Method And Device For Stripping The Insulation From Pre-Insulated Pipe Conduits

Abstract

A method and device for stripping the insulation from and peeling pre-insulated pipe ends by means of a peeling and cutting tool.

Claims

1. A method for stripping the insulation from and peeling pre-insulated pipe ends by means of a peeling and cutting tool (1), the method comprising: clamping the peeling and cutting tool (1) on the inside diameter of the medium-carrying pipe by means of a clamping unit (4), severing the jacket pipe along the outer circumference thereof and simultaneously cutting into the insulating layer by means of a cutting device (3) arranged on a support arm (2), wherein the support arm (2) is rotated about a guide unit (5) arranged coaxially with the clamping unit (4), removing the jacket pipe, separating the insulating layer from the outer circumferential surface of the medium-carrying pipe by means of a separating unit (6), wherein the separation is produced by a rising rotary motion of the separating unit (6) about the guide axis or pipe axis, starting from the pipe end face and proceeding as far as a predetermined pipe length or end position, removing the separated insulating layer from the medium-carrying pipe, peeling and removing the oxide layer of the outer circumferential surface of the medium-carrying pipe by means of a peeling unit (7), wherein peeling takes place in the same or in the opposite direction of rotation and rising as/from the separating process, starting from the end position of the predetermined pipe length or the end face of the pipe, wherein, before the jacket pipe is severed along the circumference, the jacket pipe is cut open and the insulating layer is cut into parallel to the pipe axis, preferably starting from the end face of the pipe and proceeding as far as a predetermined pipe length.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cut in the jacket pipe and the insulating layer, which cut extends parallel to the pipe axis, is performed by means of the same cutting device (3) as the severing cut along the circumference.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein after cutting open the jacket pipe and cutting into the insulating layer, the cutting device (3) is rotated by 90? about a centre of rotation in order to perform the severing cut along the circumference.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the separating unit (6) is optionally connected for conjoint rotation to the support arm (2) and is rotated jointly about the axis of the guide unit (5), or the separating unit (6) is mounted in such a way as to be rotatable relative to the support arm (2) about the axis of the guide unit (5), and the separating unit (6) is not simultaneously rotated as the support arm (2) is rotated, wherein the setting of the separating unit (6) with the support arm (2) is chosen in accordance with the processing step to be carried out.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the clamping unit (4), together with the guide unit (5) arranged coaxially in front of said unit, is not detached from the medium-carrying pipe, or remains on the medium-carrying pipe, during the entire insulation stripping process.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cutting device (3) arranged on the support arm (2) is replaced by the peeling unit (7).

7. A peeling and cutting tool (1) for stripping the insulation from and peeling pre-insulated pipe ends, comprising a clamping unit (4) for the central holding of the medium-carrying pipe end, a guide unit (5), wherein the guide unit (5) is designed as a spindle (13) and serves to provide the feed motion during the separating and peeling process, wherein the guide unit (5) is arranged coaxially in front of the clamping unit (4), further comprising a support arm (2), a bearing assembly (9), a guide sleeve (8), wherein the support arm (2) is mounted on a guide sleeve (8) by means of a bearing assembly (9), wherein the guide sleeve (8) is arranged on the guide unit (5), further including a separating unit (6), a cutting device (3) and a peeling unit (7), wherein the cutting device (3) and the peeling unit (7) are arranged interchangeably on the support arm (2), wherein a threaded segment (11) is arranged adjustably in the guide sleeve (8), said segment engaging with the spindle (13) and bringing about a feed motion or not engaging, depending on its position.

8. The peeling and cutting device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the threaded segment (11) is arranged in a fixing ring (10), wherein the fixing ring (10) has an eccentric recess, by means of which the threaded segment (11) can be brought into the corresponding position.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a peeling and cutting tool according to the invention with a clamped cutting device,

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a peeling and cutting tool according to the invention with a clamped cutting device,

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a cutting device,

[0045] FIG. 4 shows a front view of a peeling and cutting tool according to the invention with a clamped peeling unit,

[0046] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section through the bearing assembly of the support arm,

[0047] FIG. 6 shows a cross section through the fixing ring, and

[0048] FIG. 7 shows a cross section through the support arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0049] The drawing shown in FIG. 1 shows a front view of a peeling and cutting tool 1 according to the invention for stripping the insulation from and peeling pre-insulated pipe ends. The clamping unit 4 serves to clamp the peeling and cutting tool 1 on the inside diameter of the medium-carrying pipe. The clamping unit 4 allows central holding of the medium-carrying pipe, which is essential during the peeling of the outer circumferential surface and the removal of the oxide layer on the medium-carrying pipe at the end of the insulation stripping process in order to ensure a peeled surface at all points.

