DE102021105514A1 - Mobile tube welding machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile pipe welding machine (10) with (a) a welding unit (12) for welding pipes and (b) a pipe receiver (14) for feeding a pipe (36) to the welding unit (12), (c) the pipe receiver (14) has a distal end (16) facing away from the welding head (12) and a proximal end (18) facing the welding head (12). According to the invention, (d) a movement device (22) is provided, which is designed to change a height (h16) of the proximal end of the tube holder (14) by motor.

Description

The invention relates to a mobile pipe welding machine with (a) a welding unit for welding pipes and (b) a pipe pick-up for feeding a pipe to the welding unit, with (c) the pipe pick-up having a distal end facing away from the welding unit and a proximal end, which faces the welding unit has.

Pipe welding machines of this type are used, for example, to weld a pipeline together from a large number of pipes. The pipes are often made of plastic, especially polyethylene. It is desirable that the mobile pipe welding machine has the highest possible productivity. This means that as many pipes as possible can be welded per hour with the mobile pipe welding machine.

The object of the invention is to reduce the disadvantages of the prior art.

The invention solves the problem by means of a generic tube welding machine that has a movement device that is designed for motorized changing of a height position of the proximal end of the tube holder relative to the welding unit.

According to a second aspect, the invention solves the problem by a method for producing a pipeline, with the steps (i) bringing a pipe pickup of a pipe welding machine according to the invention into a pickup position by means of a movement device of the pipe welding machine, (ii) moving a pipe onto the support surface, (iii ) in particular automatically bringing the tube receiver into a feed position in which a center point of the centering inner circle is at the level of the welding axis, (iv) feeding the tube to the welding unit and (v) welding the tube to a pipeline. The angle of inclination in step (i) is preferably at least 5°, in particular at least 10°. in which at least part of the support surface runs at an angle of inclination of no more than 30°, in particular no more than 25°, to the horizontal,

According to a third aspect, the invention also solves the problem by means of a generic tube welding machine that has a tube centering device that has at least one support roller and at least one guide roller. The at least one support roller and the at least one guide roller form a guide for the pipe.

The tube centering preferably has a tube centering drive, by means of which a tube centering inner circle diameter of a centering inner circle can be changed, in particular automatically. It is favorable if the tube centering is attached to the tube receiver. It is advantageous if this pipe welding machine has the moving device mentioned above and/or has the following pipe discharge guide and lifting drive.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention also solves the problem by a generic pipe welding machine, which (a) has a pipe discharge guide which (i) is arranged behind the welding unit with respect to a direction of movement of a pipe resulting from the welding of the pipes and (ii) at least a hold down roller for exerting a hold down force on the pipeline from above; and (b) an elevator drive arranged to automatically move the at least one hold down roller. It is advantageous if this tube welding machine has the aforesaid moving device and/or has the aforesaid tube centering.

The preferred embodiments of the invention described below relate to all aspects of the invention.

The advantage of the invention is that it is usually possible to weld pipes of different diameters easily with the pipe welding machine. Since the height of the proximal end of the tube receiver can be adjusted, the tubes can always be fed to the welding unit at the height at which the welding unit can optimally weld the tubes.

It is also desirable that there is often little wear on the components of the tube welding machine. Since the height of the proximal end of the tube receiver can be changed, constraining forces on the components of the tube welding machine are reduced.

In the context of the present description, the mobile pipe welding machine is understood to mean, in particular, a pipe welding machine that can be moved automatically.

A pipe welding machine is understood to mean, in particular, a device by means of which plastic pipes or metal pipes, in particular steel pipes, are welded.

The welding unit is understood to mean, in particular, a machine by means of which pipes are automatically welded. In particular acts the welding unit is an orbital welding machine.

The mobile pipe welding machine is preferably designed to be self-propelled, for which purpose it can have a chassis. It is favorable if the chassis is a caterpillar drive, ie a chain drive. In this case, the mobile pipe welding machine can also be called a welder.

The movement device is preferably designed to change a height position of the distal end of the tube holder by means of a motor. In particular, the movement device can be designed for motorized changing of the height of the distal end independently of the height of the proximal end. In this case, an inclination of the pipe pickup can be changed. This in turn makes it possible--which represents a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention--for the pipe pickup to have an angle of inclination of less than 10° when picking up the pipe. This makes it easier to pick up the tube and reduces buckling forces on the tube and/or forces on the ends of the tube.

A movement device designed in this way also makes it possible to lift the pipe and feed it to the welding unit at an angle of inclination of at least −5°, in particular 0°.

