HOSE BURST CONTAINMENT BLANKET
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates generally to a protective blanket used to shield and
contain fluid leaks from a hose under high internal pressure, more particularly to a blanket
that can be coiled loosely around a pipe and secured in a tubular shape and wherein multiple
blankets can be joined end-to-end.
Description of the Prior Art
[0002] In recent years, improved safety practices in the oil and gas industry have
required oil rig operators to recertify critical equipment. There are now industry guidelines
from organizations like Oil and Gas UK' which companies need to follow in order to
demonstrate industry best practice. One part of these best practices relates to the
recertification or revalidation of critical hoses. Current practice involves pressurizing the
hose to be recertified to a specified pressure and duration determined by the manufacturer's
guidelines. The hoses are held at pressure for a specified amount of time, which can be as
short as under 20 minutes or as long as 24 hours or more. The hoses are monitored
continuously while they are pressurized. Hoses are failed or taken out of service if they are
not able to hold pressure for the amount of time specified by the manufacturer.
[0003] Current practices include laying pressurized hose on the ground for extended
periods of time, which may expose personnel to unsafe conditions. Hose bursts and/or leaks
may be dangerous to personnel or equipment. The hoses are also washed. The test fluids
and/or wash fluids may be environmentally hazardous.
[0004] What is needed is hose test apparatus and methods with improved safety to
personnel and the environment.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present invention is directed to systems and methods which provide
improved safety to personnel and the environment by shielding a hose under pressure to
block leaks and by containing fluid leaks, test fluids and cleaning fluids. The present
invention is directed to a protective blanket which can be wrapped loosely around a hose,
fastening the longitudinal edges together to form a protective cylindrical tube, and/or joined
end-to-end with one or more additional blankets to extend the protective tube to a desired
total length.
[0006] The blankets may include a longitudinal edge fastening system and an end-toend,
end fastening system. The edges and/or ends of the blanket may be reinforced and/or
raised or thicker relative to the body of the blanket. Joining the edges to form the tube and
joining the ends to form a longer tube are both preferably done with some overlap. The
blanket may be reinforced throughout or at least in the main body portion with one or more
fabric or sheet-type reinforcement materials. One end of each blanket may include a pocket,
with the other end adapted to fit within the pocket.
[0007] The invention is also directed to a method of pressure testing a hose including
wrapping a length of blanket material around the hose; overlapping the longitudinal edges;
fastening the wrapped blanket securely; and pressurizing the hose. The wrapped blanket may
have an inside diameter about or at least twice the hose outside diameter. The method may
include joining two or more of said blankets end-to-end. The method may include wrapping
two or more lengths of blanket material which are joined end-to-end around the hose.
[0008] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages
of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows
may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed
may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out
the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the
art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the invention as set
forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of
the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further
objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when
considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood,
however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description
only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of the
specification in which like numerals designate like parts, illustrate embodiments of the
present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the
invention. In the drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention coiled up;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention laid flat;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a partially fragmented sectional view of an embodiment of the
invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a top view of another embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a partially fragmented view of an embodiment of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in use;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in another use;
and
[0017] FIG. 8 is a partially fragmented perspective view showing another embodiment
of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The present invention provides a protective blanket useful for proof testing of
the high-pressure, long-length, large-diameter hoses in the field environment for the purpose
of recertification or revalidation of the hose assembly. Currently, hoses used on oil rigs or
similar applications are proof tested before being put back into service. If there is no
enclosure to protect the operator or equipment in the vicinity performing this task, then if
hose failure occurs during proof testing, the operators could be in danger of exposure to high
pressure test fluid or debris released.
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the inventive fluid containment blanket. In
FIG. 1, fluid containment blanket 10 is in the form of a rectangular sheet partially coiled in
the longitudinal direction. Blanket 10 has two longitudinal edges 12a and 12b, and two end
edges, or ends 14a and 14b. Blanket 10 is adapted to coil around a hose or other tubular
object in a tubular or cylindrical form, and is adapted so one edge 12a overlaps the other edge
12b, defining an overlap portion 16 of overlap distance 17. Blanket 10 includes longitudinal
edge fastener system 18. The edge fastener system may be comprised of buckles, hooks,
loops and eyes, ties, chains and locks or other fastening mechanisms or systems. Edge
fastener system 18 as shown comprises a number of buckles with male buckle portions 2 1
and female buckle portions 22. FIG. 2 shows containment blanket 10 in a flat configuration.