[0050] Arranged coaxially in front of the clamping unit 4 is the guide unit 5, which is firmly connected to the clamping unit 4 and serves to guide the peeling and cutting tool 1 or the support arm 2 and the associated devices 3 and units 6, 7. By means of the clamping unit 4, the peeling and cutting tool 1 is first of all secured on the inside diameter of the medium-carrying pipe, preferably only the clamping unit 4 with the guide unit 5 arranged thereon being secured on the pipe end and then the support arm 2 with the bearing assembly 9, the guide sleeve 8 and the separating unit 6 and preferably the cutting device 3 being mounted. The guide sleeve 8 is guided along the spindle 13. A radial cut parallel to the pipe axis is preferably introduced into the pipe end first of all, preferably by means of the cutting device 3, wherein this could also be carried out as a separate cut with a different tool. Once the predefined pipe length to be stripped of insulation has been achieved, the cutting device 3 is realigned, i.e. rotated by 90? about a centre of rotation. This is preferably achieved by means of a joint 16, as a result of which the cutting device 3 is pivotable, as can be clearly seen from FIG. 3. The predefined pipe length is formed by an end stop, thereby eliminating the need to measure the length to be stripped of insulation. The separating unit 6 is preferably used as an end stop, which strikes against the clamping unit 4 when the length has been reached. By means of the cutting device 3, the jacket pipe which surrounds the insulating layer is then severed, and the insulating layer is also cut into. Severing takes place along the pipe circumference when the peeling and cutting tool 1 is in the end position. For this purpose, the tool 1 is clamped by means of the fixing ring 10, which presses the threaded segment 11 onto the spindle 13, and by the contact of the end stop with the clamping unit at the end face. The fixing means 12 is set in such a way that the bearing assembly 9 is free and the support arm 2 with the cutting device 3 arranged thereon can be rotated. After a full rotation, the support arm 2 with the cutting device 3 arranged thereon is preferably removed from the guide unit 5 in order then to detach the jacket pipe, which has been completely severed, from the insulating layer, wherein the tool can also remain on the guide unit 5 in order to remove the jacket pipe. FIG. 2 shows the tool 1 according to the invention, in which the setting on the support arm 2 of the devices and units with reference to the pipe diameter to be processed is clearly visible.

[0051] The cutting device 3 is preferably exchanged with the peeling unit 7 when the support arm 2 or the peeling and cutting tool 1 is not arranged on the guide unit 5, wherein exchange is also possible when the tool 1 is mounted on the guide unit 5. FIG. 4 shows the peeling and cutting tool with the peeling unit 7 arranged on the support arm 2, the peeling unit having been exchanged with the cutting device 3. Moreover, the blade 14 has been mounted on the separating unit 6 in order to carry out the separation of the insulating layer from the medium-carrying pipe. To separate the insulating layer from the outer circumferential surface of the medium-carrying pipe, the threaded segment 11 is pressed against the spindle 13, counter to the springs 15 or spring force, which would otherwise press the threaded segment 11 outwards, by rotating the fixing ring 10 and the eccentric arranged therein or the recess designed as an eccentric, as can be seen in FIG. 6. This ensures that the threaded segment 11 engages with the spindle 13 and a feed motion is implemented during the rotation of the guide sleeve 8 or of the support arm 2, which is firmly connected to the guide sleeve 8 by way of the fixing means 12. As a result, the peeling and cutting tool 1 moves along the spindle 13, with the result that the blade 14 arranged on the separating unit 6 penetrates at the end face between the outer circumferential surface of the medium-carrying pipe and the insulating layer and, by virtue of the rising rotary motion of the separating unit and of the peeling and cutting tool, separates the insulating material from the medium-carrying pipe along the predetermined pipe length. Once the end position has been reached, the insulating layer is removed from the medium-carrying pipe. Since the outer circumferential surface of the medium-carrying pipe must still be peeled and the oxide layer removed to allow further use, e.g. welding or adhesive bonding, the peeling unit 7 has already been secured beforehand on the support arm 2, although it is also possible to secure the peeling unit 7 on the support arm 2 only after the separation of the insulating layer, which facilitates the rotation of the separating unit 6 during the separating process. Peeling of the outer circumferential surface of the medium pipe is implemented by means of a peeling unit 7 arranged on the support arm 2, wherein the peeling process can be carried out in the same or in the opposite direction of rotation and feed or direction of rise as/to the separating process.

[0052] In order to facilitate the rotation of the support arm 2, especially during the separating process, the peeling and cutting tool has a ratchet function, thereby enabling the support arm 2 to be rotated in steps.

[0053] FIG. 7 shows a cross section through the fixing means 12, which, on the one hand, allows locking of the bearing assembly 9 to the support arm 2 as well as the release of the bearing assembly 9 to enable the support arm 2 to be rotated freely about the guide sleeve. However, the depressions along the circumference of the guide sleeve 8 and the spring action of the fixing means 12 furthermore allow a ratchet function, which is intended to provide support in the case of the application of a large force.