The angle of inclination is measured from the horizontal. A negative tilt angle means that the distal end is located lower than the proximal end.

A support roller is understood to mean a roller that absorbs the weight of the pipe. The centering inner circle is the circle that describes the outer circumference of a maximum diameter tube that will fit in the tube centering.

The support roller preferably forms a concave support structure for the tube. This means that a pipe picked up by the at least one support roller is in a stable position. A lateral deflection from this position leads to a restoring force.

Sections of the supporting roller can be in the form of a section of a cone. The supporting roller preferably has two sections in the shape of a section of a cone.

It is also possible for the support roller to have a guide curve which is convex in sections and concave in sections. The trajectory is the curve that results when the back-up roller is cut along a plane that passes through the axis of rotation of the back-up roller. The concept of the guide curve is used here as in mathematics.

If the support roller is frustoconical in one section, the trajectory in this section is a straight line. It can be advantageous if the guide curve is concave at least in sections, since this increases the area along which a tube lies against the support roller.

The tube centering device preferably has a first support roller and a second support roller. The first support roller is preferably inclined at a support roller angle to the horizontal. The second support roller is preferably inclined at a second support roller angle to the horizontal.

The support rollers preferably form a concave support structure for the tube. The support rollers can be in the form of a cone section, at least in sections. It is also possible for the support rollers to have a guide curve which is convex, concave or convex in sections and concave in sections. It can be beneficial if the trajectory is concave as this increases the area along which a pipe will bear against the support roller.

If the backup roll is not frustoconical, the backup roll angle is calculated from the compensating truncated cone, which is determined by minimizing the least squares.

The support roller angles preferably deviate from each other by a maximum of 5°.

A guide roller is understood to mean, in particular, a roller that guides the pipe from above and/or from the side.

The guide roller preferably forms a concave guide structure for the tube. Sections of the guide roller can be in the form of a section of a cone. The guide roller preferably has two sections in the shape of a section of a cone.

It is also possible for the guide roller to have a guide curve which is convex in sections and concave in sections. It can be advantageous if the guide curve is concave at least in sections, since this increases the area along which a pipe bears against the guide roller.

The tube centering device preferably has a first guide roller and a second guide roller. The first guide roller is preferably inclined at a guide roller angle to the horizontal. The second guide roller is preferably inclined at a second guide roller angle to the horizontal.

If the guide roller is not frustoconical, the guide roller angle is calculated from the compensating truncated cone.

The guide roller angles preferably deviate from each other by a maximum of 5°.

The tube centering is preferably connected to the tube holder in such a way that a position of the centering inner circle of the tube centering can be changed by means of the movement device.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pipe picker has a roller conveyor which has a plurality of rollers. It is possible, but not necessary, for one, two, three or more, in particular all, rollers of the roller conveyor to be driven. It is favorable if the rollers do not have a drive.

The support roller is preferably arranged as an extension of the roller conveyor. In particular, a support roller is considered to be arranged in an extension of the roller conveyor if a tube which rests on the support roller also rests on at least two-thirds of the rollers of the adjacent section of the roller conveyor. The roller conveyor preferably extends along a cylindrical bearing surface. This means that a pipe rests on the roller conveyor in such a way that the rollers are in contact with a lateral surface of the pipe.

The welding machine preferably has a welding axis height which corresponds to the height of a center point of the pipe in welding above the ground when the pipe welding machine stands on the ground.

It is advantageous if the pipe pick-up can be brought into a pick-up position, in particular automatically, by means of the movement device for picking up the pipe. In the receiving position, the tube can be moved onto the support surface.

In the receiving position, at least part of the support surface is inclined at an angle of inclination of at most 30°, in particular at most 25°, preferably 20°, to the horizontal.

A proximal end distance of the proximal end from the bottom of the receiving position is preferably at most one tenth of the welding axis height, in particular at most 20 cm, preferably at most 15 cm.

It is advantageous if the tube pick-up can be brought into a feeding position by means of the movement device, in particular automatically, in order to pick up the tube. In the feed position, the pipe can be fed to the welding unit. In the feed position, a center point of the centering inner circle is at the level of the welding axis. This means in particular that the difference in height between the center point of the centering inner circle on the one hand and the height of the welding axis on the other hand is at most 20 cm, in particular at most 10 cm, preferably at most 5 cm.