At least one edge of ends 14 and edges 12 may be reinforced. All peripheral edges 14 and 12
of the blanket may be reinforced.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a partially fragmented section including an edge 12 of
containment blanket 10. The edge is reinforced with a cord 32, which may be any type of
suitable reinforcing material or construction such as a multi- or mono-filament strand, yarn,
wire, rope or cable made of metal wire, carbon or glass or other inorganic fiber, natural or
synthetic organic fibers or filaments, or composites or hybrids thereof. Blanket 10 has a
body 36 which is formed of an impervious polymeric (either plastic or elastomeric, and either
thermoplastic or thermoset) material and includes sheet-like reinforcement 34. The body 34
may, for example, be of PVC (polyvinylchloride), polyurethane, polyolefm, rubber, or the
like. The reinforcement could be any suitable textile reinforcement such as a woven fabric,
nonwoven fabric, knit fabric or the like. In one embodiment the fabric is square woven and
may include polyamide and/or aramid fibers. Aramid fibers include for example, paraaramid
fibers, meta-aramid fibers and aramid copolymer fibers. The reinforcement may
result in edge 12 being thicker than body 36. One or more edges may include reinforcement
32. Preferably the two longitudinal edges are reinforced and thicker than the body.
[0021] The body material may penetrate the reinforcing fabric. The thickness of the
blanket body may be substantially thicker than the reinforcing fabric as indicated in FIG. 3,
or about the thickness of the reinforcing fabric, or anywhere in between. The reinforcement
in the blanket may include just one layer or may be multiple layers of similar or different
materials depending on the performance needs of the application. The blanket may include
just one or multiple layers of fabric, wire strand or mesh reinforcement, including layers of
different materials. The fabric may be treated with an adhesive composition if needed for
improved bonding to the body material. The textile reinforcement material could be a highperformance
polymeric material such as of para-aramid, ultra-high molecular weight
polyethylene (UHMWPE), a liquid crystalline polymer (LCP), Nylon, Polyester, or the like,
or blends thereof. More, stronger reinforcement would be used for blankets to be used for
testing very high pressure hoses in order to contain the energy should the hose burst. Thus,
the blanket size, thickness, strength, and the like can be selected to suit a particular hose-test
or protective application.
[0022] As an example of a particular embodiment, consider a blanket suitable for fluid
containment when testing critical hoses used in off-shore oil-drilling operations. These hoses
may be nominally three to six inches in inside diameter and up to 200 feet long or more.
Hose assemblies tested using with blanket are typically composed of 2 couplings and a free
length of hose. The blankets do not need to be quite as long as the whole hose assembly
provided they are longer then the length of free hose. The blankets may be of differing
lengths and widths depending upon what is practical for each situation. The blanket width is
sized to wrap loosely around a hose or pipe. A single blanket could be used on a short hose
(under 10 feet), and could, for example, be approximately 8-foot by 4-foot, and it could have
multiple layers of high performance textile. The blanket could thus wrap around the hose,
coiling up in the 4-foot direction, covering an 8-foot length of hose. Blanket longitudinal
edges may be secured around the hose with buckles, zipper, hooks, hook-and-loop fasteners,
etc. to prevent uncoiling in case of a hose failure. Significant overlap in the longitudinal
edges is desirable in order to create a reasonably liquid tight cover for fluid containment.
