CLAMPING DEVICE FOR LONGITUDINAL-SEAM-WELDED PIPE ELEMENTS

Abstract

Provided is a clamping device for temporarily connecting two ends of a large-pipe element with at least two connection devices and a rigid connection rod, with the connection devices being arranged at the ends of the connection rod. The clamping device is used to connect and secure the plate ends of large pipes and large-pipe elements. The clamping device is, unlike the known tack welds or auxiliary connectors (cleats), mobile, reusable, and versatile. It can be mounted quickly and securely on pipe elements of different diameters in order to reduce the load on the tack weld and, in the event of tack weld failure, take the place of it.

Claims

1. A clamping device for temporarily connecting two ends of a large-pipe element, comprising at least two connection devices and a rigid connection rod, with the connection devices being arranged at the ends of the connection rod, characterized in that the connection device is a gripping device which comprises a base frame, a joint that connects the base frame and connection rod, at least two gripping jaws opposite one another that are arranged below the joint, wherein each gripping jaw comprises at least one gripping surface that bears against the pipe element in the closed state of the clamping device, wherein at least one gripping jaw comprises at least one gripping element that has a mechanism for altering the position, the gripping element comprises a gripping surface, and at both ends of the connection rod at least one gripping device each is mounted in an articulated manner, and the gripping device is respectively oriented such that the openings of two different gripping devices, which openings are located between the gripping jaws, point in the same direction and the openings of two different gripping devices are positioned on the same side of the connection rod.

2. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the gripping device comprises an upper gripping jaw and a lower gripping jaw, and the upper gripping jaw is part of the base frame and rigidly connected thereto, wherein the cross section of the gripping device is C-shaped or in the shape of a U-profile.

3. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the gripping device comprises an upper gripping jaw and a lower gripping jaw, and in that at least one adjustable gripping element is arranged in the lower gripping jaw.

4. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the gripping element is a screw pin with a gripping plate, wherein the gripping plate is a convex plate, a curved plate with a circular-segment cross section, a domed plate, a rippled plate, a plate that has multiple protrusions out of the plane, or a flat plate, preferably a round, curved plate in the shape of a cylindrical section or a flat plate.

5. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the gripping surface at least partially comprises a structured surface; preferably the entire gripping surface has a structured surface.

6. The clamping device according to claim 5, wherein the structured surface is composed of the same material as the gripping plate and is a roughened surface or a profiled surface or a combination thereof.

7. The clamping device according to claim 5, wherein the structured surface is a coating or a foreign material that is applied to the surface of the gripping plate.

8. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein each gripping device comprises four gripping surfaces, preferably two gripping surfaces on the upper gripping jaw and two gripping surfaces on the lower gripping jaw.

9. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the gripping surface has a round, curved shape in the shape of a cylindrical section, a convex shape, a rippled shape, serrated shape, or flat shape, and the gripping surface has multiple surface portions arranged on a circular arc, which surface portions bear against the pipe element in the closed state.

10. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping device comprises an adjusting aid that is arranged on the connection rod and with which the position of the gripping devices along the swivel axis of the joint is adjusted; preferably, the adjusting aid is a set screw with a holder and stop.

11. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping device comprises an attachment means and the attachment means is attached to the connection rod and/or the gripping device.

12. The clamping device according to claim 1, where the gripping devices are arranged below the connection rod in a vertical direction and the gripping devices are positioned on the same side of the connection rod with the same orientation of gripping jaws and base frame, wherein the gripping jaws and the openings located therebetween each lie on a circular arc.

13. A method for producing a longitudinal-seam-welded large-pipe element with a diameter of at least 4.5 m, preferably 6 m to 10 m, comprising: a) providing a steel sheet that is composed of wear-resistant, hardenable steel; b) bending/shaping the steel sheet into a tubular preform in which two longitudinal edges of the bent steel sheet are positioned opposite one another and border between them a welding joint; c) connecting the two ends of the bent steel sheet using the clamping device according to claim 1 with a positioning of the clamping device on the outside of the pipe element so that the steel sheet comes to rest between the gripping jaws, a closing of the gripping device by actuating the gripping element until the gripping surfaces bear against the steel sheet and a force-fitting connection is present; d) applying a tack weld in the welding joint; e) welding the longitudinal edges arranged opposite one another and bordering the welding joint, with a formation of a weld which closes the welding joint; f) possibly removing the tack weld; and g) removing the clamping device with a loosening of the gripping element so that the gripping jaws release the steel sheet and a detaching of the clamping device from the pipe element.

14. A use of the clamping device according to claim 1 for connecting the ends of a round-bent steel sheet with a diameter of at least 4.5 m, preferably 4.5 to 10 m, in the production of a longitudinal-seam-welded large-pipe element.

