Apparatus for coating pipe

Claim 2

Pipe coating apparatus comprising: means for moving first and second pipe sections along spaced apart fore and aft extEnding paths of travel; first and second coating applicators disposed adjacent to the respective paths of travel; a coating preparation station disposed intermediate said paths of travel; reciprocal conveyor means disposed for receiving coating material from said station and transferring the material to each of said applicators; power means coupled with said conveyor means for moving the latter in opposite directions; and brake means coupled with said power means and operable to slow said power means when moving said conveyor means in one direction prior to movement of said conveyor means in the opposite direction.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1, wherein said reciprocal conveyor means defines a unitary linear path of travel for the coating material after the latter is received from said station and until the material is discharged from the conveyor for deposit at said applicators.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2, said power means comprising a reversible electric motor and including electrical control means for said brake means, circuit means coupling said control means with said motor, and switching means in the circuit means for reversing said motor, said brake means being activated to slow said motor whenever said switch means is thrown.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3, wherein said switching means comprises a directional plugging switch having two sets of centrifugally activated parallel contacts operable at a predetermined speed of rotation to release said brake means and reverse said motor.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 4, wherein said switching means comprises forward and reversing control relays, and circuit means coupling each of said control relays with one set of contacts of said plugging switch whereby when power to one of said control relays is interrupted power to a corresponding set of plugging switch contacts is interrupted.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 5, wherein is included a brake solenoid for controlling said brake means, forward and reversing starter relays for said motor, said forward and reversing starter relays connected in series with said forward and reversing control relays, respectively, and circuit means connecting said brake solenoid with said forward and reversing starter relays whereby said brake solenoid releases said brake means whenever one of said starter relays is energized.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 3 wherein said switching means comprises: first and second double pole double throw switches, each of said switches having normally closed and normally open contacts with the closed contacts of one switch connected in series with the open contacts of the other switch for simultaneously opening one circuit as the other circuit is closed; forward and reversing control relays one of which is connected in series with one set of contacts of each of the first and second switches, said plugging switch connected in parallel with each of said first and second switches; forward and reversing control relay contacts corresponding to said forward and reversing control relays, each of said relay contacts being normally open, closed by energizing the corresponding relay, and connected in parallel with the other relay contacts and in series with one set of contacts of the plugging switch; forward and reversing starter relays for said motor, said forward and reversing starter relays connected in series with said forward and reversing control relay contacts, respectively; forward and reversing starter relay contacts corresponding to said forward and reversing starter relays, respectively, each of said starter relay contacts being normally closed, opened by energizing the corresponding starter relay and connected in series with the opposite starter relay to open a relay circuit when the opposite relay is energized; a brake solenoid for controlling said brake means; and circuit means connecting said brake solenoid with said forward and reversing starter relays for releasing said brake means whenever either of said starter relays is energized.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 1, wherein each of said applicators has a capacity for delivery of a quantity of X tons per second of coating material and wherein said coating preparation means comprises hopper means for holding a quantity of said coating material in position for delivery to said conveyor means, said hopper means having a capacity for coating material of up to 25 X whereby said conveyor means may remain stationary for up to 25 seconds while coating material continues to be delivered to said conveyor means.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 8, wherein said coating preparation means comprises a pug mill for mixing components of said coating material and said hopper means comprises an open end of said pug mill having an open bottom positioned above said conveyor means.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 9, wherein is included means for rotating said pipe sections during application of said coating.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 10, wherein is provided first and second spaced apart vehicles for moving each of said sections along said spaced apart fore and aft extending paths of travel and for rotating each section during application of the coating.