According to one embodiment, the loosely wrapped blanket may have an inside diameter that
is about, or at least, twice the hose outside diameter. Such a proportion is advantageous for
containing a high-volume surge of fluid from a total rupture of the hose. Preferably the
buckles are on straps that completely encircle the coiled blanket tube for additional
reinforcement of the blanket. The straps may be stitched or otherwise fastened permanently
to the blanket. The buckle position and strap fastening to the blanket may be adapted to
require a suitable degree of overlap of the edges when the blanket is coiled. Likewise, the
buckle position and strap fastening to the blanket may be adapted to prevent too much
overlap and thereby prevent too tight a fit about a hose when the blanket is coiled. If the
blanket were to tightly enclose the hose, there would be insufficient space to accommodate or
contain fluid. Thus, the embodiment of FIG. 1 shows female buckle portions 22 located a
distance 1 from an edge, thus forcing an overlap distance 1 when fastened to male buckle
portions 2 1. This buckle arrangement prevents the blanket from being fastened if the hose is
too large to permit the required overlap. A significant overlap distance 17 may be on the
order of the diameter of the hose the blanket is adapted for, or about half the inside diameter
of the coiled blanket tube. If the overlap is only minimal, slight or not present, then a high
pressure leak could easily escape the containment blanket and endanger a person nearby.
[0023] Multiple such blankets may be joined together end-to-end in order to cover
hoses longer than one blanket (i.e. longer than 8 feet in this example.) FIG's 4 and 5
illustrate one possible end-to-end fastening system. In FIG. 4, blanket 40 has pocket 42
formed on one end and insert portion 44 in the form of a tapered tab on the other end. Thus,
as illustrated in FIG. 5, tab 44b of second blanket 40b may be inserted into pocket 42a of first
blanket 40a. In addition, FIG. 5 shows the end fastening system includes three buckles 48 to
secure the blankets together end-to-end. Multiple blankets could be attached together this
way, for example, enough to cover a 200-foot hose or more. Other end fastening systems
could be used besides pocket and buckles, such as overlaps or pockets with buckles, zippers,
hooks, hook-and-loop closure, or the like. Overlaps are desirable in order to create a
reasonably liquid tight length of multiple containment blankets. Then any liquid resulting
from a leak or burst of the test hose can be directed to one end or the other for safe collection
and/or disposal. In this example, an overlap of ½ foot or one foot up to two feet may be
desirable to prevent spill-overs. This example blanket is expected to be able to contain fluid
from hose bursts or leaks at pressures up to 30,000 psi. The temperature of the test fluid as
well as the area surrounding the test hose could reach as high as 175°F, and suitable materials
with this thermal resistance are available.
[0024] It may also be noted that blanket 40 in FIG. 4 is shown with only the two longer
edges reinforced with a cord and/or made thicker than the blanket body. This and other
variations or options are considered within the scope of the invention. The embodiment(s)
discussed above have a cohesive blanket body which may be considered a single, cohesive
structure although possibly a built up laminate. If there are multiple layers in the laminate,
they are firmly attached together and bonded, preferably all penetrated with body material or
adhesive or both. The embodiment(s) presented next includes loose, unattached,
intermediate layers within the blanket.
[0025] FIG. 8 illustrates a second embodiment of the inventive blankets 80a and 80b,
showing a partially fragmented cross section of blanket 80a having multiple, loose layers of
sheet materials, including impervious outer and inner cover layers and internal reinforcing
fabric layers. In FIG. 8, there are two impervious layers, outer cover layer 82 and inner
cover layer 84, along with a number of pervious layers of fabric 86 sandwiched in between.
Buckles 88 are attached to reinforcing webbings 87 which then encircle the coiled blanket
completely, increasing the hoop strength of the blanket. Similar buckles 89 are used to join
blankets end-to-end. Pervious layers 86 may help to contain fluid that happens to penetrate
an impervious layer. Edge-cord reinforcement 32 is present on the two long edges of each
blanket. Webbings 87 are fastened to outer layer 82 only. In other words, the webbings are
not stitched in a way that anchors the fabric layers 86 to the outer layer 82 or to the inner
layer 84. The internal fabric layers 86 are thus not anchored to the cover layers except at the
edges, i.e. around the periphery, of the blanket, where all the layers are joined together. The
blankets 80 may also have a pocket for end-to-end joining as illustrated in FIG's 4 and 5.
