GB2241546A

GB2241546A - One piece 'snap-on' moulded mineral wool insulation for pipe-line fittings and equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2241546A
Application number: GB9004785A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cyril Percy Fenn; Thomas Joseph Doherty
Original assignee: BOLD NU TEC INSULATION PRODUCT
Current assignee: BOLD NU TEC INSULATION PRODUCT
Priority date: 1990-03-02
Filing date: 1990-03-02
Publication date: 1991-09-04
Also published as: GB9004785D0

Abstract

An insulation product or cover made from man-made mineral fibres (predominantly rock wool and glass wool) moulded to the size and shape to completely encompass and tightly close around any particular pipeline fitting, pipeline or equipment for which it is intended, and to the thickness and density to provide insulation value specified for the pipeline on which it is to be used. There is provided a complete longitudinal severance 5, through the wall of the product throughout full length, and a second severance 6, through the wall of the product diametrically opposite and parallel to the first severance 5 which begins at one end of the product and extends part-way along the length of the product. The remaining uncut length of wall acts as a spring hinge 9 and also provides the restoring force to tend to close the product around the item so that clamping bands can be fitted easily. Where the wall of the hinge section is too thick to perform effectively, a third partial severance 7, is introduced from the interior surface 3 to reduce its effective thickness such that the hinge section 9, is then enabled to perform effectively. <IMAGE>

Description

ONE PIECE 'SNAP-ON' MOULDED MINERAL WOOL INSULATION FOR PIPELINE FITTINGS AND EQUIPMENT This inventions relates to a one piece 'snap-on' moulded m. neral wool insulation product (predominantly rock fibre and glass fibre) intended specifically for the insulation of pipeline fittings and equipment.

Moulded mineral wool insulation of a totally rigid nature has been in use for a considerable length of time for the insulation of straight lengths of pipe.

However, the normal way of insulating pipeline fittings such as an elbow, a tee piece, or a pair of flanges is to cut segments and other such pieces from a straight length of pipe insulation in such a way as to best encompass the fitting in question. This is a very inaccurate and very inefficient method of insulating a pipeline fitting, and is very costly and time consJ:ring.

There has become available a limited range of moulded mineral wool insulation products, of a totally rigid nature, to suit some pipeline fittings, such as elbows and tee pieces. However, all of these insulation products are made up of two separate pieces, usually halves which need to be brought together in pairs around the item which they are intended to insulate in order to totally encompass it and then need to be clamped together tightly in order to effect the insulation they are intended to provide. However, the two pieces being applied may not necessarily match one another perfectly and so either may not close properly at the joints, and so lose insulation efficiency, or be so ill fitting as not to line up properly with adjacent insulation material on the pipeline.Also, it is a difficult operation for one person, when installing such an insulation product, to hold the two parts of the product around the pipeline fitting or equipment which it is intended to insulate and at the same time affix the clamping bands around them. Such an operation, although much improved on traditional methods is still difficult and time consuming.

According to the present invention there is provided an insulation product.

moulded as a single piece to totally encompass the pipeline fitting or equipment for which it is intended. The interior surfaces of the insulation product are moulded to conform exactly to the surface of the fitting or equipment for which it is intended, or to the shape designed to best suit the surfaces of the fitting or equipment for which it is intended, and include the necessary dimensional tolerance to ensure total encapsulation and tight closure a the joints when installed around the fitting or enui?m,er for which it is intended.The shape of the exterior surfaces cf the insulation prod'Jct is mo#lded to the corforrn#ty required ty the ssulatior specification for the pipeline as a whole, or to the required British Standards Specification, or to the installers requirements for the particular pipeline.

There is provided a multiplicity of shapes and sizes of the insulation product in order to provide for the full range of pipe fittings and equipment available, and to provide for all the range of thicknesses and densities of insulation required in order to satisfy either the insulation standard required for the particular pipeline on which the insulation product is to be used, or to meet. the specified thickness of insulation laid down for the pipeline on which the insulation product is to be used.

There is provided a total longitudinal severance through the wall of the insulation product from one extreme end where the pipeline enters the pipeline fitting or equipment to the other extremity of the insulation product where the pipeline leaves the pipeline fitting or equipment in a position and direction designed t-o best enable the insfalla on of the insulation product onto, and its removal from, the pipeline fitting or equipment for which it is intended.

There is provided diagnally opposite to the complete severance, a second severance through the wall of the insulation product. This second severance through the wall of the insulation product begins at. one end where the pipeline either enters, or leaves, the pipeline fitting or equipment and continues parallel to the complete severance opposite only for a distance as far as is necessary to enable the two parts of the insulation product on either side of the complete severance to be easily forced apart sufficiently to enable the whole insulation product to pass over the pipeline fitting or equipment for which it is intended, without damage to the product and without allowing the product to be cut or broken into two separate pieces.The force required to pull apart the two parts of the insulation product on either side of the complete severance is needed to overcome the resistance provided by that part of the wall of the product remaining uncut. by restricting the extent of the second severance opposite; this uncut part. of the wall of the insulation product acts as 2 sprung hinge and provides the restoring force to close the insulat-ion product around the pipeline fitting or equipment for which it is intended once i s nstaled in position. Hence the term 'snap-on'.

