US3770927A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pipe welding apparatus and methods therefor
Assignee: Santa Fe International Corp
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Filing: 1971-12-14
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1991-12-14
Abstract
Abstract The pipe welding apparatus includes a longitudinally movable welding station, a longitudinally movable nest housing a traveller including a pipe aligner and expander and a traction assembly. A pair of pipe sections are butted one to the other and the welding station is displaced into alignment with the joint. The nest is moved to an end of a pipe section remote from the joint and the traveller moves from the nest through the pipe section to the joint. The pipe aligner and expander has a plurality of circumferentially arranged shoes which move radially outwardly to enlarge the butting end portions of the pipe sections and to draw the pipe sections axially toward one another when welding. The welding station includes an induction welder. Upon completion of the welding, the traveller returns to the nest.
Inventors
- 👤 J Christopher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:08
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K13/00; B23K37/00; B23K37/04; B23K37/053; B23K37/0531
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A method of butt welding the ends of a pair of pipe sections one to the other utilizing an induction welder and a traveller including a pipe aligner and expander and a traction assembly comprising: locating the pipe sections in substantial longitudinal alignment one with the other and with their near ends adjacent one another; actuating the traction assembly to move the traveller within one of the pipe sections to locate the pipe aligner and expander at the joint between the pipe sections; actuating the pipe aligner and expander to uniformly circumferentially enlarge adjacent end portions of the pipe sections thereby to accurately axially align the pipe ends one with the other and to provide an axial force to at least one of the pipe sections to urge said one end thereof toward the end of the other pipe section; actuating said induction welder to weld the ends of the pipe sections one to the other; deactuating the pipe aligner and expander to release the welded pipe sections; and actuating the traction assembly to move the traveller along one of the pipe sections in a direction away from the welded joint.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
191 words
A method of butt welding the ends of a pair of pipe sections one to the other utilizing an induction welder and a traveller including a pipe aligner and expander and a traction assembly comprising: locating the pipe sections in substantial longitudinal alignment one with the other and with their near ends adjacent one another; actuating the traction assembly to move the traveller within one of the pipe sections to locate the pipe aligner and expander at the joint between the pipe sections; actuating the pipe aligner and expander to uniformly circumferentially enlarge adjacent end portions of the pipe sections thereby to accurately axially align the pipe ends one with the other and to provide an axial force to at least one of the pipe sections to urge said one end thereof toward the end of the other pipe section; actuating said induction welder to weld the ends of the pipe sections one to the other; deactuating the pipe aligner and expander to release the welded pipe sections; and actuating the traction assembly to move the traveller along one of the pipe sections in a direction away from the welded joint.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 including displacing the induction welder longitudinally in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axes of the pipe sections to locate the welder relative to the joint between the pipe sections.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method according to claim 1 including the step of locating a nest housing the pipe aligner and expander adjacent the end of said one pipe section remote from the end thereof to be welded and actuating the traction assembly to transfer the traveller from said nest to said one pipe section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 2 including the step of controlling the movement of the pipe aligner and expander through the one pipe section in accordance with the length of the one pipe section and the longitudinal position of the welder to locate the expander at the butt weld.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 including flowing cooling fluid through the induction welder.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of butt welding the ends of a pair of pipe sections one to the other utilizing an induction welder and a traveller including a pipe aligner and expander and a traction assembly comprising the steps of; locating the pipe sections in substantial longitudinal alignment one with the other with their near ends forming a pipe joint; actuating said traction assembly to move said traveller longitudinally along a pipe section, sensing a selected axial position of the traveller along the pipe section, providing a signal in response to attainment of said selected position by said traveler, deactuating said traction assembly in response to said signal to locate said pipe aligner and expander at the joint between the pipe sections, actuating said pipe aligner and expander to engage said pipe sections ends and thereby accurately longitudinally aligning said pipe sections one with the other, and actuating said induction welder to weld said pipe ends one to the other.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of butt welding the ends of a pair of pipe sections one to the other utilizing an induction welder and a traveller including a pipe aligner and expander and a traction assembly comprising the steps of; locating the pipe sections in substantial longitudinal alignment one with the other with their near ends forming a pipe joint; actuating said traction assembly to move said traveller longitudinally along a pipe section, sensing a selected axial position of the traveller along the pipe section, providing a signal in response to attainment of said selected position by said traveler, deactuating said traction assembly in response to said signal to locate said pipe aligner and expander at the joint between the pipe sections, actuating said pipe aligner and expander to engage said pipe sections ends and thereby accurately longitudinally aligning said pipe sections one with the other, and actuating said induction welder to weld said pipe ends one to the other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 6 including the steps of providing a reference position relative to the pipe joint, providing a line coupling said reference position and said traveller, paying out said line as said traveller moves along the pipe section, and sensing a predetermined payed out length of said line when the pipe aligner and expander is located at the joint to deactivate said traction assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 6 including the step of locating a nest housing said traveller adjacent the end of one pipe section remote from the end thereof at the joint, and activating the traction assembly to transfer the traveller from the nest to the one pipe section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the pipe aligner and expander includes two sets of axially spaced shoes disposable on opposite sides of the pipe joint, each set including a plurality of circumferentially spaced shoes, and including the step of simultaneously moving the sets of shoes radially outwardly for respective engagement with the inner walls of the pipe sections.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6 including the step of uniformly circumferentially enlarging said pipe section ends to provide like circularity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of sensing a selected axial position of the traveller along the pipe section, providing a signal in response to attainment of said selected position by said traveller, and de-actuating said traction assembly in response to said signal to locate said pipe aligner and expander at the joint between the pipe sections.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1 including the steps of providing a reference position relative to the pipe joint, providing a line coupling said reference position and said traveller, paying out said line as said traveller moves along the pipe section, and sensing a predetermined payed out length of said line when the pipe aligner and expander is located at the joint to deactivate said traction assembly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of locating a nest housing said traveller adjacent the end of one pipe section remote from the end thereof at the joint, and activating the traction assembly to transfer the traveller from the nest to the one pipe section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pipe aligner and expander includes two sets of axially spaced shoes disposable on opposite sides of the pipe joint, each set including a plurality of circumferentially spaced shoes, and including the step of simultaneously moving the sets of shoes radially outwardly for engagement with the inner walls of the pipe sections.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 14 including the step of preventing relative axial displacement of the sets of shoes when said sets of shoes are simultaneously moved for engagement with the inner walls of the pipe sections.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |