METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING AND TESTING A FLUID CONDUIT

• US 20070107172A1
• Filed: 12/07/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martinrea International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Martinrea International Incorporated
• Inventors: Rea, Nat, BURTON, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,765,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/455
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/04 for assembling or disassembling parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44 Clasp, clip, support-clamp, or required component thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53783 Clip applier

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assembling a fluid conduit assembly and testing the fluid conduit for leaks. Clipping devices support fasteners at a position remote from the conduit. According to the invention the fasteners can be loaded into clip nests provided by the clipping devices while leak testing of the conduit is performed. The performance of these steps simultaneously effectively eliminates the conventional requirement of pre-loading installation fasteners into the leak testing apparatus, and thus reduces the overall time required for the testing and assembly of fluid conduits by approximately one third. If the leak test is successful, all of the fasteners are then moved to the conduits and closed to integrate the conduit assembly.

Claims

1. A clipping device for applying a fastener to a conduit, comprising

a clip nest supported at a position remote from the conduit,

an actuator for moving the clip nest toward the conduit, and

a conduit clamp for clamping the conduit, actuated by moving the clip nest toward the conduit,

whereby when a fastener is disposed in the clip nest and the clip nest is moved to a position where the fastener is adjacent to the conduit, the clamp bears against the conduit to hold the conduit in the fastener.

4. The device of claim 7 wherein the fastener closing device comprises a roller arm movable toward the fastener, the roller arm supporting a roller which presses against a top portion of the fastener to close the fastener.

5. The device of claim 8 wherein the clip nest is supported on a moving platform by a secondary actuator, and the fastener closing device is actuated by a cam urging the roller arm toward the fastener when the moving platform is moved toward the conduit, and wherein the clip nest is moved toward the moving platform to maintain the fastener in a position adjacent to the conduit as the roller arm closes the fastener.

2. The device of claim 5 wherein the actuator is a pneumatic actuator.

3. The device of claim 5 further comprising a fastener closing device.