Installation Method And Device For Pipeline Components

Abstract

Method and device for tightening a threaded connection, preferably for connecting pipeline components, wherein the threaded connection to be tightened comprises a connecting element unit having an external thread, a connecting element unit having an internal thread, and a seal element arranged therebetween.

Claims

1. A method for tightening a threaded connection, preferably for connecting pipeline components, wherein the threaded connection to be tightened comprises a connecting element unit having an external thread, a connecting element unit having an internal thread, and a seal element arranged therebetween, wherein the method comprises the following steps: turning the connecting element unit having internal or external thread until contacting the seal element and reaching the starting point of the compression of the seal element, wherein the seal element is arranged on or in at least one of the connecting element units and is contacted with the other, tightening the connecting element unit having internal or external thread up to a predetermined threshold value, wherein the starting point of the compression of the seal element and the threshold value are ascertained on the basis of the occurring ratio changes between rotational angle and torque during the turning and tightening of the threaded connection.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising detecting when almost no torque is applied until reaching the starting point of the compression of the seal element and thus the slope of a curve in a torque-rotational angle diagram extends nearly infinitely steeply and/or approximately parallel to the rotational angle axis in the y direction.

3. The method according to claim 1, detecting when a torque is applied from reaching the starting point of the compression of the seal element, wherein the ratio occurring between rotational angle and torque significantly changes from reaching the starting point of the compression of the seal element and/or the slope of the curve significantly decreases in the torque-rotational angle diagram, wherein the ratio between rotational angle and torque or the slope of the curve in the torque-rotational angle diagram preferably extends approximately linearly from reaching the starting point of the compression of the seal element.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising detecting a ratio between rotational angle and torque changes from reaching the threshold value in comparison to the ratio between rotational angle and torque before reaching the threshold value, wherein the slope of the curve substantially decreases in relation to the profile of the curve before reaching the threshold value from reaching the threshold value in the torque/rotational angle diagram.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ratios between rotational angle and torque are ascertained by means of an algorithm.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the algorithm for ascertaining the ratio between rotational angle and torque is as follows: if the ascertained ratio rotational angle (DW)/torque (DM) differs by at least +/10%, preferably +/20% in relation to the preceding measurement, an inflection point of the curve and thus reaching the starting point of the compression or threshold value is established.

7. A device for tightening a threaded connection according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a main body (2), in which a torque measuring sensor (10) for ascertaining the prevailing or applied torque, a sensor (12) for ascertaining the location and location change, preferably a gyroscope for ascertaining the rotational angle, a detection device (14), a storage element (16) for storing the screw-connection-specific data, and a transmitter (18) for transmitting the acquired data are arranged, and a hook insert having an for engaging the (3), wherein the hook insert is replaceably arranged on the main body, wherein the hook insert comprises a memory 20 storing a code containing data related to the and the code is acquired by the sensor (12) on the main body upon coupling of the hook insert and the screw-connection-specific data are automatically set on the device.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the device comprises a measuring device for ascertaining the geographic location, preferably a GPS receiver.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the device comprises a sensor for material detection, preferably a colour sensor, wherein the material, preferably plastic of the threaded connection can be ascertained by the detection of the colour of the threaded connection.

10. A method of connecting ends of pipes together, said method comprising: placing ends of the pipes adjacent to each other; assembling a connecting device about the ends of the pipes, the connecting device including: a first connecting element extending about an end of one of the pipes, a second connecting element extending about an end of the other pipe, a nut, one of the first connecting elements, the second connecting elements or the nut having an externally directed thread that engages and internally directed thread in another one of the first connecting element, the second connecting element or the nut; and an annular seal between opposing and faces of the first connecting element and the second connecting element, the seal serving to provide a substantially fluid tight connection between the pipes; rotating the nut until the end faces of the first connecting element and second connecting element begin to compress the seal, and detecting a torque/rotational angle relationship during the rotation; and continuing to rotate that nut until the torque/rotational relationship defines a substantially zero slope, and, then, stopping further rotation of the nut.

11. Apparatus for tightening a threaded fastener, said apparatus comprising: a set of hook insert members, each hook insert member having a code stored therein associated with a particular threaded fastener to be tightened; a main body having a handle for receiving one of the hook insert members; at least one indicator device on the main body; and wherein the code is transmitted to the indicator device to inform an operator about the proper torque and rotation to be applied to the particular fastener.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] All possible embodiments can be freely combined with one another and the method features also apply to the device and vice versa.

[0030] An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described on the basis of the figures, wherein the invention is not only restricted to the exemplary embodiment. In the figures:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a torque-rotational angle diagram having the profile of the tightening of the screw connection,

[0032] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary threaded connection which is tightened by the method according to the invention,

[0033] FIG. 3 shows an alternative exemplary threaded connection which is tightened by the method according to the invention, and

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0035] The diagram illustrated in FIG. 1 shows the sequence of the tightening of the screw connection in a torque-rotational angle diagram. In the lower region up to the starting point of the compression A, the nearly vertical or parallel profile in relation to the Y axis can be seen well. This indicates that hardly any torque occurs there, since no resistance or only that because of the thread exists and the torque is required to turn the connecting element unit 6 until an annular seal element 7 is contacted. Of course, other seal elements such as flat seals or others are also conceivable, and also other structural forms of threaded connections can be used than that shown in FIG. 2.

