Self-contained and self-propelled machine for heat fusing polyolefin pipes
First Claim
1. A machine for end-to-end welding of polyolefin pipes comprising:
- a pair of tracks parallel with a longitudinal axis and rotatable in forward and reverse directions;
a frame connecting said tracks for movement therewith along said longitudinal axis;
first jaws fixed to said frame for gripping a first pipe in alignment with said longitudinal axis;
second jaws slidably mounted on said frame for reciprocal movement along said longitudinal axis for gripping a second pipe in longitudinal alignment with respect to the first pipe;
drive means mounted on said frame for rotating said tracks and reciprocating said second jaws;
first control means mounted on said frame and connected to said drive means for controlling rotation of said tracks;
means insertable between the pipes with said second jaws deactivated in an apart condition for simultaneously facing opposed ends of the aligned pipes with said second jaws activated toward a "together" condition until the opposed ends of the pipes are in parallel planes;
means insertable between the faced ends of the pipes with said second jaws deactivated in an apart condition for simultaneously heating the faced ends of the pipes to a molten condition with said second jaws activated toward a "together" condition; and
second control means mounted on said frame and connected to said drive means for controlling the reciprocation of said second jaws and for monitoring the temperature of said heating means to bring the fused pipe ends to a molten condition and to bond the molten pipe ends together.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Polyolefin pipes are welded end-to-end by a self-propelled, self-contained machine which performs all steps necessary to the process without need for any other machines or equipment. Hydraulically driven parallel tracks are independently controlled for maximum maneuverability. An hydraulically driven, computer controlled, reversible jaw assembly reciprocates the new pipe section relative to the exiting pipe line. A facer for trimming and squaring the pipe ends to be joined and a heater for melting the pipe ends for fusing are umbilically connected to the machine for on-board or remote operation. The computer, also on an umbilical, enables the operator to operate the machine in a normal mode in which the operator manually controls the facing, soaking and fusing processes or an automatic mode in which the fusing process is automatically controlled by the computer. The computer also allows the operator to choose a data logging mode in which the operating pressure, heater temperature and time data are recorded to provide a history for each joint made by the machine.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A machine for end-to-end welding of polyolefin pipes comprising:
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a pair of tracks parallel with a longitudinal axis and rotatable in forward and reverse directions; a frame connecting said tracks for movement therewith along said longitudinal axis; first jaws fixed to said frame for gripping a first pipe in alignment with said longitudinal axis; second jaws slidably mounted on said frame for reciprocal movement along said longitudinal axis for gripping a second pipe in longitudinal alignment with respect to the first pipe; drive means mounted on said frame for rotating said tracks and reciprocating said second jaws; first control means mounted on said frame and connected to said drive means for controlling rotation of said tracks; means insertable between the pipes with said second jaws deactivated in an apart condition for simultaneously facing opposed ends of the aligned pipes with said second jaws activated toward a "together" condition until the opposed ends of the pipes are in parallel planes; means insertable between the faced ends of the pipes with said second jaws deactivated in an apart condition for simultaneously heating the faced ends of the pipes to a molten condition with said second jaws activated toward a "together" condition; and second control means mounted on said frame and connected to said drive means for controlling the reciprocation of said second jaws and for monitoring the temperature of said heating means to bring the fused pipe ends to a molten condition and to bond the molten pipe ends together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A machine for end-to-end welding of polyolefin pipes comprising:
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a pair of tracks parallel with a longitudinal axis and rotatable in forward and reverse directions; a frame connecting said tracks for movement therewith along said longitudinal axis; a deck mounted on said frame; first jaws fixed to said deck for gripping a first pipe in alignment with said longitudinal axis; second jaws slidably mounted on said deck for reciprocal movement along said longitudinal axis for securing a second pipe in longitudinal alignment with respect to the first pipe; drive means mounted on said frame for rotating said tracks and reciprocating said second jaws; means mounted on said frame and connected to said drive means for hydraulically controlling rotation of said tracks; means insertable between the pipes with said second jaws deactivated in an apart condition for simultaneously facing opposed ends of the aligned pipes with said second jaws activated toward a together condition until the opposed ends of the pipes are in parallel planes; means insertable between the faced ends of the pipes with said second jaws deactivated in an apart condition for simultaneously heating the faced ends of the pipes to a molten condition with said second jaws activated toward a together condition; and means mounted on said frame and connected to said drive means for electrically controlling reciprocation of said second jaws and maintaining the temperature of said heating means to face the pipes, to bring the faced pipe ends to a molten condition and to bond the molten pipe ends together. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A machine for end-to-end welding of polyolefin pipes comprising:
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a pair of tracks parallel with a longitudinal axis and rotatable in forward and reverse directions; a frame connecting said tracks for movement therewith along said longitudinal axis; first jaws fixed to said frame for gripping a first pipe in alignment with said longitudinal axis; second jaws slidably mounted on said frame for reciprocal movement along said longitudinal axis for securing a second pipe in longitudinal alignment with respect to the first pipe; drive means mounted on said frame for rotating said tracks and reciprocating said second jaws; first means mounted on said frame and connected to said drive means for hydraulically controlling rotation of said tracks; means insertable between the pipes with said second jaws deactivated in an apart condition for simultaneously facing opposed ends of the aligned pipes with said second jaws activated in a together condition until the opposed ends of the pipes are in parallel planes, said facing means having at least two bearing means thereon and said frame having at least two support means thereon cooperably engagable with said bearing means for locating said facing means between the opposed ends of the aligned pipes; second means mounted on said frame and connected to said drive means for hydraulically controlling operation of said facing means; means insertable between the faced ends of the pipes with said second jaws deactivated in an apart condition for simultaneously heating the faced ends of the pipes to a molten condition with said second jaws activated toward a together condition; and third means mounted on said frame and connected to said drive means for electrically controlling reciprocation of said second jaws and for monitoring the temperature of said heating means to face the pipes, to bring the faced pipe ends to a molten condition and to bond the molten pipe ends together. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification