Cladding

Abstract

There is disclosed a cladding section 8 for mounting upon an elongate underwater member and suppressing vortex induced vibration of it, the section including a unitary plastics moulding shaped to provide a tubular 10 portion for receiving the member, the tubular portion being split along its length at 14 and being deformable to permit the member to be introduced into the tubular portion, and the cladding section having at its exterior at least one feature 12 shaped to suppress vortex induced vibration. Rotational moulding of the cladding section is disclosed. The cladding section has an outer layer 24 incorporating anti-fouling material upon an inner structural layer 26.

1 . A vortex induced vibration suppression cladding section for mounting upon an elongate underwater member, the section comprising a plastics moulding shaped to provide a tubular portion for receiving the member, the tubular portion being split along its length and being deformable to permit the member to be introduced into the tubular portion, the cladding section comprising at its exterior at least one feature shaped to suppress vortex induced vibration, and the cladding comprising an outer layer incorporating anti-fouling material and an inner structural layer.  
   
   
       2 . A cladding section as claimed in  claim 1  which is a rotational moulding.  
   
   
       3 . A cladding section as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the vortex induced vibration suppression feature is a hollow projection.  
   
   
       4 . A cladding section as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the feature is an elongate hollow strake.  
   
   
       5 . A cladding section as claimed in  claim 1  which comprises polyethylene.  
   
   
       6 . A cladding section as claimed in  claim 1 , end portions of which are provided with mating features for mating with adjacent cladding sections.  
   
   
       7 . A method of manufacturing a vortex induced vibration suppression cladding section for mounting upon an elongate underwater member, the method comprising rotationally moulding an outer layer comprising plastics material incorporating anti-fouling material, and subsequently rotationally moulding an inner structural layer comprising plastics material within the outer layer, so that the two layers form a unitary moulding.  
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 7  comprising moulding the cladding section with a tubular body which is longitudinally split, and is deformable to permit the member to be introduced into it.  
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 7  comprising moulding the cladding section with at least one hollow protruding feature for suppressing vortex induced vibration.  
   
   
       10 . A cladding section substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.  
   
   
       11 . A method of manufacturing a cladding section substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.