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CA-3147833-C - PIPE CONDITIONING TOOL FOR SURFACE TREATMENT OF A PIPE

CA3147833CCA 3147833 CCA3147833 CCA 3147833CCA-3147833-C

Abstract

A pipe conditioning tool comprising a drive unit mountable on a pipe, a work head supported on a drive unit and rotatable about a pipe to condition a surface thereof, the work head including a material dispensing assembly to deposit a material on the pipe and an applicator to conform material deposited on the pipe to a predetermined configuration; and a method of coating a girth weld on a pipe.

Inventors

  • Brad Bamford

Assignees

  • AUTOMATIC COATING LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20120116
Priority Date
20110114

Claims (20)

  1. 1378-2790-8621.1 CLAIMS 1. A pipe conditioning tool to apply a fluid coating to an outer surface of a pipe, said pipe conditioning tool comprising a drive unit mountable on the pipe and secured thereto to inhibit rotation about the pipe and including a support extending continuously about said pipe and radially spaced from said outer surface of said pipe, a work head supported by said support in spaced relationship from said outer surface of said pipe and rotatable continuously about said pipe to condition a surface thereof, said work head including a material dispensing assembly to deposit a fluid coating material on said pipe as said work head rotates about said pipe, and an applicator to conform said fluid coating material deposited on said pipe to a predetermined configuration, said material dispensing assembly having a fluid reservoir to contain a supply of said fluid coating material, and a dispenser to expel said fluid coating material from said reservoir through an outlet adjacent to said applicator.
  2. 2. The pipe conditioning tool according to claim 1 wherein said support includes a ring gear extending about said pipe and a drive gear engages said ring gear to move said work head about said pipe.
  3. 3. The pipe conditioning tool according to any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said support includes a pair of yokes spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of said pipe and said work head extends between said pair of yokes.
  4. 4. The pipe conditioning tool according to claim 3 wherein said work head includes a platform extending between said pair of yokes and said material dispensing assembly is mounted on said platform.
  5. 5. The pipe conditioning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said dispenser includes a linear actuator moveable to discharge material from said supply reservoir.
  6. 6. The pipe conditioning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said fluid reservoir is replaceable.
  7. 7. The pipe conditioning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said material dispensing assembly includes an actuator to reduce the volume of said reservoir as said work head moves about said pipe. 16 1378-2790-8621.1
  8. 8. The pipe conditioning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said reservoir is formed by a pair of cartridges and said actuator expels material from said pair of cartridges.
  9. 9. The pipe conditioning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said drive unit includes a drive member acting between said support and said work head, said drive member being operable to move said work head relative to said support and about said pipe.
  10. 10. The pipe conditioning tool according to claim 9 wherein said work head includes a motor operable upon said drive member to move said work head relative to said frame.
  11. 11. The pipe conditioning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said support includes a pair of yokes spaced apart along the axis of said pipe and each of said yokes is formed from a pair of segments that are separable to pass around said pipe
  12. 12. The pipe conditioning tool according to claim 11 wherein said yokes are secured to said pipe to inhibit relative movement between said pipe and said support.
  13. 13. The pipe conditioning tool according to claim 12 wherein said yokes include radially extending clamps operable to engage said pipe and locate said yokes relative thereto.
  14. 14. The pipe conditioning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein said work head includes a platform and said material dispensing apparatus is mounted on said platform, said platform carrying a motor to operate said material dispensing apparatus to dispense said fluid coating material.
  15. 15. The pipe conditioning tool according to claim 14 wherein a power source is mounted on said platform.
  16. 16. The pipe conditioning tool according to any one of claims 14 or 15 wherein said material dispensing apparatus includes a reservoir to contain a supply of said fluid coating material and an actuator to expel material from said reservoir, said actuator being driven by a motor operating on said material dispensing apparatus.
  17. 17. The pipe conditioning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein said outlet includes a nozzle.
  18. 18. The pipe conditioning tool according to claim 17 wherein said nozzle is elongate. 17 1378-2790-8621.1
  19. 19. The pipe conditioning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 18 wherein said applicator is biased into engagement with said pipe.
  20. 20. The pipe conditioning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein said applicator extends laterally with respect to the direction of rotation of said work head.

