GB8205275A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Bridgestone Corp
Current assignee: Bridgestone Corp
Priority date: 1978-06-14
Filing date: 1979-06-14
Publication date: 1982-12-15
Also published as: FR2437569A1; IT1121291B; FR2437569B1; GB2027838B; NL7904597A; GB2099952B; IT7923529A0; GB2027838A

Abstract

A transport hose floating on the sea surface for transporting petroleum or like fluid, comprising a main hose body (1) including a reinforcing layer (11) embedded therein and a metal fixture (2) secured to the end of the main hose body, a passage (9) arranged in the main hose body for guiding fluid leaked from a transport line to the end of the main hose body in its axial direction, and a leak detector (34) arranged at the end of the passage (9) and operative by the leaked fluid, wherein the leak detector is composed of a pressure switch producing a detection signal in response to the leaked fluid and adapted to transmit the detection signal through an antenna (36) embedded in a buoyant material (14) in the main hose body. <IMAGE>

Description

1 GB 2 099 952 A 1

SPECIFICATION

Transport hose This invention relates to a transport hose which in use floats on the sea surface for transporting pet roleum or like fluid.

In the case of transporting crude oil, for example, from a tankerto an oil reservoir installation on the land or vice versa, the tanker anchored off the shore is connected through a floating hose to an offshore buoy and the buoy is connected through a hose suspended therefrom and forming an underwater pipe line to the oil reservoir installation on the land. In such a transport line, the resilient hose is subject to crack failure in its inner surface rubber layer due to aging of the rubber or there often occurs leakage of the transportfluid out of the transport line due to separation between a nipple joint and the rubber. As a result, the leaked crude oil floats on the sea and results in pollution.

Under such circumstances, if the fluid leak is not discovered immediately, the amount of fluid leaked becomes sufficiently large to pollute the sea over a wide area. As a result, if the fluid passed through the 90 hose begins to leak, it is necessary to locate the leak as soon as possible and to repair the leak. In practice, however, early detection of a leak has heretofore been extremely difficult since the transport hose is used on the sea surface.

The present invention provides a transport hose comprising a main hose body including a reinforcing layer embedded therein and a metal fixture secured to the end of the main hose body, a passage arranged in the main hose body for guiding fluid leaked from a transport line to the end of the main hose body in its axial direction, and a leak detector arranged at at least one end of the said passage and operative by the said leaked fluid, wherein the leak detector is composed of a pressure switch producing 105 a detecting signal in response to the said leaked fluid and adapted to transmit the said detection signal through an antenna embedded in a buoyant material in the main hose body.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a transport hose according to the invention laid between a tanker on the sea and a floating buoy; and Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a transport hose according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a buoyant hose H according to the invention fortransporting petroleum or like fluid from a tanker T anchored off the shore through an offshore buoy B, and a hose H b suspended from the buoy B and forming an underwater pipe line to an oil reservoir installation on the land (not shown).

The transport hose shown in Fig. 2 comprises a main hose body 1 and a metal nipple or other fixture 125 2 secured to the inner surface of the end of the main hose body 1. The nipple 2 is provided at its outer periphery with a plurality of substantially saw tooth-shaped annular ribs 3a, 3b spaced apart from each other in the axial direction of the nipple 2. 130 The main hose body 1 is composed of an inner surface rubber layer4 covering the outer surface of the nipple 2, a cord reinforcing layer 6 superimposed about the inner surface rubber layer4 and wound around a bead wire 5 located beyond the annular rib 3a from the inside toward the outside thereof to form a turn-back portion, an intermediate rubber layer 7 superimposed about the cord reinforcing layer 6, and a resilient body 8 helically wound around the intermediate rubber layer 7 and including a passage 9 formed between adjacent turns thereof. About the outside of the helically wound resilient body 8 are superimposed a rubber lining sheet layer 10, a rubberized cord reinforcing layer 11, an intermediate rubber layer 12, and a weather resistant outer covering rubber layer 13. A buoyant material 14 is sandwiched between the intermediate rubber layer 12 and the outer rubber layer 13. The buoyant material 14 tends to exert buoyancy to the hose.

The passage 9 functions to guide fluid leaked through the inner surface rubber layer 4, cord reinforcing layer 6 and intermediate rubber layer 7, in the axial direction of the hose to the end thereof. The rubber lining sheet layer 10 and rubberized cord reinforcing layer 11 serve to prevent the leaked fluid which has reached the passage 9 from leaking further outwardly in the radial direction. The resilient body 8 is preferably formed of a foamed substance including continuous bubbles. As a result, the resi- lient body 8 permits the leaked fluid to easily pass from any position therethrough to the passage 9. The nipple 2 is provided at each end thereof with a flange 15 for connection with the ends of hoses to be interconnected.

