METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CENTERING AND TEMPORARY FIXATION OF TUBE PARTS

Abstract

Method and device for centering and temporary fixation of tube parts (1, 5) in relation to each other's interior surfaces. A first tool (9) is centered relative to a tube part interior surface (2, 6) by a radially adjustable centering mechanism (13). The centering mechanism (13) is insertable in the tube part (1, 5). A second tool (10) is centered relative to the first tool (9), by a guiding mechanism (15) which cooperates for centering of the tools (9, 10) relative to one another. The second tool comprises fixing mechanism (17) to fix the exterior surface of the tube part (1, 5) to the second tool (10), and at least one third guide (18) which centers two such second tools (10) relative to one another in their mounted position on respective tube part end (4, 8) and at least one coupling member (19) to connect the two second tools (10).

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A method for centering and temporary fixation of tube parts relative to each other before a joint welding operation of the tube parts to one another, where a first tube part (1) comprises a first interior surface (2), a first exterior surface (3) and a first tube part end (4), and a second tube part (5) comprises a second interior surface (6), a second exterior surface (7) and a second tube part end (8), the method comprising: a. centering a first tool (9) relative to the interior surface (2) of the first tube part (1), b. centering a second tool (10) in relation to the first tool (9), c. fixing the first tube part (1) at its exterior surface (3) with the second tool (10), whereby said tube part (1) thereby is fixed and centered relative to the second tool (10), d. removing the first tool (9) from the first tube part (1), e. repeating steps a-d in the same way for the second tube part (5), and f. both second tools (10), arranged at respective first and second tube part (1, 5), are centered relative to each other and are connected, whereby the tube parts (1, 5) will be centered relative to each other with respect to the interior surfaces (2, 6), and further fixed with a predetermined distance between respective tube part end (4, 8).

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising rotating the tube parts (1, 5) in their centered and connected position to a desired rotation angle relative to each other, around a common center axis (11) in the connected position.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising placing at least one spacer (12) of a predetermined thickness between the tube part ends (4, 8) whereafter the tube parts (1, 5) are displaced towards the spacer/spacers (12) until the tube part ends (4, 8) abuts said spacer/spacers and thereby a desired distance between the tube part ends (4, 8) is achieved.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising fixing both second tools (10) relative to one another in a desired position.

18. A device for centering a tube part before a joint welding operation of tube parts to one another, where a first tube part (1) comprises a first interior surface (2), a first exterior surface (3) and a first tube part end (4), and the device comprises a first tool (9) which is arranged to be centered relative to the interior surface (2) of the tube part by that the first tool (9) comprises centering means (13), which are radially adjustable relative to a center axis (14) of the first tool, and the centering means (13) of the first tool (9) is insertable in the tube part (1), wherein a second tool (10) is arranged to be centered relative to the first tool (9), by the first tool (9) comprises at least one first guide (15) and that the second tool (10) comprises at least one second guide (16), which guides (15, 16) cooperates for centering of the tools (9, 10) relative to one another.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the second tool (10) comprises fixing means (17) which is arranged to fix the exterior surface (3) of the tube part to the second tool (10).

20. A device for centering and temporary fixation of tube parts in relation to each other before a joint welding operation of tube parts to one another, where a first tube part (1) comprises a first interior surface (2), a first exterior surface (3) and a first tube part end (4), and a second tube part (5) comprises a second interior surface (6), a second exterior surface (7) and a second tube part end (8), and the device comprises a first tool (9) which is arranged to be centered relative to a tube part interior surface (2, 6) by that the first tool (9) comprises centering means (13), which are radially adjustable relative to a center axis (14) of the first tool, and the centering means (13) of the first tool (9) are insertable in the tube part (1, 5), wherein a second tool (10) is arranged to be centered relative to the first tool (9), by that the first tool (9) comprises at least one first guide (15) and the second tool (10) comprises at least one second guide (16), which guides (15, 16) cooperates for centering of the tools (9, 10) relative to one another, and the second tool (10) further comprises fixing means (17), which are arranged to fix the exterior surface (3, 7) of the tube part (1, 5) to the second tool (10), and the device comprises at least one third guide (18) which centers two, substantially equal, second tools (10) relative to one another in their mounted position on respective first and second tube part end (4, 8), and at least one coupling member (19), which is arranged to connect the two second tools (10) when they are arranged on respective first and second tube part end (4, 8).

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the coupling member (19) is arranged at the second tool (10), which coupling member (19) is arranged to connect the second tool (10), arranged at the first tube part end (4), with a corresponding, substantially equal, second tool (10), arranged at the second tube part end (8).

