Expandable Skin for Restructuring an Inner Lining

Abstract

A skin and a method for restructuring the inner surface of a tube of long length includes manufacturing a skin, in a material with expansion rate greater than 50%, the external surface of which includes a restructuring print determined in order to take into account the longitudinal and radial expansions that the skin is going to undergo, and as a function of the desired final surface state for the tube to be restructured, longitudinally expanding the skin up to the required length for the tube, longitudinally introducing expanded skin inside tube to be restructured, and radially expanding the skin to realize the restructuring.

1 . Method for restructuring the inner surface ( 3 ) of a tube ( 2 ) of long length that comprises the steps of:
 manufacturing a skin ( 1 ), in a material with expansion rate greater than 50%, which external surface includes a restructuring print determined in order to take into account the longitudinal and radial expansions that the skin is going to undergo, and as a function of the desired final surface state for the tube to be restructured;   longitudinally expanding the skin up to the required length for the tube;   longitudinally introducing expanded skin ( 1 ′) inside tube ( 2 ) to be restructured   radially expanding skin ( 1 ″) to realize the restructuring.   
   
   
       2 . Restructuring method according to  claim 1 , wherein the radial expansion is done by putting the skin under pressure. 
   
   
       3 . Restructuring method according to  claim 2 , wherein the skin withdrawal and skinning is done by reducing the pressure. 
   
   
       4 . Restructuring method according to  claim 1 , wherein the skin withdrawal and skinning is done by decreasing the axial expansion. 
   
   
       5 . Restructuring method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rate of expansion of the skin material is greater than 100%. 
   
   
       6 . Restructuring method according to  claim 5 , wherein the rate of expansion of the skin material is greater than 300%. 
   
   
       7 . Restructuring method according to  claim 6 , wherein the rate of expansion of the skin material is greater than 600%. 
   
   
       8 . Restructuring method according to  claim 1 , wherein an inner lining is introduced inside the tube before introducing the skin. 
   
   
       9 . Restructuring method according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface state required for the skin after extension is ultra smooth and permits to define, through longitudinal and radial extensions exerted on the skin, the surface state of the skin before extension. 
   
   
       10 . Restructuring method according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface state required for the skin after extension is a bi- or tri-dimensionally structured surface state, and permits to define, with the longitudinal and radial extensions to be exerted on the skin, the surface state of the skin before extension. 
   
   
       11 . Restructuring method of the surface of a tube inner lining according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube constitutes a duct for gas or fluid transport. 
   
   
       12 . Longitudinally expandable skin in a material with an expansion rate greater than 50%, for restructuring the surface of a tube inner lining forming a duct for gas or fluid transport, whose external surface includes a restructuring print determined in order to take into account the longitudinal and radial extensions that the skin is going to undergo, and according to the desired final surface state for the tube to be restructured. 
   
   
       13 . Skin according to  claim 12 , wherein the skin material is silicone-based. 
   
   
       14 . Skin according to  claim 12 , wherein the skin external surface presents a state of ultra-smooth surface. 
   
   
       15 . Skin according to  claim 12 , wherein the skin external surface presents a structured bi- or tri-dimensional surface state.