[0026] In the embodiment of FIG. 8, inner and outer layers 82 and 84 may be
constructed in the manner described above for the first embodiment, namely of impervious
material and fabric reinforcement. On the other hand, the internal fabric layers 86 are
preferably of a high-elongation, pervious, fibrous material such as low to medium tenacity
nylon. The internal fabric layers 86 are preferably of a fiber material having more than 5%
tensile elongation, or at least 6% elongation, or an elongation at break of 10% or more or
15% or more. Examples of such high-elongation fibers include medium-tenacity polyester,
and medium- or high-tenacity nylon. A preferred fiber is medium-tenacity nylon. The fabric
layers 86 are preferably not high-modulus, low-elongation fibers such as aramid fibers. The
fabric layers 86 are preferably not of brittle or friable fiber materials such as glass. The
fabric layers 86 may be woven, non-woven, or knit fabric. The fabric layers 86 may be
woven of medium-tenacity nylon 6-6 fibers, and these fibers may be continuous filaments
with no texturizing of the fibers. The high-elongation fibers may be characterized by
elongation at break in the range of 10% to 30% or from 15% to 25%.
[0027] Blankets made according to either embodiment of the invention, offer a
relatively light weight protective solution that also provides flexibility and maneuverability
during a hose test procedure or during installation of the blanket(s). Multiple blankets could
be attached together to accommodate any reasonable length of hose. The blankets may also
be provided with a lengthwise hose placement indicator, which is shown in the form of a
colored stripe 46 in FIG. 4. Stripe 46 is indicated as red in FIG. 4, but any suitable color or
pattern may be used. The placement indicator facilitates alignment and use of the blanket or
of the hose with the blanket.
[0028] FIG's 6 and 7 illustrate two uses of the inventive blankets.
[0029] FIG. 6 illustrates a first use of the inventive blankets laid open under a hose, for
example for hose cleaning. The edge reinforcement of either embodiment of the invention
may result in the reinforced, peripheral edges of the blanket being thicker or raised relative to
the body of a blanket when a blanket is laid flat. As a result of the raised edge, the blanket
will hold a limited amount of water or test fluid when laid flat. The raised edge thus allows
for the hose to be cleaned or washed while collecting or containing the runoff of wash fluid,
thus preventing contamination of the immediate vicinity. Doing this on a slope will result in
the wash fluid being channeled to one end of the blanket, or to the end of a series of blankets
where the fluid can be safely collected. In FIG. 6, two blankets 10 are joined end-to-end and
laid under test hose 52. The natural curvature of the blankets as well as the raised edges help
to channel wash fluids or other runoff downhill toward an end of the blankets. Any number
of blankets in the open, flat position can be joined end-to-end as needed for cleaning a hose
or pipe of given length.
[0030] FIG. 7 illustrates a hose test system incorporating a number of blankets 10
which are joined end-to-end and coiled and fastened loosely around a long length of hose 52.
Hose 52 is filled and pressurized by high-pressure pump 54 at one end and capped at the
other end. The other end may also be arranged to be lower than the first end so that spent test
fluid may be drained to the collection reservoir 56 located at that end. Likewise, any fluid
collecting inside the blankets from leaks, bursts or the like can be drained to the end of the
line into collection reservoir 56. Either embodiment of the invention may be utilized in such
a test system. Any number of blankets in the coiled, tubular position can be joined end-toend
as needed for shielding and/or containing a test hose or pipe of given length.
[0031] Co-pending provisional application with serial number 61/709,983 filed Oct. 4,
2012, with first inventor Kim Henderson, assigned to The Gates Corporation, and titled
"Transportable Hose-Test Containers, Systems and Methods" is hereby incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety. The transportable test system described in that application may
include a fluid containment subsystem which may include fluid collection apparatus,
reservoir, etc. The collection apparatus may include hose test stands, blanket (flexible
channel), drain, etc. Stands may be of varying and/or adjustable height and/or shape to
facilitate flow of fluid runoff toward the fluid collection apparatus and collection reservoir
located in one of the IMR test modules described therein. An embodiment of the present
invention may suitably be used as the blanket(s) for the fluid containment subsystem of that
provisional patent application. The blanket(s) when laid flat or slightly curved concave
upwards to form an open channel under the hose being tested, and possibly in conjunction
with the hose stands, may collect wash water and then facilitate draining of the external wash
water back to one of the reservoirs contained in the test modules. The blanket(s) in a
wrapped configuration may also contain leaks or surges of fluid during the hose testing and
again facilitate draining of the leaked test fluid or water back to one of the reservoirs
contained in the test modules.
