APPARATUS CONTAINING MULTIPLE SEQUENTIALLY USED INFRARED HEATING ZONES FOR TUBULAR ARTICLES

• US 20150219264A1
• Filed: 07/27/2012
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SFL Canusa Canada Limited
• Original Assignee: Shawcor Limited
• Inventors: Brandon, Mark Phillip, Tacoma, Emerson John, Seepersaud, David, Tailor, Dlp Kumar, Doyle, Shawn
• Granted Patent: US 10,107,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/147 for pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 61/02 Thermal shrinking
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/0004 Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/42 using tubular layers or sheathings
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/31 Heat sealable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2597/00 Tubular articles, e.g. hoses, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/06 characterised by the heating method
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/08 characterised by the cooling method
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/142 Laminating of sheets, panels or inserts, e.g. stiffeners, by wrapping in at least one outer layer, or inserting into a preformed pocket
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/22 involving the assembly of both discrete and continuous layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0036 Heat treatment for heating or cooling of layers during lamination B32B37/06, B32B37/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 47/22 using shrink-down material
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 58/181 for non-disconnectible pipe joints in general F16L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/58 Heating hoses; Heating collars

Abstract

An apparatus for heating an elongate tubular article, such as a heat shrinkable sleeve applied around a welded pipe joint during pipeline construction. The apparatus is in the form of a frame which can be disposed around the article, the frame having a heater device having both longitudinally disposed heating zones and radially disposed heating sectors, each of which can be independently controlled. Alternatively, or in combination, the apparatus can have an air circulation system. Also, a method for shrinking a heat shrinkable sleeve comprising use of said apparatus.

Claims

1-45. -45. (canceled)

46. Apparatus for heating at least one of an elongate tubular article and a heat shrinkable sleeve applied around the elongate tubular article, comprising a frame member adapted to be disposed around the at least one article and sleeve, said frame member comprising a heater device adapted to heat the elongate tubular article and disposed on or proximal to an inner surface of said frame member, and a controller operating the heater device;

said heating device comprising two or more longitudinally disposed heating zones and two or more radially disposed heating sectors, wherein said heater device comprises a plurality of infrared heating panels mounted on said frame member.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein said heating panels are radially adjustable to provide an adjustable inner radius.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein said frame member comprises a three piece clam shell design, including a first portion, a top portion, and two wings, each said wing connected to said top portion by a hinge, and including a line of contact opposing said hinge, such that, in an open position, said wings are placed sufficiently apart to allow said frame member to be placed over the elongate tubular article, and, in a closed position, said wings abut or oppose adjacent one another at their respective line of contact.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising a shock absorber at said line of contact.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising a rough locator or guide for aiding in aligning said wings when closing around a pipe.

51. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising an air circulation system.

52. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising a shield on each end of said apparatus, configured so that, in use, said shield substantially closes a gap between the apparatus and the article.

53. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising an exhaust vent.

54. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising a smoke detector sensor.

55. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising an adhesive collector.

56. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising a water and dust tight casing.

57. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein said frame member is adjustable for varying the width of the apparatus, and for affixing panels of varying width.

58. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising a brake system.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein said brake system comprises a plurality of springs affixed to said frame member and positioned to lie between said frame member and the article, and a plurality of pads, each affixed to an end of a said spring and configured to rest on the article when the apparatus is disposed around the article.

60. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising a data storage device, and a digital camera configured to take a picture of the article and adapted to transmit data to a remote location.

62. A kit comprising:

the apparatus of claim 46; and

a clamp for positioning a heat shrinkable sleeve on a substantially vertically oriented elongate tubular article, the clamp comprising a band for clamping onto the elongate tubular article, a plurality of vertical legs extending from said band in the direction of the desired location of the sleeve, a tongue at the end of each said vertical leg, vertical lips at the end of each said tongue opposing said vertical leg.

63. A method for shrinking a heat shrinkable sleeve to a generally horizontally oriented elongate tubular article, said sleeve having a top area and a bottom area, utilizing an apparatus of claim 46, the method comprising:

positioning the heat shrinkable sleeve onto the elongate tubular article to envelop the article circumferentially, or wrapping the heat shrinkable sleeve onto the elongate tubular article to envelop the article circumferentially and to form a wrap area and an overlap area;

enveloping the sleeve with the apparatus; and

activating the heater device on the apparatus to heat the sleeve to shrink the sleeve to the elongate tubular article;

wherein the bottom area and/or overlap area is heated to a higher heat intensity and/or for a longer period of time than the top area.

64. A method for shrinking a heat shrinkable sleeve to an elongate tubular article, utilizing an apparatus of claim 51, comprising:

positioning the heat shrinkable sleeve onto the elongate tubular article to envelop the article circumferentially;

enveloping the sleeve with the apparatus;

repeatedly alternating between activating the heater device on the apparatus to heat the sleeve, and dispelling air from the air supply to cool the sleeve.

65. A method for shrinking a heat shrinkable sleeve to a generally vertically oriented elongate tubular article, utilizing the apparatus of claim 46, comprising:

positioning the heat shrinkable sleeve onto the elongate tubular article to envelop the article circumferentially, such that the heat shrinkable sleeve has a top area, a bottom area, and a middle area between the bottom area and the top area;

activating the zones of the apparatus most proximal to the bottom area to shrink the bottom area;

activating the zones of the apparatus most proximal to the middle area to shrink the middle area; and

activating the zones of the apparatus most proximal to the top area to shrink the top area.

61. A clamp for positioning a heat shrinkable sleeve on a substantially vertically oriented elongate tubular article, the clamp comprising a band for clamping onto the elongate tubular article, a plurality of vertical legs extending from said band in the direction of the desired location of the sleeve, a tongue at the end of each said vertical leg, vertical lips at the end of each said tongue opposing said vertical leg.