It is favorable if the support surface runs at an angle of inclination of at least −5°, in particular at least 0°, preferably at least 3°, in the feed position. The angle of inclination is preferably smaller in the feeding position than in the receiving position. It is favorable if the angle of inclination in the feed position is at least 10° smaller than in the feed position.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pipe discharge guide has at least one support roller for exerting a support force on the pipeline from below. This support roller is preferably movable in the vertical direction so that the support roller can be lowered to allow a weld bead to pass.

The pipe take-off guide preferably has a hold down roller by means of which a force can be exerted from above on the welded pipe and thus on an end of the pipe. The hold-down roller is also preferably movable in the vertical direction.

It is particularly favorable if the support roller and the hold-down roller are attached to a cradle that can be pivoted about a cradle axis of rotation. The cradle could also be referred to as a fag or rocker. What is decisive is that both the support roller and the hold-down roller can be pivoted about a common axis of rotation of the cradle by means of the cradle. When the backup roller moves up, the hold down roller moves down and vice versa.

Preferably, the lead-off guide has a lift drive for pivoting the cradle. By actuating the lifting drive, the support roller can be moved up and the hold-down roller down at the same time.

The axis of rotation of the cradle is preferably arranged at the level of the welding axis. This makes it possible to horizontally align the section of the pipeline against which the support roller and the hold-down roller rest by actuating the lifting drive. The mobile pipe welding machine preferably has a machine controller, by means of which the welding unit, possibly the lifting drive, and the chassis can be controlled. It is possible, It is not necessary, however, for the machine control to be a spatially concentrated device. In particular, the machine control can have various sub-controls that are connected to one another.

The machine control is preferably designed to automatically carry out a method with the following steps: (i) activating the welding unit for welding a pipe to a pipeline, so that a welding bead is formed, (ii) activating the lifting drive for raising the hold-down roller, (iii) activating a undercarriage so that the tube welding machine moves, and (iv) actuating the lifting drive to lower the hold-down roll once the weld bead has passed the support roll. This prevents the support roller from damaging the welding bead, for example partially shearing it off.

The feature that the machine control is designed to carry out this method automatically means in particular that the machine control carries out the specified steps without any controlling intervention by a human being. It is possible for the method itself or partial steps thereof to be initiated by the input of an operator.

The method according to the invention preferably has the following steps: (i) activating the welding unit for welding a pipe to a pipeline so that a welding bead is formed, (ii) activating the lifting drive for raising the hold-down roller, (iii) activating a chassis so that the pipe welding machine moves, and (iv) commanding the lift drive to lower the hold down roll once the weld bead has passed the backup roll.

In order to facilitate transport of the tube welding machine, the tube receiver preferably has a main section and a foot section, the foot section being arranged at the distal end of the tube receiver, the foot section being hinged to the main section and in a folded position in which the foot section and main section are in their Longitudinally are arranged along each other, and can be brought into a folded-out position in which the foot section and main section are arranged one behind the other. The foot section is brought into the folded position for transport.

It is favorable if the tube holder has a tube lifter, by means of which the tube can be lifted at a free end, in particular on its lateral surface. The pipe lifter preferably has two shoes, by means of which the pipe can be contacted, preferably exclusively, from the side. It is then possible to slide the shoes at least partially under the tube and then lift the tube by lateral contact. Such a pipe lifter is particularly robust and can be built in a compact manner.

• (i) Ansteuern des Schweißaggregats einer erfindungsgemäßen Rohrschweißmaschine zum Verschweißen eines Rohrs mit einer Rohrleitung, sodass eine Schweißwulst entsteht, (ii) Ansteuern des Hebeantriebs zum Anheben der Niederhalterolle, (iii) Ansteuern eines Fahrwerks, sodass sich die Rohrschweißmaschine bewegt, und (iv) Ansteuern des Hebeantriebs zum Absenken der Niederhalterolle, sobald die Schweißwulst die Unterstützungsrolle passiert hat.

According to the invention is also a method that has the following steps:

• (i) activating the welding unit of a pipe welding machine according to the invention for welding a pipe to a pipeline so that a welding bead is formed, (ii) activating the lifting drive for raising the hold-down roller, (iii) activating a chassis so that the pipe welding machine moves, and (iv) Activation of the lifting drive to lower the hold-down roller as soon as the welding bead has passed the support roller.