[0036] As soon as the connecting element unit 6 having internal thread, which is arranged in a separate nut 8, contacts the seal 7 with the end face of the flange 9, the resistance grows and the torque DM increases in relation to the performed rotational angle DW, as can be seen from the starting point of the compression A. From then, a preferably linear increase of the torque thus extends in a constant ratio in relation to the rotational angle which is executed. The slope of the curve has thus significantly decreased after reaching the starting point of the compression A. Upon reaching the threshold value B, a change of the ratio between torque and rotational angle and/or the slope of the curve again takes place, since at this point the one connecting element unit contacts the other and not only the seal element 7 as at the beginning, but rather the one end face of one connecting element unit 5 abuts the other end face of the other connecting element unit 6. From then, a substantial increase of the torque DM is to be noted, wherein the installation is generally terminated upon reaching the threshold value B. An alternative design of a threaded connection 4 is shown in FIG. 3, which can be tightened using the method according to the invention, wherein in this design the internal thread is not arranged in a separately embodied nut on a flange, but rather is formed as one piece as in the case of the connecting element unit having external thread 5. These embodiments shown of the possible designs for the threaded connection are not exhaustive, rather the threaded connections 4 shown are to indicate possible variants of many, since the invention is also the method for tightening a threaded connection 4 and a corresponding device 1 and not the exact design of a threaded connection 4 itself.

[0037] The device 1 which is schematically shown in FIG. 4 is only to provide a rough impression of the device 1 and the housing 2 indicates that the hook insert 3 is adaptable. A display 22 is to aid in the operation, but it is also conceivable that the display can be replaced by a smart phone and all specifications can be displayed similarly there. A data transfer can be carried out with or else without cable.

[0038] Again, to summarize, the connecting device 1 is preferably used to clamp together two ends of pipes 24 and 26. In the device of FIG. 2, a connecting element 5 has an externally extending thread 28 (also shown in FIG. 3). A second connecting element 6 has a flanged end 9 having a projection 30 that is captured in a recess in a nut 8. The nut has internally directed threads 32. The embodiment of FIG. 3. is substantially similar to the embodiment of FIG. 2 except that the connecting element 6A is configured to integrally form the nut 8A.

[0039] Information about the characteristics of pipes 24, 26 and size of the nut is stored as a code in a memory 20 in insert 3 that has an end portion configured as a wrench to grasp and rotate the nut 8 or 8A. Insert 3 may be one of a plurality of separately color-coded inserts, the color of which corresponds to further information about the particular pipes to be connected.

[0040] The properly selected insert 3 is inserted into the body 2. When inserted, the code stored in memory 20 is transmitted to storage element 16. Body 2 also may include a torque measuring sensor 10 for measuring the torque applied by body 2 to device 1. A sensor 12 may also be provided in body 12 for ascertaining the geographic location of body 2. A detection device 14 and transmitter 18 may also be preferably provided in body 2, as well as a measuring device 32 for ascertaining the geographic location of body 2 and a sensor 34 for material detection. Sensor 34 is preferably a color sensor where the material characteristics of pipes 24, 26 can be sensed.

[0041] The user grasps the handle of body 2 and rotates the wrench insert 3 which in turn rotates the nut 8, 8A of the connecting device 1, 1A. This rotational action urges connecting elements 5, 6 or 6A towards each other until their adjacent ends engage seal 7. The sensors in body 2 monitor the various torque and rotational angles (and other parameters) as the user continues to rotate the body 2 about nut 8, 8A to urge the connecting elements 5, 6 or 6A together until the threshold B is reached.

[0042] The provision of the seal 7 between connecting elements 5, 6 or 6A is particularly advantageous. This is because the compression of the seal helps define the rotation/torque slopes shown in FIG. 1 that easily generates point B that is readily detectable. The seal 7 also provides a leakproof connection between the pipes 24, 26. Prior art tools for tightening lug nuts when changing wheels do not include such a seal and, therefore, did not provide a leak proof connection.

[0043] Furthermore, if different environmental conditions (for example, temperature, humidity, etc.) are encountered between installations the relationship between the material (usually plastic) of the pipes 24, 26 and the seal 7 will change behavior. For example, if the installation temperature is 100 F. one would need more rotations of the connecting device 1 to achieve the required torque. On the other hand, if the installation temperature was 20 F. the optimum torque would be achieved with less rotations. With the provision of the seal 7 that helps generate the FIG. 1 slope curve, the tool is rotated a sufficient number of times until point B is detected. It will be appreciated that the number of rotations of the connecting device 1 will vary depending upon the material of the pipes and the operating environmental conditions before point B is detected and the rotation can be stopped.