Description

[0048] Additional features, details, and advantages of the invention follow from the text of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with the aid of the drawings. The following show:

[0049] FIG. 1 an embodiment of a clamping device according to the invention,

[0050] FIG. 2 a gripping device without connection rod, and

[0051] FIG. 3 a clamping device according to the invention, mounted on a steel sheet.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a clamping device 1 according to the invention in a perspective view. The arrow points from top to bottom. The clamping device 1 has a rigid connection rod 2 that is embodied as a straight bar. On the upper side, the connection rod 2 comprises an attachment means that serves to attach the clamping device 1 to lifting equipment. The attachment means is embodied as a straight plate with three openings in the form of a weld-on plate 17 with three weld-on eyes 12 into which a crane hook, for example, can engage. One gripping device 3 each is arranged at both ends of the connection rod 2. One weld-on eye 12 each is also attached to both gripping devices. To facilitate the positioning of the gripping device 3, two adjusting aids each are arranged on the connection rod 2 at both ends. The adjusting aids each comprise a holder 14 and a set screw 15.

[0053] The gripping devices are in this case embodied to be structurally identical, with only some elements being arranged in mirror inversion. The gripping device 3 comprises a base frame. The base from has a reinforcing rib 4, which in this case is embodied in the shape of a C, a rear wall 13, and an upper gripping jaw 6. On the reinforcing rib 4 of the base frame, the joint 5 is attached in the upper region, via which joint 5 the connection rod 2 is connected to the gripping device 3 in an articulated manner. The joint 5 is embodied as a swivel joint. Below the joint 5, the upper gripping jaw 6 is arranged, which in this case is part of the base frame and thus fixed. In the downward direction, the base frame continues in a rear wall 13 that serves as a contact surface for the pipe element and limits the gripping device in one direction. Below the rear wall 13, the base frame comprises a receiver 14 for the lower gripping jaw 7. The lower gripping jaw 7 is in this case embodied as an adjustable gripping element. The dashed line N shows the inclination of the two gripping devices adapted to the curvature of the pipe element. On both gripping devices 3, the openings between the gripping jaws lie below the connection rod 2. On both gripping devices 3, they lie on the right side of the connection rod 2 and open in the same direction to the right.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a gripping connector 3 without connection rod. The base frame of the gripping connector comprises on the upper side a fastening device for the joint 5. The axis 16 of the joint is arranged between two side plates 19. In the upward direction, the joint is covered by a cover plate 20. Below the joint, the upper gripping jaw 6 is located, which is a component of the base frame. The rear wall 13 extends on the rear side, which rear wall 13 is limited in the downward direction by the receiver 14 for the lower gripping jaw 7. The lower gripping jaw 7 comprises two gripping elements that are held in the gripping jaw 7 and are part of the gripping jaw. The gripping elements are formed by a screw pin 11 and a gripping plate 9 attached thereto. The gripping surface 8 is attached to the gripping plate 9. The position of the gripping elements can be altered by turning the screw pins 11. If the tensioning screw 10 is tightened, the gripping plate 9 moves in the direction of the upper gripping jaw 6 and can thus grip a pipe element located between the gripping jaws. If the tensioning screw 10 is loosened, the gripping plate 9 moves downwards accordingly and once again releases a pipe element gripped between the gripping jaws. On the upper side of the gripping device, a weld-on eye 12 is additionally affixed as an attachment means. On the cover plate 20 of the joint, a stop 21 for the adjusting aid is arranged.

[0055] FIG. 3 schematically shows in a sectional view a clamping device according to the invention attached to a pipe element 18. The pipe element 18 is gripped between the gripping surfaces 8, of which two each are rigidly attached to the upper gripping jaw 6 and two are adjustably arranged on the lower gripping jaw 7. The gripping surfaces 8 of the lower gripping jaw 7 are attached to the gripping plates 9. The two gripping devices 3 are inclined in accordance with the curvature of the pipe element. They are fixed in their position by the adjusting aids. For this purpose, the set screw 15 is adjusted in the holder 14 such that it prevents an inward pivoting of the gripping devices.

[0056] All features and advantages arising from the claims, the specification, and the drawing, including constructive details, spatial arrangements, and method steps, can be essential to the invention both separately and also in the most widely different combinations.

TABLE-US-00001 List of Reference Numerals Clamping device 1 Connection rod 2 Gripping device 3 Reinforcing rib (base frame) 4 Joint 5 Upper gripping jaw (base frame) 6 Lower gripping jaw (base frame) 7 Gripping surface 8 Gripping plate 9 Tensioning screw 10 Screw pin 11 Adjusting aid 12 Rear wall (base frame) 13 Adjusting aid holder 14 Set screw 15 Axis (joint) 16 Weld-on plate 17 Pipe element 18 Side plates (joint) 19 Cover plate (joint) 20 Adjusting aid stop 21