An applicator machine and a process for heating and coating a section of pipeline. The applicator machine includes a frame configured to rotate about a section of pipeline to be heated and coated, rotating means operable to rotate the frame, and coating material applicators induction coils and radiant heaters mounted on the frame and rotatable therewith. The induction coil is configured to heat a section of pipeline adjacent to the induction coil to a coating material application temperature. The radiant heaters are configured to heat factory-applied coatings. Each coating material applicator sprays coating material through an aperture in a respective induction coil. The applicator includes an enclosure configured to surround a section of pipeline and provision for evacuating and collecting waste coating material. The coating material applicator may be configured to spray powder coating material, such as fusion bonded epoxy powder material and/or chemically modified polypropylene powder material.

A method providing a first tubular workpiece having a first weld surface at an end thereof, and a second tubular workpiece having a second weld surface at an end thereof; aligning the workpieces on a common axis with the weld surfaces facing each other, rotating one workpiece about the axis relative to the other workpiece, and engaging the first and second weld surfaces such that the rotation raises the temperature at the weld surfaces to create a weld interface; and ceasing the rotation and allowing the weld interface to cool to weld the workpieces together at the interface. The first weld surface is an apex region of an annular projection at the end of the first workpiece, on a longitudinal section through the aligned workpieces the annular projection having a profile in which radially inner and outer side surfaces of the annular projection taper towards the apex region.

A method providing a first tubular workpiece having a first weld surface at an end thereof, and a second tubular workpiece having a second weld surface at an end thereof; aligning the workpieces on a common axis with the weld surfaces facing each other, rotating one workpiece about the axis relative to the other workpiece, and engaging the first and second weld surfaces such that the rotation raises the temperature at the weld surfaces to create a weld interface; and ceasing the rotation and allowing the weld interface to cool to weld the workpieces together at the interface. The first weld surface is an apex region of an annular projection at the end of the first workpiece, on a longitudinal section through the aligned workpieces the annular projection having a profile in which radially inner and outer side surfaces of the annular projection taper towards the apex region.

A method for forming a high temperature field joint between two insulated pipe sections, and an insulated conduit having a low temperature field joint. The conduit comprises a steel pipe with a corrosion protection coating and a pipe insulation layer comprising a polymer composition having thermal conductivity of less than about 0.40 W/mk, and/or heat resistance to continuous operating temperatures from about 150° C. to above about 205° C. After a circumferential weld joint is formed between the two pipes, a first field joint insulation layer is applied over the joint area, the first field joint insulation layer comprises a polymer composition having heat resistance to continuous operating temperatures from about 150° C. to above about 205° C.

A joint unit includes a first metal pipe, a second metal pipe, and a joint portion (a region including a joint interface at which the end faces of the first and second metal pipes are joined to each other. At the joint portion, an outer circumferential bead portion protruding toward the outer circumference side and an inner circumferential bead portion protruding toward the inner circumference side are formed. The difference between the width of the outer circumferential bead portion (the width L1 of a grinding portion and the width L2 of the inner circumferential bead portion in a direction from the first metal pipe toward the second metal pipe is equal to or smaller than 40% with respect to the average value of the width L1 of the outer circumferential bead portion and the width L2 of the inner circumferential bead portion.

A joint unit includes a first metal pipe, a second metal pipe, and a joint portion (a region including a joint interface at which the end faces of the first and second metal pipes are joined to each other. At the joint portion, an outer circumferential bead portion protruding toward the outer circumference side and an inner circumferential bead portion protruding toward the inner circumference side are formed. The difference between the width of the outer circumferential bead portion (the width L1 of a grinding portion and the width L2 of the inner circumferential bead portion in a direction from the first metal pipe toward the second metal pipe is equal to or smaller than 40% with respect to the average value of the width L1 of the outer circumferential bead portion and the width L2 of the inner circumferential bead portion.

A method for producing a steel underwater pipe for carrying a corrosive fluid, includes the successive steps: applying a layer of corrosion-resistant steel alloy on a terminal part of the internal wall of each pipe element from its end to be welded; the application of a plastic coating, on the internal wall of each pipe element; covering only a first part of the layer of metal alloy, a terminal part of the layer of metal ally on the side of the end to be welded of each pipe element not being covered by the plastic coating; the coaxial insertion and the crimping of a compression ring against the terminal part of the plastic coating; and the assembly by welding directly together the ends of two pipe elements by a corrosion-resistant steel alloy weld.

A method of joining a first pipe section to a second pipe section includes positioning the two pipe sections in an end-to-end configuration to define therebetween a joint to be welded, measuring the degree of alignment of the pipe sections when they are in the end-to-end configuration in a position ready for welding, ascertaining the relative movement required of the pipe sections in order to improve their alignment, effecting the relative movement so ascertained, and welding together the two pipe sections. The method may include the use of geometric data of the end of the pipes in order to ascertain the relative movement required of the pipe sections. A control unit may be used to calculate, using such data, a target orientation that lines up the pipe sections. The measuring step may be performed using, for example, a laser or a camera and backlight.

A method of joining a first pipe section to a second pipe section includes positioning the two pipe sections in an end-to-end configuration to define therebetween a joint to be welded, measuring the degree of alignment of the pipe sections when they are in the end-to-end configuration in a position ready for welding, ascertaining the relative movement required of the pipe sections in order to improve their alignment, effecting the relative movement so ascertained, and welding together the two pipe sections. The method may include the use of geometric data of the end of the pipes in order to ascertain the relative movement required of the pipe sections. A control unit may be used to calculate, using such data, a target orientation that lines up the pipe sections. The measuring step may be performed using, for example, a laser or a camera and backlight.

An air conditioner includes: a turbo compressor that compresses a heat medium; a heat exchanger that exchanges heat of the heat medium supplied from the turbo compressor with an atmosphere; and a supply flow path and a discharge flow path that connect the turbo compressor and the heat exchanger. At least one of the supply flow path and the discharge flow path includes piping, and the piping includes a gas barrier layer that covers a surface of a synthetic resin.