Method of placing rubber and polyurethane liner in pipe

Abstract

A liner includes a rubber liner portion, and a polyurethane liner portion disposed on a surface of the rubber liner portion. The rubber polyurethane liner can be applied to cover surfaces of process support elements used to transport or handle process material such as tar sand slurry. The rubber polyurethane liner increases the effectiveness and operating lifetimes of such process support elements.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of transporting a slurry, the method comprising:
 providing at least one pipe element in a pipeline, the pipe comprising:
 an inner surface defining an internal passageway therein; 
 a rubber layer disposed on the inner surface of the pipe element; and 
 a first portion of a heat-cured polyurethane layer covering the rubber layer; and 
   moving the slurry through the pipe element wherein the slurry contacts the heat-cured polyurethane layer and the heat-cured polyurethane layer prevents contact between the rubber layer and the slurry and thereby extends the useful life of the pipe element.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  and further comprising:
 providing a first flange supported by an exterior surface of the at least one pipe element proximate a first end of the at least one pipe element; 
 providing the rubber layer on the inner surface of the at least one pipe element from proximate a first end of the pipe element to proximate a second end of the pipe element wherein a first end of the rubber layer does not contact the first flange; and 
 providing a second portion of the heat-cured polyurethane layer on a portion of the first flange such that the first end of the rubber layer is covered by the heat-cured polyurethane layer. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  and further comprising:
 providing a second flange supported by an exterior surface of the at least one pipe element proximate a second end of the at least one pipe element wherein a second end of the rubber layer does not contact the second flange; and 
 providing a third portion of the heat-cured polyurethane layer on a portion of the second flange such that the second end of the rubber layer is covered by the heat-cured polyurethane layer. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  and wherein the at least one pipe element comprises a straight segment of pipe. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24  and wherein the at lest one pipe element comprises an elbow. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23  and wherein the slurry comprises tar sands. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23  and wherein the slurry comprises a hydrocarbon fluid and abrasive material. 
     
     
         30 . A method of transporting a slurry of hydrocarbon and abrasive material in a pipeline, the method comprises:
 providing a pipeline to transport the slurry there-through, the pipeline having a first and a second end wherein the slurry enter the pipe line at the first end and the exit the pipeline at the second end, the pipeline comprising a plurality of segments that are joined together wherein at least one of the segments comprises:
 an inner surface defining an internal passageway therein; 
 a rubber layer disposed on the inner surface of the pipe element; and 
 a heat-cured polyurethane layer covering the rubber layer. 
   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  and further comprising:
 providing first and second flanges supported on an exterior surface of the at least one of the segments proximate first and second ends thereof; and 
 providing a layer of heat-cured polyurethane onto at least a portion of the first and second flanges such that opposing ends of the rubber layer proximate the first and second ends of the at least one of the segments are covered by the layer of heat-cured polyurethane. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  and where each of the plurality of segments comprises:
 an inner surface defining an internal passageway therein; 
 a rubber layer disposed on the inner surface of the pipe element; and 
 a heat-cured polyurethane layer covering the rubber layer such that as the tar sands move through the pipeline, the tar sands contact the heat-cured polyurethane layer and the heat-cured polyurethane layer prevents contact between the rubber layer and the tar sands and thereby extends the useful life of each of the plurality of segments. 
 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  and further comprising
 providing first and second flanges supported on an exterior surface of each of the plurality of segments proximate first and second ends thereof; and 
 providing a layer of heat-cured polyurethane onto at least a portion of the first and second flanges of each of the plurality of segments such that opposing ends of the rubber layer proximate the first and second ends of the plurality of the segments are covered by the layer of heat-cured polyurethane. 
 
     
     
         34 . A method for producing a lined pipe for transporting a slurry of hydrocarbons and abrasive materials, the method comprising:
 providing a section of pipe having an internal surface;   applying a layer of a rubber material to the internal surface of the section of the pipe such that a first surface of the layer abuts the internal surface of the section of the pipe and a second surface is exposed;   curing the layer of rubber material to secure the layer of rubber material to the internal surface of the pipe;   applying a polyurethane layer to the second layer of the rubber material such that the polyurethane layer covers the layer of rubber material; and   curing the polyurethane layer to the secure the polyurethane layer to the rubber layer.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  and wherein the applying of the polyurethane layer encases the rubber layer between the polyurethane layer and the internal surface of the section of pipe. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  and further comprising:
 preparing the internal surface for the application of the rubber material by removing debris, grit, oil or grease from the internal surface; and 
 applying an adhesive layer to the internal surface of the pipe segment prior to applying the rubber layer, wherein the adhesive layer aids in secure the rubber layer to the interior surface of the pipe segment. 
 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34  and further comprising buffing the second surface of the rubber layer prior to applying the polyurethane layer.