22. The device according to claim 20, wherein each coupling member (19) is arranged to, in the connected position, fix both second tools (10) in a predetermined, axial distance relative to one another, but at the same time allow both the second tools (10) to be rotated relative to one another, around a common center axis (11).

23. The device according to claim 20, wherein each coupling member (19), in the connected position, is adjustable regarding the axial distance between the both second tools (10), and the distance between respective first and second tube part end (4, 8) is adjustable.

24. The device according to claim 18, wherein at least one coupling member (19) is arranged to lock the both second tools (10) to one another in an end position, after adjustment of the distance between the tube parts ends (4, 8) and their mutual rotation relative to one another.

25. The device according to claim 20, wherein at least one of the both second tools (10) comprises a scale, which scale shows the rotational angle between the both second tools (10).

26. The device according to claim 20, wherein the second tool (10) is divisible.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] The present invention will hereinafter be explained by way of a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1a shows an embodiment of the first tool.

[0028] FIG. 1b shows an embodiment of the second tool.

[0029] FIG. 1c shows the first and the second tool which are centered and fixed at a tube part end.

[0030] FIG. 2a shows two tube parts which shall be centered relative to each other.

[0031] FIG. 2b shows the two tube parts when centered in relation to their respective interior surfaces and connected.

[0032] The constructional design of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings showing preferred but not limiting embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0033] FIG. 1a shows a first tool (9) which according to the preferred embodiment is designed with three arms (23), which are attached to a central cylinder (20). The respective arm (23) comprises an elongated groove (24) in the radial direction in relation to a center axis (14) of the first tool. In respective groove (24) is a centering means (13) in the form of a radially displaceable lug arranged to run. The radially centering means (13) are respectively attached to a, relative to the center axis (14) of the first tool (9), axially displaceable cylinder (22), via a respective link arm (25). Around the central cylinder (20) is also a spring (21) arranged, between the displaceable cylinder (22) and a stop lug (26), which is fixedly arranged at one 1C) end of the central cylinder (20), see also FIG. 1c. The respective arm (23) also comprises a respective first guide (15) near its outer end, in the preferred example in the form of a guide lug.

[0034] FIG. 1b shows a second tool (10) which according to the preferred embodiment is designed as a ring. The second tool (10) comprises a second guide (16) in the form of a ring-shaped groove, arranged in the tool material. Further the second tool (10) comprises a number of fixing means (17), preferably three or more, and according to the embodiment in the form of a number of screws. These are arranged to be screwed in radial direction or outwards relative a center axis (27) of the second tool (10). In the figure is also three pieces of a third guide (18) visible, which each are arranged to fit in the second guide (16), which is explained below in connection to FIG. 2a-2b. The second tool (10) preferably also comprises recesses (28) (not visible), which, where applicable, are arranged to be used in connection with connection of two identical/similar second tools (10) to each other, which is explained in FIG. 2b, as an alternative embodiment.

[0035] FIG. 1c shows the first and the second tool (9, 10) in a coupled position, on a first tube part (1). The assembly procedure is as follows. Preferably the second tool (10) is temporary hanged on the first tube part (1) to be in position for the forthcoming assembly. The first tool (9) is thereafter mounted by that the axially displaceable cylinder (22) is displaced in direction towards the first stop lug (26) whereby the spring (21) is compressed and the radially displaceable centering means (13) are displaced inwards, towards the center axis (14) of the first tool (9), by that they are running in the groove (24). Hereby the centering means (13) can be inserted in the first tube part end (4) of the first tube part (1). Preferably the first tool (9) is moved in that direction until the arms (23) abuts the first tube part end (4). Thereafter, the spring force is released or decreased by that the axially displaceable cylinder (22) is released or displaced in direction towards the first tube part end (4), whereby the centering means (13) ejects in radial direction until they abut a first interior surface (2) of the first tube part (1). Hereby the first tool (9) is centered relative to the interior surface (2). The next step is to center the second tool (10) relative to the first tool (9) and this is possible by that the first guides (15) are subsumed in the second guide (16)—according the embodiment namely the lug (15) of the first tool (9) is inserted in the groove (16) of the second tool. In this way also the second tool (10) gets centered relative to the first interior surface (2) of the first tube part (1). By the fixing means (17) the first tube part (1) is then locked to the second tool (10) in the centered position by screwing the fixing means/screws inwards towards a first exterior surface (3) of the first tube part (1).

