Reinforced, high pressure, low permeation multilayer hose

Abstract

A reinforced, high pressure hose is disclosed for use in the transport of high pressure fluids. The hose includes a multilayered inner tube capable of prolonged exposure to fluids such as those containing hydrocarbons, and a reinforcement layer overlaying the inner tube. The reinforcement layer includes at least one reinforcement strip wrapped about the inner tube and with the edges of the strip in an overlying relationship.

1 . A tube for use in the transport of fluids, the tube comprising: 
 at least one inner layer, the at least one inner layer composed of a thermoplastic material, wherein the inner layer has a continuous inwardly oriented face, the continuous inwardly oriented face configured to be in contact with one of either the transported fluid or an additional inwardly oriented polymeric layer; and    at least one elongated strip layer concentrically disposed around the inner layer, the elongated strip layer composed of a first elongated strip having two opposed longitudinal edges, the opposed longitudinal edges positioned in contacting relationship when the elongated strip is spirally wrapped over the inner layer,    wherein the elongated strip has a thickness between  0 . 01  mm and  0 . 03  mm and is at least one of a continuous plastic sheet, a continuous metal foil sheet, or a continuous woven sheet, the woven sheet composed of fibers of at least one of plastic material or metal material.    
     
     
         2 . The tube as defined in  claim 1  further comprising at least one outwardly positioned layer, the outwardly positioned layer composed of at least one melt-processible thermoplastic material, continuously extruded over the elongated strip layer and concentrically disposed relative to the inner layer.  
     
     
         3 . The tube as defined in  claim 2  wherein the outer layer comprises a plurality of concentric sublayers.  
     
     
         4 . The tube as defined in  claim 1  wherein the elongated strip of the strip layer is a continuous sheet of highly oriented plastic.  
     
     
         5 . The tube as defined in  claim 1  wherein the elongated strip is a continuous plastic strip and is composed of a material from the group which includes at least one of polyamides, polyesters, and polyolefins.  
     
     
         6 . The tube as defined in  claim 5  wherein the elongated strip is a continuous sheet containing at least some woven fibers of at least one of plastic material or metal material.  
     
     
         7 . The tube defined in  claim 1  wherein the inner layer is composed of at least one of a melt-processible thermoplastic tube or a paste extruded tube.  
     
     
         8 . The tube as defined in  claim 1  wherein the elongated strip layer further comprises: 
 at least one additional elongated strip, the additional elongated strip positioned in overlying relationship to the inner layer and located radially outward thereof, the additional elongated strip having two opposed longitudinal edges, the opposed longitudinal edges positioned in contacting relationship when the additional elongated strip is spirally wrapped over the inner layer;    wherein the first elongated strip is wrapped around the inner layer in a first angular direction relative to the longitude of the inner tube, and wherein the additional elongated strip is wound in a second direction relative to the longitude of the inner tube, the second direction differing from the first direction.    
     
     
         9 . The tube as defined in  claim 1  wherein the elongated strip layer contains quantities of a conductive material sufficient to provide electrostatic dissipation.  
     
     
         10 . The tube as defined in  claim 9  wherein the conductive material is selected from the group consisting of elemental carbon, stainless steel, copper, silver, gold, nickel, silicon, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The tube as defined in  claim 9  wherein the conductive material is elemental carbon and is incorporated during polymerization of monomers that make up said at least one layer.  
     
     
         12 . A tube for use in the transport of fluids, the tube comprising: 
 at least one inner layer, the inner layer composed of a thermoplastic material, the inner layer having a continuous inwardly oriented face, the inwardly oriented face configured to be in contact with one of either the transported fluid or an additional inwardly oriented polymeric layer; and    at least one elongated strip layer, the elongated strip layer composed of an elongated strip spirally wrapped around the inner layer located outward thereof, the elongated strip having two opposed longitudinal edges, wherein one opposed longitudinal edge of a first wrap is positioned in contacting relationship with an opposed edge of a second wrap when the elongated strip is in spiral position over the at least one inner layer, wherein the elongated strip is at least one of a plastic sheet, or a metal foil sheet; and wherein the inner layer contains at least one thermoplastic from the group which includes at least one of fluoroplastics, polyesters, polyamides and polyarylenes such that the combined inner layer and elongated strip layer exhibits low hydrocarbon permeation in the assembly tube.    
     
     
         13 . The tube of  claim 12  wherein the fluoroplastic material is at least one of polytetrafluoroethylene, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene and polyvinylidine fluoride.  
     
     
         14 . The tube of  claim 12  wherein the polyester is at least one of polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         15 . The tube of  claim 12  wherein the polyarylene is a polyarylene sulfide that includes at least polyphenylene sulfide.  
     
     
         16 . A tube for conveying at least one fluid, the tube comprising: 
 at least one inner layer composed of a plastic material, the inner layer having an outer surface; 
 at least one elongated strip layer, the elongated strip layer including at least one elongated strip mechanically wrapped around the outer surface of the inner layer and bonded to the outer surface of the at least one inner layer;  
 wherein the elongated strip layer is composed of at least one of a plastic sheet, a metal foil sheet, or a woven fabric, the woven fabric containing at least one of highly oriented plastic fibers and metal foil, the elongated strip further comprising at least one bonding material capable of forming a bond between the at least one inner layer and face of the elongated strip,  
 wherein the inner layer includes:  
 an innermost fluid-contacting layer having a continuously inwardly oriented fluid contacting face consisting essentially of a melt-processible fluoroplastic;  
 at least one intermediate layer disposed radially outward from the innermost layer, the at least one intermediate layer capable of sufficiently permanent laminar adhesion with the inner layer; and  
 at least one layer positioned radially outward of the intermediate layer, the at least one layer positioned radially outward of the intermediate layer containing at least one melt-processible thermoplastic polyamide.  
   
     
     
         17 . The tube as defined in  claim 16  wherein the respective materials contribute to provide the tube with a tensile strength of at least 25 N/mm2 and a burst strength at 23° C. and 120° C. of at least 1000 psi.  
     
     
         18 . The tube as defined in  claim 16  wherein the melt-processible fluoroplastic is a material from the group which includes polyvinylidine fluoride and ethylene tetrafluoroethylene.  
     
     
         19 . A tube comprising: 
 at least one inner layer composed of a plastic material, the at least one inner layer having a continuous inner fluid-contacting surface and an outer surface;    at least one elongated strip layer, the elongated strip layer including at least one elongated strip mechanically wrapped around and bonded to the outer surface of the inner layer wherein the elongated strip includes at least one of an essentially continuous sheet of plastic material, an essentially continuous sheet of metal foil material, or woven fibers of a metal material;    wherein the at least one elongated strip has two opposed longitudinal edges, and wherein the longitudinal edge of a first wrap is positioned in overlying relationship when the elongated strip is in position over the at least one inner layer.    
     
     
         20 . The tube of  claim 19  further comprising: ‘at least one outer layer composed of a melt-processible thermoplastic material, wherein the at least one outer layer is extruded over the at least one reinforcing layer, wherein the at least one outer layer bonded to the at least one reinforcing layer and wherein the outer layer is concentrically disposed relative to the inner layer.