Apparatus for conveying pipe longitudinally

Claim 2

Apparatus for conveying pipe longitudinally through a treatment zone, the pipe consisting of a plurality of pipe sections coupled together in end to end relation by means providing a rigid circumferential support surface between each pair of adjacent pipe section ends, the apparatus comprising: a feed station disposed adjacent to the treatment zone for feeding the coupled pipe sections thereto, the feed station including a drive assembly adapted to support a pipe section and to rotate the pipe section about its longitudinal axis whilst simultaneously feeding the pipe section axially to the treatment zone; a receiving station aligned with the feed station and disposed to receive successive treated pipe sections from the treatment zone; the receiving station including a support assembly adapted to support pipe sections successively received from the treatment zone while permitting continued rotation and axial advance of the pipe sections, and an intermediate station disposed between the treatment zone and the receiving station, the intermediate station including: a shuttle carriage adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally between a first position adjacent to the treatment zone and a second position adjacent to the receiving station, means for constraining the shuttle carriage for movement along a predetermined path between the first and second positions, a support assembly mounted on the shuttle carriage, the support assembly being adapted to engage the rigid circumferential support surfaces of said coupling means as the coupled pipe sections are fed through the intermediate station, while permitting continued rotation and axial feed of the pipe sections, and means for raising and lowering the support assembly into and out of supporting engagement with the circumferential support surfaces of said coupling means whereby the support assembly is caused to engage the support surface of each successive coupling means at said first position, to remain in supporting engagement therewith until the carriage reaches said section position, and to be disengaged from the supporting surface at the second position.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, said intermediate station including i. unidirectional drive means for returning the shuttle carriage from the second position to the first position; ii. first control means responsive to the shuttle carriage reaching the first position for deactivating the unidirectional drive means; and iii. second control means responsive to the shuttle carriage reaching the second position for re-activating the unidirectional drive means.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2, whereiN the carriage is mounted on wheels adapted to run on rails defining said predetermined path, and wherein the unidirectional drive means comprises a motor driven winch connected to the carriage by a tow cable.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the drive assembly comprises at least two, longitudinally spaced, pairs of wheels whose axes are parallel and inclined to the longitudinal direction of feed, the wheels of each pair being longitudinally offset whereby to form a cradle for supporting the pipe, respective mounting means for said pairs of wheels, and drive means coupled to one wheel of each pair for rotating the wheels in synchronism.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the support assembly at the receiving station comprises at least two, longitudinally spaced, pairs of wheels whose axes are parallel and inclined to the longitudinal direction of feed, the wheels of each pair being longitudinally offset whereby to form a cradle for supporting the pipe, and respective mounting means for the pairs of wheels.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the mounting means of the drive assembly and the support assembly each comprise a plurality of longitudinally spaced turntables, each turntable supporting journal means for the respective pair of wheels, and each turntable being rotatable about a vertical axis for varying the inclination of the wheel axes to the longitudinal direction of feed.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the wheels of the support assembly are tyred and are immersed in liquid baths carried by the respective turntables.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the support assembly mounted on the shuttle carriage comprises a pair of idler wheels and respective journal means therefor, the axis of the idler wheels being parallel and extending longitudinally, and the wheels being laterally aligned so as to provide a support cradle for a said coupling means.

Claim 10

Apparatus for conveying pipe longitudinally through a treatment zone, the pipe consisting of a plurality of pipe sections coupled together in end to end relation, the apparatus comprising a plurality of coupling members, each coupling member comprising a body portion having a circumferential support surface and a pair of opposed axially extending spigot portions adapted to engage frictionally the internal surfaces of a pair of adjacent pipe sections; a feed station disposed adjacent to the treatment zone for feeding the coupled pipe sections thereto, the feed station including a drive assembly adapted to support a pipe section and to rotate the pipe section about its longitudinal axis whilst simultaneously feeding the pipe section axially to the treatment zone; a receiving station aligned with the feed station and disposed to receive successive treated pipe sections from the treatment zone; the receiving station including a support assembly adapted to support pipe sections successively received from the treatment zone while permitting continued rotation and axial advance of the pipe sections, and an intermediate station disposed between the treatment zone and the receiving station, the intermediate station including: a shuttle carriage adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally between a first position adjacent to the treatment zone and a second position adjacent to the receiving station, means for constraining the shuttle carriage for movement along a predetermined path between the first and second positions, a support assembly mounted on the shuttle carriage, the support assembly being adapted to engage the rigid circumferential support surfaces of said coupling means as the coupled pipe sections are fed through the intermediate station, while permitting continued rotation and axial feed of the pipe sections, and means for raising and lowering the support assembly into and out of supporting engagement with the circumferential support surfaces of said coupling means whereby the support assembly is caused to engage the support sUrface of each successive coupling means at said first position, to remain in supporting engagement therewith until the carriage reaches said section position, and to be disengaged from the supporting surface at the second position.