About the rubberized cord reinforcing layer 11, having a cord angle of 45'1 is superimposed a binding cord 29, and about the buoyant material 14 is superimposed a binding cord 30.

The nipple 2 is provided with a channel-shaped depression 31. The channelshaped depression 31 is covered with the rubber lining sheet layer 10 extending from the main hose body 1. The end of the rubberized cord reinforcing layer 11 is wound around a bead wire 19 enclosed in the channel-shaped depre- ssion 31 to form a turn-back portion, thereby firmly securing the end of the rubberized cord reinforcing layer 11 to the inner surface of the depression 31. The binding cord layer 29 and rubber layer 12 are superimposed about the reinforcing layer 11 so as to hermetically sea[ the depression 31 to the nipple 2.

The depression 31 is provided at its base with one or a plurality of holes 33 extending therethrough and communicating with the passage 9. Between the intermediate rubber layer 7 and the depression 31 is arranged an annular belt 32 having a depression 32a connecting the passage 9 to the hole(s) 33. The hole(s) 33 also communicate with a leak detector 34 composed of a conventional pressure switch for producing an electrical signal when subjected to fluid pressure.

In the transport hose constructed as above described, if the hose body 1 is separated from the surface of the nipple 2, the fluid transported through the hose flows through the boundary between the hose body 1 and the nipple 2 and reaches the annu- 2 lar belt 32 and then flows through the depression 32a therein and the hole(s)33 to the leak detector 34.

If the fluid transported through the hose leaks through the inner surface rubber layer4, cord rein- forcing layer 6 and intermediate rubber layer 7 in the radial direction of the hose, the fluid is prevented from leaking outwardly by the rubber lining layer 10. As a result, the fluid flows through the passage 9, preferably through both the passage 9 and the resilient body 8, and through the depression 32a in the annular belt 32 and hole(s) 33 to the leak detector 34.

The passage 9 is helically formed, so that even when only one passage 9 is provided the leaked fluid can pass along the passage 9 in a relatively easy manner.

If the pressure of the leaked fluid is applied to the leak detector34, the detector34 is operated to give an electrical signal. This electrical signal is transmitted through a transmitter35 and an antenna 36 embedded in the buoyant material 14 and composed of a vinyl covered copper wire.

The antenna 36 may be formed into any suitable shape provided thatthe antenna 36 is embedded in the foamed buoyant material 14. However, it is pref- erable to extend the antenna 36 along the axial direction of the main hose body as shown forthe purpose of making the arrival distance of the transmitted electrical wave long.

Figure 2 also shows an iron frame structure 37 for enclosing the leak detector34 and transmitter35 therein, an annular cover38, and a bolt 39 for securing the cover 38 to the frame structure 37.

It is preferable to secure the leak detector 34, transmitter 35 and a battery 40 to the inner surface of the cover 38 and apply the pressure of the leaked fluid through the hole(s) 33 and a flow pipe (not shown) to the leak detector 34 secured to the inner surface of the cover 38. As a result, it is possible to easily inspect or exchange the battery 40, the leak detector 34 and the transmitter 35, in order to maintain their operating efficiency.

Various modifications may be made to the embodiment described with reference to the drawings. For example, there may be provided a plurality of heli- cally formed passages 9 orthe nipple 2 may be provided at its inside and outside surfaces with depressions.

The transport hose according to the invention is capable of preventing transport fluid from leaking outside the hose and easily and rapidly detecting leakage of fluid from the main hose body portions.

In addition, the transport hose is capable of transmitting a signal delivered from the leak detector through an antenna arranged outside the cord rein- forcing layer 11 to a receiver on the land or on a ship. As a result, it is possible to minimize attenuation of the transmitted electrical wave. In addition, since the antenna is embedded in the buoyant material located inside the outer covering rubber, the

Claims

antenna can be effectively prevented from being damaged when the transport hose comes into collision with a ship. CLAIMS

1. A transport hose comprising a main hose body including a reinforcing layer embedded therein and GB 2 099 952 A 2 a metal fixture secured to the end of the main hose body, a passage arranged in the main hose body for guiding fluid leaked from a transport line to the end of the main hose body in its axial direction, and a leak detector arranged at at least one end of the said passage and operative by the said leaked fluid, wherein the leak detector is composed of a pressure switch producing a detection signal in response to the said leaked fluid and adapted to transmitthe said detection signal through an antenna embedded in a buoyant material in the main hose body.

2. A transport hose as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said passage is formed between adjacent turns of a helically formed resilient body.

3. A transport hose substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by The Tweeddale Press Ltd., Berwick-upon-Tweed, 1982. Published at the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.

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