[0032] According to an embodiment of the invention, there is described now a method
of pressure testing a hose including loosely wrapping a length of blanket material around the
hose; overlapping the longitudinal edges; fastening the wrapped blanket securely; and
pressurizing the hose. The wrapped blanket may have an inside diameter about or at least
twice the hose outside diameter. The method may include joining two or more of said
blankets end-to-end. The method may include wrapping two or more lengths of blanket
material which are joined end-to-end around the hose. These and other aspects of the method
are illustrated in FIG's 6 and 7 and described in provisional application 61/709,983.
[0033] Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in
detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be
made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the
particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means,
methods, and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will
readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines,
manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to
be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same
result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the
present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their
scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or
steps. The invention disclosed herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any
element that is not specifically disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
1. A burst containment blanket comprising:
an impervious flexible sheet of fabric-reinforced material adapted to coil into
a cylindrical tube and having two opposing cord-reinforced longitudinal edges;
and
a longitudinal fastener system adapted to retain the coiled shape of said
cylindrical tube.
2. The burst containment blanket of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal edges of the
coiled blanket overlap significantly when fastened.
3. The burst containment blanket of claim 1 further comprising an end fastener
system adapted so that two or more of the blankets can be joined together end-toend
to make a longer blanket.
4. The burst containment blanket of claim 3 wherein the blankets joined end-to-end
are adapted to form a longer length cylindrical tube when coiled and
longitudinally fastened.
5. The burst containment blanket of claim 3 wherein the ends of the blanket are
adapted to overlap when two or more are joined together end-to-end.
6. The burst containment blanket of claim 1 wherein the body of said blanket
consists of said impervious flexible sheet material reinforced with one layer of
fabric.
7. The burst containment blanket of claim 1 wherein the blanket has a lengthwise
hose placement indicator on at least one side.
8. The burst containment blanket of claim 7 wherein the indicator is a contrasting
colored stripe located on the inside of the blanket.
9. The burst containment blanket of claim 1 further comprising a pocket on one end,
with the other end adapted to fit into said pocket on a second said blanket.
10. The burst containment blanket of claim 1 wherein said two cord-reinforced
longitudinal edges of the blanket are thicker than the rest of the blanket.
11. The burst containment blanket of claim 1 wherein all blanket peripheral edges are
reinforced.
12. The burst containment blanket of claim 1 wherein the body of said blanket
comprises at least one layer of pervious fabric that is only attached to said
impervious flexible sheet at the peripheral edges of said blanket.
13. The burst containment blanket of claim 1 comprising two outer cover layers of
said impervious flexible sheet material and at least one intermediate layer of said
pervious fabric.
14. The burst containment blanket of claim 12 comprising two outer cover layers of
said impervious flexible sheet material and a plurality of intermediate layers of
said pervious fabric, said cover layers and said intermediate layers only anchored
to each other at the periphery of the blanket.
15. The burst containment blanket of claim 14 wherein the longitudinal fastener
system comprises a strap attached only to one of said outer cover layers so as not
to anchor said intermediate layers to said cover layers.
16. The burst containment blanket of claim 13 wherein said pervious fabric comprises
high-elongation fiber material.
17. The burst containment blanket of claim 16 wherein said high-elongation fiber
material has elongation at break of 10% to 30%.
18. The burst containment blanket of claim 16 wherein said high-elongation fiber
material comprises nylon.
19. A burst containment blanket adapted to coil into a cylindrical tube comprising:
an impervious flexible sheet material;
a longitudinal fastener system adapted to retain the coiled shape of said
cylindrical tube; and
an end fastener system adapted so that two or more of the blankets can be
joined together end-to-end to make a longer blanket or longer cylindrical tube.
A method of pressure testing a hose comprising:
wrapping a length of blanket material loosely around the hose;
overlapping the longitudinal edges;
fastening the wrapped blanket securely; and
pressurizing the hose.
The method of claim 20 wherein the wrapped blanket has an inside diameter at
least about twice the hose outside diameter.
The method of claim 20 further comprising joining two or more of said blankets
end-to-end.
The method of claim 20 wherein said wrapping comprises wrapping two or more
lengths of blanket material which are joined end-to-end around the hose.