• 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Rohrschweißmaschine,
• 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Rohraufnehmers der Rohrschweißmaschine gemäß 1,
• 3 in 3a eine Ansicht auf eine Rohrzentrierung aus Sicht des Schweißaggregats und in 3 b eine Ansicht auf die Rohrzentrierung vom distalen Ende aus gesehen,
• 4 eine perspektivische Ansicht von schräg unten auf den Rohraufnehmer und
• 5 eine perspektivische Ansicht auf eine Rohrableitungsführung einer erfindungsgemäßen Rohrschweißmaschine.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings. while showing

• 1 a perspective view of a pipe welding machine according to the invention,
• 2 a perspective view of a tube receiver of the tube welding machine according to FIG 1 ,
• 3 in 3a a view of a tube centering from the perspective of the welding unit and in 3 b a view of the tube centering seen from the distal end,
• 4 a perspective view obliquely from below of the tube receiver and
• 5 a perspective view of a pipe discharge guide of a pipe welding machine according to the invention.

1 shows a specific view of a tube welding machine 10 according to the invention, which has a welding unit 12 and a tube receiver 14 . The tube receiver 14 has a distal end 16 spaced from the welding assembly 12 and a proximal end 18. The tube receiver 14 is secured at the proximal end 18 to a chassis 20 of the tube welding machine 10. By means of a moving device 22 (see 2 ) a height of the proximal end 18 can be changed.

The pipe welding machine 10 has a chassis 24 which is driven by a motor 26, for example a diesel engine. The pipe welding machine 10 is therefore self-propelled. The chassis 24 is in the present case as a chain drove trained so that the pipe welding machine 10 can also be referred to as a weld bead.

2 shows a perspective view of the tube receiver 14. It can be seen that the movement device 22 is designed as a hydraulic drive and has a first hydraulic cylinder 28.1. A height h ₁₈ of the proximal end 18 can be changed by means of the first hydraulic cylinder 28.1.

If the first hydraulic cylinder 28.1 is extended, a rocker arm 30 pivots upwards, as a result of which the height h ₁₈ increases. The altitude h ₁₈ is the distance of the proximal end 18 from the floor B on which the pipe welding machine 10 stands. The altitude h ₁₈ corresponds to a z-coordinate in a coordinate system 30 in which the x-axis and the y-axis are horizontal and level with the ground.

Extending the hydraulic cylinder 28.1 also increases the height h ₁₆ of the distal end 16.

The tube welding machine 10 has a tube centering device 32, which could also be referred to as a tube centering device. The tube centering 32 has a first support roller 34.1 and a second support roller 34.2. The two support rollers 34.1, 34.2 run at a respective support roller angle σ1, σ2 to the horizontal H (see 3b) . The support rollers 34.1, 34.2 form a concave support structure for a tube 36. The support roller angle σ is measured from the upper edge of the respective support roller to the horizontal H. Only when the support roller is cylindrical does it coincide with the angle between the axis of rotation and the horizontal H.

3b also shows that the tube centering device 32 has a first guide roller 38.1 and a second guide roller 38.2. The two guide rollers 38.1, 38.2 are inclined to the horizontal H at a respective guide roller angle φ1, φ2. The guide rollers 38.1, 38.2 are fastened to a yoke 40, the position of which relative to the support rollers 34.1, 34.2 can be changed by means of a second hydraulic cylinder 28.2. As a result, the centering inner circle diameter D of a centering inner circle K is adjustable. The centering inner circle K corresponds to the outer diameter of the tube 36, which is touched by all the rollers 34.1, 34.2, 38.1, 38.2.

2 shows that the direction of movement 22 also has a third hydraulic cylinder 28.3, which acts parallel to the first hydraulic cylinder 28.1, and a fourth hydraulic cylinder 28.4, which acts parallel to the second hydraulic cylinder 28.2.

The tube holder 14 has, as in 2 1, a foot portion 42 at distal end 16 which is hinged to a main portion 44. As shown in FIG. The main section 44 is attached to the chassis 20 . The foot section 42 can be pivoted relative to the main section 44 by means of a hydraulic cylinder 28.5.

The tube receiver 14 has a plurality of rollers 44.i (i=1, . . . , N; 2<N<200, here N=8) which form a roller conveyor 46. The support rollers 34.1, 34.2 are arranged as an extension of the roller conveyor 46. An imaginary pipe resting on the rollers 44.i can roll onto the support rollers without constraining forces that lead to buckling of the pipe.

1 shows that the welding unit 12 has a welding axis As, which usually runs horizontally. The welding axis As is at a welding axis height h _A above the floor. If the welding unit 12 welds a pipe, its longitudinal axis, ie the cylinder axis, runs at welding axis height h _A . by means of the in 2 With the moving device 22 shown, a pipe can always be positioned relative to the welding unit in such a way that a longitudinal pipe axis A _R coincides with the welding axis As.