Description

CA DIV Application Blakes Ref: 6767 4/00054 1 PIPE CONDITIONING TOOL FOR SURFACE TREATMENT OF A PIPE 2 FIELD OF THE INVENTION 3 [0001] This invention relates, generally, to pipeline surface preparation systems. More 4 particularly, it relates to machines that travel along the length of a pipeline to perform 5 conditioning operations such as coating removal, surface cleaning and recoating. 6 DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 7 [0002] Pipelines used to carry materials such as oil, gas and water are formed from sections 8 of pipes welded end to end. During manufacture, the sections of pipe are usually coated on 9 their exterior surface to inhibit corrosion of the pipe material. The ends of the pipe are not 10 coated prior to welding so that after welding, it is necessary to coat the girth weld to provide an 11 integrity of coating. As part of the maintenance protocol, it is necessary, periodically, to remove 12 the coating from the entire pipe, prepare the surface for recoating, and apply a coating to the 13 surface. 14 [0003] Pipelines are typically buried so removal of the coating requires the pipeline to be 15 excavated and lifted to allow access to the pipe. Manual removal of the coating is laborious and 16 potentially dangerous due to the materials used and the potential to damage the surface of the 17 pipe. Machines have been proposed that are intended to be supported on and move along the 18 pipe to remove the coating. However, earlier devices are so heavy that a crane is needed to 19 lower them into position atop a pipe. The weight of such devices causes the pipe to sag and 20 thus limits the length of pipeline that can be excavated at any one time. When a crane drops a 21 heavy pipeline surface preparation systems onto a pipeline, there is a risk of damage and 22 ultimately catastrophic explosions may occur. 23 [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,331 to Chapman describes a pipeline surface preparation 24 system that is sufficiently light-in-weight to enable a team of two workers to place it into position 25 around a pipeline in the absence of lifting machinery. A frame surrounds the pipeline and 26 supports wheels that engage the surface of the pipeline and enable the pipeline surface 27 preparation system to travel along the extent thereof. The Chapman apparatus employs water 28 jets to strip coating from a pipeline. Water nozzles are 29 circumferentially spaced about the perimeter of the pipeline and limit switches are employed to 30 cause the frame that carries the nozzles to reciprocate along a circumferential path of travel so 31 that hoses connected to the apparatus are not wrapped around the pipeline as the apparatus 32 advances along the length thereof. 1 24359114.1 Date Re9ue/Date Received 2022-02-04 CA DIV Application Blakes Ref: 6767 4/00054 1 [0005] U.S. Patent No. 6,832,406 to Boos describes a machine that is used to remove an 2 old coating from a pipe. The pipe is enclosed within a shroud. Debris removed from the pipe 3 surface is removed from the shroud by a vacuum line so it may be filtered and disposed of 4 effectively. The machine shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,832,406 has been used commercially with 5 success. The arrangement of water nozzles and controls avoids the potential damage to the 6 pipe surface if the machine encounters unforeseen obstacles and the overall design allows the 7 machine to be positioned on the pipeline by workers and operate within the confines of the 8 excavation. 9 [0006] Similar machines may be used to blast the pipe surface after the coating is removed 10 and then to apply a new coating. As such a train of machines are located on the exposed 11 length of pipe. Because it is only practical to expose a limited length of pipe at a time, it is 12 preferable that the machines are easily removed and can be set aside while additional 13 excavation is undertaken. 14 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 15 [0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the above 16 disadvantages. 17 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 18 [0008] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a pipe 19 conditioning tool comprising a support frame, a guide member on said support frame to permit 20 movement of said frame along a surface of a pipe, a work head carried by said frame and 21 operable to perform work on said surface, said support frame having a pair of legs at spaced 22 locations to pass to opposite sides of said pipe, whereby said legs provide a stable support for 23 said tool when said tool is removed from said pipe. 24 [0009] Preferably, the tool includes a drive on the frame to engage the surface and move 25 the frame along the pipe. 26 [0010] Preferably also, the tool includes a pair of arms pivotally secured to the frame and 27 each carrying a guide member. The arms are swingable from an open position in which the 28 arms are spaced apart to permit a pipe to pass between and an engaged position in which said 29 guide members engage the surface and inhibit