[0036] FIG. 2a both shows the first tube part (1) with the second tool (10) mounted in the centered position, and also the first tool (9), still in the mounted position. Further, a second tube part (5) is shown, with a second interior surface (6), a second exterior surface (7) and a second tube part end (8). Another second tool (10) is arranged in the same way at this second tube part (5) in the manner just described (FIG. 1c), whereby it is centered relative to the second tube part interior surface (6). In this position the first tool (9) is removed from the tube part (1, 5) where it was last used, the same first tool (9) can of course be used at assembly of both the second tools (10)—one at a time. When the first tool (9) is removed, the previous described third guide (18) is subsumed in at least one of the both second tools (10) grooves/second guide (16). This third guide (18) can also advantageously be fixed to the second tool/tools (10). Now the both tube parts (1, 5) are moved towards each other whereby the third guide/guides (18) is/are inserted or are coordinated with the second guide (16) of the corresponding second tool (10). According to the example the third guide (18) is consisting of three free guide lugs which guides towards the groove in the opposing second tool (10). By the coordination of the guides (16, 18) the both second tools (10) are centered I relation to each other and becomes perfectly centered based on minimal edge misalignment between the interior surfaces (2, 6) of the two tube parts (1, 5), see also FIG. 2b and the corresponding description below.

[0037] FIG. 2b shows the first and the second tube part (1, 5) in their centered position relative to each other and relative to their interior surfaces (2, 6) with a common center axis (11). By the first tool (9) during assembly preferably is mounted with its arms (23) abutting the tube part end (4, 8) and then the second tool (10) is connected to the first tool (9), a determined distance between the second tool (10) and the tube part end is achieved, and then when the tube parts are brought together and by that the third guide (18) has a certain dimension, the both second tools (10) and their respective tube part end (4, 8) are positioned at a fixed distance from each other. Depending on the type of weld and on the, often drawing specified, welding gap referred to, the length dimension of the third guide (18) can be selected so that the distance between tube part ends (4, 8) becomes slightly larger than the welding gap that is present. Now, when both second tools (10) has been centered to each other, at least one but preferably more coupling members (19) are used to connect the tools (10). In the simplest form the coupling member (19) constitutes a clamp, but alternatively (not shown) it can be another form of locking device, which can hook together/connect the both second tools (10). This coupling member is preferably in the latter case arranged on at least one second tools (10). Additionally it is possible that the third guide (18) and the coupling member (19) are one and the same part, for example a clip-like hook, which both centers/controls and connects. Further, the coupling member (19) is arranged so that it connects the tools (10) so that it fixes the both second tools (10) in the axial direction, but not so firmly than to be rotatable relative to each other. Thus it is easy to turn the tube parts with the correct angle of rotation relative to each other, where this is requested, such as a tube bend which shall indicate the further route of the tube in relation to the previous pipeline construction. If another type of coupling member (19), than a clamp according to the figure, is used the second tool comprises one or more recesses (28) located so that for example a hook-like coupling member (19) or the like can be used for the axial but rotatable fixation. Once pairing is completed and the rotation likewise, the welding gap shall be adjusted exact. To achieve an exact welding gap are spacers (12) used, which spacers are located in the gap in a number of positions, whereafter the tube part ends are displaced towards the spacers (12) until they abuts the same and the correct distance is obtained. This is possible by either tightening the clamps/coupling members (19) or to the alternative design in that the coupling member (19) allows this displacement or includes means to set/affect this. When the correct welding gap is set the tube parts (1, 5) are locked to each other by the coupling member (19) and the welding operation can begin because the rigging is complete. The second tools (10) are obviously divisible to be removed from the tube parts, which preferably takes place after the pads been nested together.

PARTS LIST

[0038] 1=first tube part

[0039] 2=first interior surface

[0040] 3=first exterior surface

[0041] 4=first tube part end

[0042] 5=second tube part

[0043] 6=second interior surface

[0044] 7=second exterior surface

[0045] 8=second tube part end

[0046] 9=first tool

[0047] 10=second tool

[0048] 11=common center axis

[0049] 12=spacer

[0050] 13=centering means

[0051] 14=center axis (first tool)

[0052] 15=first guide

[0053] 16=second guide

[0054] 17=fixing means

[0055] 18=third guide

[0056] 19=coupling member

[0057] 20=central cylinder

[0058] 21=spring

[0059] 22=axial displaceable cylinder

[0060] 23=arm

[0061] 24=groove

[0062] 25=link arm

[0063] 26=stop lug

[0064] 27=center axis (second tool)

[0065] 28=recess

[0066] d.sub.i=inside diameter