Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
326 words
An internal pipe coating apparatus for coating the interior surfaces of uncoated weld joints in an otherwise internally coated pipeline comprising a frame having wheels at the forward and rear ends thereof, the forward end being oriented towards an uncoated weld joint to be coated, a drive motor for driving one pair of wheels to move the coating apparatus within the pipeline towards the uncoated weld joint, a pivotal feeler mechanism located at the forward end of said frame, said feeler mechanism including a pair of electrically conductive arms adapted to bear against the internal surface of the pipeline and to create a completed circuit when the feeler arms engage the bare surface of the uncoated weld joint to stop the drive motor, means responsive to the actuation of said drive motor for pivoting said feeler mechanism into position where said feeler arms are in contacting position against the internal surface of the pipe, a rotatable hollow shaft located at the forward end of said frame, said hollow rotatable shaft being provided with a hollow hub and a plurality of hollow radiating arms adapted to spray powder on the uncoated weld joint, a spin motor mounted on said frame for rotating said shaft, means for actuating said spin motor, a powder suspension device mounted on said frame, means for conducting a suspension of powder from said powder suspension device to said hollow hub, a fan means mounted on said frame and actuated in subsequent timed relation to the actuation of the spin motor to provide air under pressure to the powder suspension device to suspend powder therein, a valve located on said conducting means, valve operating means actuated in timed relation with and subsequent to the actuation of said fan means for opening said valve to provide a stream of powder to the hollow hub so that a suspension of powder passes out of the hollow arms by centrifugal force to coat the heated weld joint.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
326 words
An internal pipe coating apparatus for coating the interior surfaces of uncoated weld joints in an otherwise internally coated pipeline comprising a frame having wheels at the forward and rear ends thereof, the forward end being oriented towards an uncoated weld joint to be coated, a drive motor for driving one pair of wheels to move the coating apparatus within the pipeline towards the uncoated weld joint, a pivotal feeler mechanism located at the forward end of said frame, said feeler mechanism including a pair of electrically conductive arms adapted to bear against the internal surface of the pipeline and to create a completed circuit when the feeler arms engage the bare surface of the uncoated weld joint to stop the drive motor, means responsive to the actuation of said drive motor for pivoting said feeler mechanism into position where said feeler arms are in contacting position against the internal surface of the pipe, a rotatable hollow shaft located at the forward end of said frame, said hollow rotatable shaft being provided with a hollow hub and a plurality of hollow radiating arms adapted to spray powder on the uncoated weld joint, a spin motor mounted on said frame for rotating said shaft, means for actuating said spin motor, a powder suspension device mounted on said frame, means for conducting a suspension of powder from said powder suspension device to said hollow hub, a fan means mounted on said frame and actuated in subsequent timed relation to the actuation of the spin motor to provide air under pressure to the powder suspension device to suspend powder therein, a valve located on said conducting means, valve operating means actuated in timed relation with and subsequent to the actuation of said fan means for opening said valve to provide a stream of powder to the hollow hub so that a suspension of powder passes out of the hollow arms by centrifugal force to coat the heated weld joint.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An internal pipe coating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for pivoting said feeler mechanism includes a solenoid actuated in timed relation to the actuation of said drive motor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
An internal pipe coating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for conducting a suspension of powder from said powder suspension device to said hollow hub includes a hollow tube extending coaxially within said rotatable shaft and forming an annular space therewith, said hollow tube having one end in communication with said valve and terminating at an opposite end within said hub, whereby, when a suspension of powder passes out of the hollow arms by centrifugal force, air is sucked into said annular space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
An internal pipe coating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said powder suspension device includes a closed container having a substantially horizontal foraminous plate mounted therein separating said container into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said plate being adapted to support a quantity of powder thereon in said upper chamber, a conduit connected to said fan means and in communication with the lower chamber of said container to provide a stream of air beneath said plate so as to pass there through and suspend said powder in said upper chamber and means in communication with said upper chamber and said valve to provide a stream of powder to said valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
An internal pipe coating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a pair of auxiliary wheels mounted adjacent the driven pair of wheels and normally out of engagement with the internal surface of said pipeline, means for moving said auxiliary wheels into engagement with the internal surface of said pipeline while simultaneously moving said driven pair of wheels out of engagement with the internal surface of said pipeline.