Claim 11

Apparatus for conveying pipe longitudinally through a treatment zone, the pipe consisting of a plurality of pipe sections coupled together in end to end relation, the apparatus comprising a plurality of coupling members, each coupling member comprising a body portion having a circumferential support surface and a pair of opposed axially extending spigot portions adapted to engage frictionally the internal surfaces of a pair of adjacent pipe sections; a feed station disposed adjacent to the treatment zone for feeding the coupled pipe sections thereto, the feed station including a drive assembly adapted to support a pipe section and to rotate the pipe section about its longitudinal axis whilst simultaneously feeding the pipe section axially to the treatment zone; a receiving station aligned with the feed station and disposed to receive successive treated pipe sections from the treatment zone; the receiving station including a support assembly adapted to support pipe sections successively received from the treatment zone while permitting continued rotation and axial advance of the pipe sections, and an intermediate station disposed between the treatment zone and the receiving station, the intermediate station including: a shuttle carriage adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally between a first position adjacent to the treatment zone and a second position adjacent to the receiving station, means for constraining the shuttle carriage for movement along a predetermined path between the first and second positions, a support assembly mounted on the shuttle carriage, the support assembly being adapted to engage the rigid circumferential support surfaces of said coupling means as the coupled pipe sections are fed through the intermediate station, while permitting continued rotation and axial feed of the pipe sections, and means for raising and lowering the support assembly into and out of supporting engagement with the circumferential support surfaces of said coupling means whereby the support assembly is caused to engage the support sUrface of each successive coupling means at said first position, to remain in supporting engagement therewith until the carriage reaches said section position, and to be disengaged from the supporting surface at the second position.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the support surface of each coupling member provides a circumferential groove, and wherein the support assembly mounted on the shuttle carriage comprises a pair of idler wheels and respective journal means therefor, the axes of the idler wheels being parallel and extending longitudinally, and the wheels being laterally aligned so as to provide a support cradle for a said coupling member, the laterally aligned idler wheels being engageable in said circumferential groove.

Claim 13

In an apparatus for longitudinally conveying pipe consisting of a plurality of pipe sections disposed end to end and interconnected by means providing a rigid circumferential support surface between each pair of adjacent pipe section ends, a feed station adapted to support a pipe section horizontally and to rotate the pipe section about its longitudinal axis whilst simultaneously feeding the pipe section longitudinally, a receiving station aligned with and spaced from the feed station, and an intermediate station disposed between the feed station and the receiving station, the intermediate station including: a shuttle carriage adapted to be reciprocated between first and second limit positions, means for constraining the shuttle carriage for linear movement along a predetermined path between the limit positions, a support assembly mounted on the shuttle carriage, the support assembly being adapted to engage the rigid circumferential support surfaces of said coupling means as the pipe sections are successively fed through the intermediate station, while permitting continued rotation and axial feed of the pipe sections, and means for raising and lowering the support assembly into and out of supporting engagement with the circumferential support surfaces of said coupling means whereby the support assembly is caused to engage the support surface of each successive coupling means at said first position, to remain in supporting engagement therewith until the carriage reaches said section position, and to be disengaged from the supporting surface at the second position.

Claim 14

In an apparatus for longitudinally conveying pipe consisting of a plurality of pipe sections disposed end to end and interconnected by means providing a rigid circumferential support surface between each pair of adjacent pipe section ends, a feed station adapted to support a pipe section horizontally and to rotate the pipe section about its longitudinal axis whilst simultaneously feeding the pipe section longitudinally, a receiving station aligned with and spaced from the feed station, and an intermediate station disposed between the feed station and the receiving station, the intermediate station including: a shuttle carriage adapted to be reciprocated between first and second limit positions, means for constraining the shuttle carriage for linear movement along a predetermined path between the limit positions, a support assembly mounted on the shuttle carriage, the support assembly being adapted to engage the rigid circumferential support surfaces of said coupling means as the pipe sections are successively fed through the intermediate station, while permitting continued rotation and axial feed of the pipe sections, and means for raising and lowering the support assembly into and out of supporting engagement with the circumferential support surfaces of said coupling means whereby the support assembly is caused to engage the support surface of each successive coupling means at said first position, to remain in supporting engagement therewith until the carriage reaches said section position, and to be disengaged from the supporting surface at the second position.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the drive assembly comprises an endless chain inclined to the longitudinal direction of feed, the chain being supported by sprockets whereby to form a cradle for supporting the pipe, and drive means coupled to one of the sprockets for driving the chain.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the body portion of each of said coupling members constitutes a closure for the coupled ends of the pipe sections whereby to prevent the transfer of heat by convection between the pipe sections.