Where the wail thickness of the insulation becomes so great that the force required to pull apart the two parts of the insulation on either side of the complete severance becomes excessive, or tends to damage the hinge part of the insulation product, then there is provided on the interior surface of the hinge part a longitudinal severance for the full length of the hinge part, but only deep enough into he thickness of the 'hinge' part to relieve the excessive force imposed by the greater thickness of wall, but. still retains sufficient force to close the insulation product around the pipeline fitting or equipment for which it is intended and to maintain the 'single' integrity of the insulation product.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description, which is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows in perspective man-made mineral fibre moulded insulation in two halves 1. in juxtaposition with the bend in the pipeline 2. which they are intended to encompass in closed proximity for the purpose of insulation against heat loss, or gain. The figure is intended to demonstrate the complexity of installation, and the possibility of misfitting of the insulation around the fitting or equipment for which it is intended when the only method of manufacture available for this type of insulation at the present time is in the half piece shape.

Figure 2 shows in perspective the invention of the one piece 'snap-on' man-made mineral fibre moulded insulation, in the shape of a bend or elbow.

The interior surface 3. is moulded to conform exactly to the surface of the fitting or equipment for which it is intended, or to the shape designed to best suit. the surfaces of the fitting or equipment for which it is intended, and include the correct dimensional tolerances to ensure total encapsulation and tight closure on installation. The shape of the exterior surface 4. is moulded to the conformity required by the insulation standard, British Standard Specification, or customer specification for that particular pipeline on which the moulded insulation is intended to be used.The complete severance 5. cut~s from one extreme end of the insulation product to the other corpletely tftrDugr the wall, while. diametrically opposite this severance, the section severance 6. cuts completed: through the wall but extends onl from: extreme end of the insulation product for a distance wle leaves 2 section of the wall uncut. so as to provide the desired hinge 9.

Where the thickness of the wall of the product over the remaining uncut length is too great to provide the desire hinge 9. a severance 7. is provided in interior surface of the insulation product continuing from the point where severance 6. ends through to the other end of the insulation product cutting only partially through the wall in order to reduce it to the thickness which will provide the desired hinge 9.

Figure 3 is provided to illustrate severance 6. on the exterior surface of the insulation product and the remaining uncut length which form hinge 9.

Figure 4 illustrates a one piece 'snap-on' insulation product in the form of a bend or elbow 8. in the open situation in readiness to be installed over the bend or elbow 2. in the pipeline which it Is intended to insulate.

Figure 5 illustrates the insulation product in the form of a bend or elbow 8. in the installed position encompassing and tightly closing around the bend or elbow 2. in the pipeline which it is intended to insulate.

It also illustrates the clamping bands 10. in position.

Figure 6 is by way of illustration of a one piece 'snap-on' insulation product in the form of a Tee.

Figure 7 is by way of illustration of a one piece 'snap-on' insulation product in the form required to insulate a pair of flanges in a pipeline.

It is obvious from the foregoing that one piece 'snap-on' moulded insulation product could be applied as an improved form of insulation to any or all items that go to make up a pipeline installation.

Claims

CLAIWjS

1. A. man-made mineral fibre insulation product moulded in a single piece to totally encompass and close tightly around any pipe line fitting or equipment for which it is intended.

2. An insulation product as claimed in Claim 1. provided with a longitudinal severance 5.through the wall of the product extending completely from one extreme end of the product. to the other; and provided with a second severance 6. through the wall of the insulation product, diametrically opposite and parallel to the first severance 5. extending from one extreme end of the product only for a distance as far as Is necessary to enable the two parts of the insulation product or either side of the first complete severance 5. to be easily forced apart sufficiently to enable the whole insulation product to pass over and onto the pipe line fitting or equipment for which It is intended without damage to the product, and without allowing the product to be cut or broken into two separate pieces.

3. An insulation product as claimed in Claim 1. and Claim 2. whereby the section of the wall of the product that remains intact from the point where the second severance 6. ends to the second extreme end of the product is of such a length and thickness so as to give way, without becoming damaged or broken, to allow the two edges of the product on either side of the first complete severance =. o be pulled apart sufficiently to enable the whole product to be installed over, or removed from the pipeline fitting or equipment for which it is intended. Thus that uncut part of the wall of the product acts as a hinge 9.

4. An insulation product as claimed in Claim 3. whereby the uncut part of the wall extending from where the second severance 6. ends to the second extreme end of the product, acts as a hinge 9. and resists the force which needs to be applied to the two edges at either side of the first complete severance 5. in order to pull them apart through the required distance; such a hinge 9. provides the restoring force to close the product around the fitting or equipment for which it is intended sufficiently to enable it to be self-supporting whilst.

the clamping bands 10. are being applied. Hence the term 'snap-on'.

5. An insulation product as claimed in Claim 3. and Claim 4. where the section of the wall acting as a hinge 9. is too thick to allow the two edges on either side of the first complete severance 5. to be easily pulled apart, there is provided a further severance 7.

cutting only partially into the wall of the product from the interior surface of the product and extending from the point where the second partial severance 6. ends to the second extreme end of the product. This has the effect of reducing the wall thickness over the hinge length to that which is needed to provide the desired 'opening' and 'restoring' forces.

6. An insulation product as claimed in all the foregoing claims which provides a multiplicity of shapes, sizes, and insulation thicknesses and densities in order to provide for the full range of pipeline fittings and equipment available and in order to meet the standards of insulation required by or laid down for the part#cular pipeline on which the insulation product is to be used.