GB2230318A

GB2230318A - Protective blanket

Info

Publication number: GB2230318A
Application number: GB8901061A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Michael Walters
Original assignee: BUKASA Ltd
Current assignee: BUKASA Ltd
Priority date: 1989-01-18
Filing date: 1989-01-18
Publication date: 1990-10-17
Also published as: GB8901061D0

Abstract

For use in protecting an underwater pipe line or cable there is provided a blanket 1 comprising two opposing weighted edge regions 3 and a row 5 of elongate members 7 flexibly coupled between the weighted edge regions 3, the row 5 of elongate members 7 being arranged parallel one to another and to the edge regions 3 and being substantially end aligned, each elongate member 7 comprising a hollow plastics tube of substantially constant cross-section, the elongate members being coupled together by at least two flexible members 9 passing through the elongate members 7 substantially perpendicular to the edge regions 3 such that two adjacent members 7 may flex with respect to one another. <IMAGE>

Description

PROTECTIVE BLANKET Field of the Invention The invention relates to a protective blanket for protecting inter alia underwater pipe lines and cables. It is applicable with particular advantage for protection against impact damage.

A number of different designs have been proposed for flexible blankets made up of a number of units flexibly coupled to one another. In order to hold the pipe line or cable down each unit is weighted and typically comprises a solid block of concrete. Clearly handling of such blankets can be difficult because of the weight involved.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided a flexible protective blanket including two opposing weighted edge regions, and flexibly coupled between the two weighted regions, a row of elongate members arranged parallel one to another and to the edge regions and being substantially end-aligned, each elongate member comprising a hollow plastics tube of substantially constant cross-section, the elongate members being coupled together by at least two flexible members passing through the elongate members substantially perpendicular to the edge regions at an area of greatest width of the members, where each member is narrower at one of its edges such that two adjacent members may flex with respect to one another.

Thus, a blanket is provided which is capable of protecting a pipe line or cable against impact but which is light and so easily transportable. The only region where weight is required is at the edge regions and no further weight is required at the area which in use lies over a pipe line.

The hollow tubes partly distribute the impact over a wide area and the flexibility of the heavy plastics wall of the tube absorbs more impact. Moreover, the hollow tubes have open ends and the rate of resistence to the exhaust of the water content at either end of the tubes absorbs more impact.

Typically the plastics tube will be of polyethylene.

Preferably the thickness of walls of the tubes are between 6mm-12mm.

The shape of the cross-section of the tubes may be diamond shaped, hexagonal, but are preferably circular. In this case preferably the diameter of each tube is between 150mm-250mm.

Brief Description of the Drawings A flexible protective blanket in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the flexible protective blanket; and, Figure 2 is an end elivation of the flexible blanket in use.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments A flexible protective blanket 1 comprising two opposing weighted edge regions 3 and flexibly coupled between the two weighted regions 3 a row 5 of elongate members 7. The elongate members 7 are arranged parallel one to another and to the edge regions 3 and are substantially end-aligned. Each elongate member 7 comprises a hollow plastics tube of constant cross-section.

In this case the plastics tube 7 is cylindrical and of polyethylene.

The plastics tubes 7 are coupled to one another by two flexible members 9 which in this case comprise ropes which pass through the tubes 7 substantially perpendicular to the edge regions 3 at the area of greatest width of the tubes. Because of the circular cross-section of the tubes adjacent tubes may flex with respect to one another.

The weighted edge regions 3 each comprise a block of concrete.

They could equally comprise a series of weights of any known type.

Here the flexible members 9 extend through each of the concrete slabs 3 and all the plastics tubes lying there between and include lifting eyes 11 at each end. This makes lifting of the blanket relatively straight forward. Because one continuous member passes through the blanket this gives additional strength.

In use the blanket is arranged as shown in Figure 2 with the parallel elongate members 7 lying over the pipe line or cable 13 requiring protection, with the weighted regions 3 lying to either side of the pipe line or cable 13 to hold the flexible regions 5 firmly in position. The flexibility of the plastics helps to distribute the impact and absorb the impact and help prevent damage through the pipe line 13. Because the tubes 5 are open ended there is no possibility of any air becoming trapped in the tubes and also when a tube suffers impact water is exhausted out of the tube to help absorb its impact.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A flexible protective blanket comprising two opposing weighted edge regions and a row of elongate members flexibly coupled between said two weighted regions, said row of elongate members being arranged parallel one to another and to the edge regions and being substantially end aligned, each elongate member comprising a hollow plastics tube of substantially constant cross-section, the elongate members being coupled together by at least two flexible members passing through the elongate members substantially perpendicular to the edge regions at an area of greatest width of the members, and each member being narrower at at least one of its edges such that two adjacent members may flex with respect to one another.

2. A flexible protective blanket according to Claim 1 where only said two opposing edge regions are weighted.

3. A flexible protective blanket according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the plastics wall material of the tubes is able to flex to absorb impact energy.

4. A flexible protective blanket according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hollow tubes have open ends.

5. A flexible protective blanket according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the plastics tubes are formed of polyethylene.

6. A flexible protective blanket according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hollow plastics tubes have a wall thickness of between 6mm and 12mm.

7. A flexible protective blanket according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hollow plastics tubes are of circular shape in cross-section.

8. A flexible protective blanket according to Claim 7 wherein the diameter of each tube is between 150mm and 250mm.

9. A flexible protective blanket according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the weighted edge regions each comprise a block of concrete.

10. A flexible protective blanket constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.