For this purpose, a machine control 46 controls (cf 1 ) the movement device 22 in such a way that the hydraulic cylinder 28.1 retracts first. As a result, the height h ₁₆ of the distal end 16 decreases until it rests on the floor B. An angle of inclination v14 between the main section 44 of the pipe holder 14 and the horizontal H is then, for example, v14=10°. The angle of inclination is determined by means of a tube received on the main section 44 by the tube receiver.

In 2 4, the foot section 42 and the main section 44 are shown in their deployed position in which they are placed in tandem.

For ease of transport of the pipe welding machine 10, the foot section 42 can be folded into a folded position and then extends along the main section 44. In the unfolded position, the foot section 42 is rotated approximately 180° compared to the angular position in the folded position .

The machine control then controls the chassis 24 in such a way that the pipe welding machine 10 moves forward. This pushes the tube onto the foot section 42 . Around a front To protect the pipe, it is possible to lift the end of the pipe by means of a pipe lifter 50.

The pipe lifter 50 has two shoes 52.1, 52.2 which are spaced apart transversely to the longitudinal direction of the pipe. The shoes 52.1, 52.2 can be raised by means of a lifting cylinder 54.1, which is a hydraulic cylinder. With a further forward movement of the pipe welding machine 10, the pipe then moves on rollers 55.j of the foot section 42.

The rollers 55.j and the support rollers 34.i form a support for the pipe 36 (cf 3b) .

The hydraulic cylinders 28.1, 28.2 are then extended. This reduces the angle of inclination v14. The pipe welding machine 10 continues to move forward in this way until the pipe is received on the pipe receiver 14 . It is possible, but not necessary, for the pipe to rest on the pipe holder 14 over its entire length.

The hydraulic cylinders 28.1, 28.2 are then extended further until the entire pipe receiver 14, including the main section 44, assumes an angle of inclination of v>0°, for example. The tube 36 lying on the tube receiver 14 then slopes downwards towards the proximal end 18 and pushes in this direction.

The extension of the hydraulic cylinders 28.1, 28.2 also raises the pipe so that its longitudinal pipe axis A _R coincides with the welding axis As. The pipe is then welded to the existing pipeline using the welding unit.

5 shows the chassis 20 of the tube welding machine. A pipe discharge guide 58 is arranged behind the welding unit 12 with respect to a direction of movement R of a pipeline 56 that has been created by the welding of pipes. The lead-out guide has a hold-down roller 60 for applying a hold-down force to the pipe 56 from above. The lead-out guide 58 also has a backup roller 62 that is spaced further from the weld assembly 12 than the hold-down roller 60.

The hold-down roller 60 and the support roller 62, in the present case the support rollers 62.1, 62.2, are fastened to a cradle ₆₄ which is pivoted about a cradle axis of rotation D64. The cradle 64 can be pivoted about the cradle axis of rotation D ₆₄ by means of a lifting drive 66 .

After the pipe has been placed in a horizontal position as described above, it is welded to the pipeline. This creates a weld bead. After the welding, the machine control 46 controls the chassis 24 in such a way that the pipe welding machine moves forward. As a result, the pipe 56 moves in a direction of movement R relative to the chassis 20.

Shortly before the weld bead hits the hold-down roller 60, the machine controller 46 controls the lifting drive 66 in such a way that the support roller 62 lowers and the hold-down roller 60 rises. This causes the hold-down roller 60 to lose contact with the tubing 56, allowing the weld bead to pass through the hold-down roller 60 without being sheared by it.

As soon as the welding bead has passed the hold-down roller 60, the machine control 46 controls the lifting drive 66 in such a way that the support roller 62 is raised and the hold-down roller 60 is lowered. This causes the hold-down roller 60 to again contact the tubing 56 at its free end 68, forcing it downward. In this position, the free end 68 of the pipe 56 runs at least substantially horizontally. This means in particular that an angular deviation from a strictly horizontal alignment of ±5° is possible.

