초록 ▼

Plastic pipes, such as high density polyethylene plastic pipes, useful for distributing natural gas and which have improved impact resistance and burst strength. The plastic pipe has an inner and an outer surface, with the inner surface defining a channel for conveying natural gas and the like. A fa

Plastic pipes, such as high density polyethylene plastic pipes, useful for distributing natural gas and which have improved impact resistance and burst strength. The plastic pipe has an inner and an outer surface, with the inner surface defining a channel for conveying natural gas and the like. A fabric overlies the outer surface, preferably in a helical wrap. The fabric is formed of high tenacity polyolefin fibers, preferably polyethylene and/or polypropylene fibers. The fabric provides the pipe with improved burst strength and impact resistance. The pipe can be used to transport natural gas under low pressure or higher pressures.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A pipe for distribution of natural gas comprising: (a) a plastic pipe, said pipe having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface defining a channel for conveying natural gas therethrough, and (b) a non-woven fabric overlying at least a portion of said outer s

What is claimed is: 1. A pipe for distribution of natural gas comprising: (a) a plastic pipe, said pipe having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface defining a channel for conveying natural gas therethrough, and (b) a non-woven fabric overlying at least a portion of said outer surface of the said pipe and forming a sleeve around at least a portion of said pipe, said fabric comprising high tenacity polyolefin fibers, whereby said pipe is resistant to impact and has improved burst strength. 2. The pipe of claim 1 wherein said fibers comprise high tenacity extended chain polyethylene fibers. 3. The pipe of claim 2, further comprising a matrix resin coating said fibers of said non-woven fabric. 4. The pipe of claim 3, wherein said non-woven fabric comprises said high tenacity extended chain polyethylene fibers which are arranged unidirectionally. 5. The pipe of claim 4, wherein said fabric is helically wound about said outer surface of said pipe. 6. The pipe of claim 5, wherein said fabric is helically wound about said outer surface of said pipe at an angle of between about 40 and about 60°. 7. The pipe of claim 4 wherein at least about 50% of the fibers in said non-woven fabric comprise said high tenacity extended chain polyethylene fibers. 8. The pipe of claim 4 wherein at least about 75% of the fibers in said non-woven fabric comprise said high tenacity extended chain polyethylene fibers. 9. The pipe of claim 2 wherein said fabric forms a sleeve over said outer surface of said pipe and is not bonded thereto such that said sleeve is movable over said outer surface. 10. The pipe of claim 2 further comprising an adhesive layer between said fabric and said outer surface of said pipe, said adhesive layer bonding said fabric to said outer layer. 11. The pipe of claim 3 wherein said matrix resin comprises a thermoplastic elastomeric material. 12. The pipe of claim 11 wherein said matrix resin comprises an isoprene-styrene-isoprene block copolymer. 13. The pipe of claim 11 wherein said matrix resin comprises from about 5 to about 40 weight percent based on the total weight of said fabric and said resin. 14. The pipe of claim 2 wherein said plastic pipe comprises high density polyethylene. 15. The pipe of claim 1 wherein said fibers have a tenacity of at least about 30 g/d. 16. A pipe for distribution of natural gas comprising: (a) a plastic pipe, said pipe having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface defining a channel for conveying natural gas therethrough, and (b) a woven fabric overlying at least a portion of said outer surface of the said pipe and forming a sleeve around at least a portion of said pipe, said fabric comprising high tenacity polyethylene fibers, whereby said pipe is resistant to impact and has improved burst strength, wherein said woven fabric comprises high tenacity extended chain polyethylene fibers extending in a first direction and another thermoplastic fiber extending in a second direction. 17. The pipe of claim 16 wherein said another thermoplastic fiber comprises polyester fibers. 18. The pipe of claim 16, further comprising a matrix resin coating said fibers of said woven fabric. 19. The pipe of claim 18 wherein said matrix resin comprises a thermoplastic elastomeric material. 20. The pipe of claim 19 wherein said resin comprises an isoprene-styrene-isoprene block copolymer. 21. A pipe for distribution of natural gas comprising: (a) a plastic pipe, said pipe having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface defining a channel for conveying natural gas therethrough, and (b) a woven fabric overlying at least a portion of said outer surface of the said pipe and forming a sleeve around at least a portion of said pipe, said fabric comprising high tenacity extended chain polyethylene fibers, whereby said pipe is resistant to impact and has improved burst strength, wherein said fabric is helically wound about said outer surface of said pipe. 22. The pipe of claim 21 wherein said fabric is helically wound about said outer surface of said pipe at an angle of between about 40 and about 60°. 23. The pipe of claim 21 wherein at least about 50% of the fibers in said fabric comprise said high tenacity extended chain polyethylene fibers. 24. The pipe of claim 21 wherein said woven fabric forms a sleeve over said outer surface of said pipe and is not bonded thereto such that said sleeve is movable over said outer surface. 25. A pipe for distribution of natural gas comprising: (a) a plastic pipe, said pipe having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface defining a channel for conveying natural gas therethrough, and (b) a woven fabric overlying at least a portion of said outer surface of the said pipe and forming a sleeve around at least a portion of said pipe, said fabric comprising high tenacity extended chain polyethylene fibers, whereby said pipe is resistant to impact and has improved burst strength, said pipe further comprising an adhesive layer between said woven fabric and said outer surface of said pipe, said adhesive layer bonding said woven fabric to said outer layer. 26. The pipe of claim 21 wherein said plastic pipe comprises high density polyethylene. 27. The pipe of claim 1 further comprising a plastic film overlying said fabric. 28. A pipe for distribution of natural gas comprising: (a) a plastic pipe, said pipe having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface defining a channel for conveying natural gas therethrough, and (b) a non-woven fabric overlying at least a portion of said outer surface of said pipe in a helical manner and forming a sleeve around at least a portion of said pipe, said sleeve not being bonded to said outer surface such that said sleeve is movable over said outer surface of said pipe, said fabric comprising high tenacity polyolefin fibers which are arranged unidirectionally, whereby the pipe is resistant to impact and has improved burst strength. 29. The pipe of claim 28 wherein said high tenacity polyolefin fibers comprise extended chain polyethylene fibers. 30. The pipe of claim 29 further comprising a matrix resin coating said fibers of said non-woven fabric. 31. The pipe of claim 30 wherein said matrix resin comprises a thermoplastic elastomeric material. 32. The pipe of claim 21 wherein said high tenacity extended chain polyethylene fibers extend in one direction of said woven fabric and other thermoplastic fibers extend in another direction of said woven fabric. 33. The pipe of claim 21 comprising a matrix resin coating said fibers of said woven fabric. 34. The pipe of claim 21 wherein said sleeve is not bonded to said outer surface of said pipe such that said sleeve is movable over said outer surface. 35. A method of transporting natural gas through a pipe, said method comprising utilizing as said pipe a structure which comprises: (a) a plastic pipe formed from high density polyethylene, said inner surface defining a channel for conveying natural gas therethrough, and (b) a non-woven fabric overlying at least a portion of said outer surface of said pipe and forming a sleeve around at least a portion of said pipe, said fabric comprising high tenacity extended chain polyethylene fibers. 36. The method of claim 35 wherein said natural gas is transported at a pressure exceeding 200 psi (1378 kPA).