Reference List

10

tube welding machine

12

welding unit

14

pipe pickup

16

distal end

18

proximal end

20

chassis

22

moving device

24

landing gear

26

engine

28

hydraulic cylinder

30

coordinate system

32

pipe centering

34

support roller

36

Pipe

38

leadership role

40

yoke

42

foot section

44

main section

45

role

46

machine control

48

hydraulic unit

50

pipe jack

52

shoe

54

role

56

pipeline

58

pipe discharge guide

60

hold-down roller

62

support role

64

cradle

66

lifting drive

68

free end

AR

pipe longitudinal axis

ace

welding axis

B

floor

D

centering inner circle diameter

D64

cradle axis of rotation

H

horizontal

h16

altitude

Ha

welding axis height

i,j

running index

K

centering inner circle

R

direction of movement

v

tilt angle

Claims (14)

Mobile pipe welding machine (10) with (a) a welding unit (12) for welding pipes and (b) a pipe pick-up (14) for feeding a pipe (36) to the welding unit (12), (c) the pipe pick-up (14) a distal end (16) facing away from the welding unit (12) and a proximal end (18) facing the welding unit (12), characterized by (d) a movement device (22) which is designed for motorized Changing a height (h ₁₆ ) of the proximal end of the tube receiver (14). Pipe welding machine (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the movement device (22) is designed for motorized changing of a height (h ₁₆ ) of the distal end of the tube holder (14). Pipe welding machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by (a) a pipe centering device (32) which has at least one support roller (34) and at least one guide roller (38), (b) the at least one support roller (34) and the at least one guide roller (38) forms a guide for the tube and (c) the tube centering (32) having a tube centering drive, by means of which a centering inner circle diameter (D) of a centering inner circle (K) can be changed; (d) preferably: wherein the tube locator (32) is attached to the tube receiver (14). Pipe welding machine (10) according to claim 3 , characterized in that (a) the tube centering (32) - has a first support roller (34.1) which is inclined to the horizontal (H) and - a second support roller (34.2) which is inclined to the horizontal (H), - so that the support rollers (34) form a concave support structure for the pipe, and/or that (b) the pipe centering (32) - a first guide roller (38.1) inclined to the horizontal (H), and - a second guide roller ( 38.2) which is inclined to the horizontal (H), - so that the guide rollers (38) form a concave guide structure for the tube (36). Pipe welding machine (10) according to one of claims 3 or 4 , characterized in that (a) the tube pick-up (14) has a roller conveyor with a plurality of rollers (45) and (b) the support roller (34) is arranged as an extension of the roller conveyor. Pipe welding machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that (a) the pipe holder (14) extends along a support surface for picking up the pipe (36), (b) the welding unit (12) has a welding axis height (hA) of the roller conveyor which corresponds to the height of a midpoint of the pipe (36) in welding above the ground when the pipe welding machine (10) stands on the ground, and (c) the pipe receiver (14) by means of the moving device (22) (i) into a Pick-up position in which - at least a part of the support surface runs at a pick-up angle of at most 25° to the horizontal (H) and - in which the tube (36) can be moved onto the support surface, and (ii) into a feed position in which - the tube (36) can be fed to the welding unit (12), - a center point of the centering inner circle is at welding axis height (h _A ), is movable. Mobile pipe welding machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by (a) a pipe discharge guide (58) which (i) with respect to a direction of movement (R) of a pipeline (56) resulting from the welding of pipes (36), is arranged behind the welding unit (12), and (ii) has at least one hold-down roller (60) for exerting a hold-down force on the pipeline (56) from above, and (b) a lifting drive (66) which is arranged for automatically moving the at least one hold-down roller (60). Pipe welding machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that (a) the pipe discharge guide (58) has at least one support roller (62) for exerting a support force from below on the pipe (56), (b) the at least one support roller ( 62) and the at least one hold-down roller (60) are attached to a cradle (64) which can be pivoted about a cradle axis of rotation (D ₆₄ ), and that (c) the lifting drive (66) is arranged for pivoting the cradle (64). . Pipe welding machine (10) according to claim 8 , characterized in that (a) the welding unit (12) has a longitudinal axis of the welding unit which corresponds to the longitudinal axis of a pipe (36) during welding in a weld seam plane of a weld seam produced and that (b) the cradle axis of rotation (D ₆₄ ) is at the height of the welding axis ( h _A ) is arranged. Pipe welding machine (10) according to one of Claims 7 until 9 , characterized in that a machine control (46) of the pipe welding machine (10) is designed to automatically carry out a method with the steps: (i) controlling the welding unit (12) for welding a pipe (36) to a pipeline (56) so that a weld bead is formed, (ii) controlling the lifting drive (66) to lift the hold-down roller (60), (iii) controlling a chassis (24) so that the pipe welding machine (10) moves, and (iv) controlling the lifting drive (66) to lower the hold-down roller (60). Pipe welding machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that (a) the pipe receiver (14) has a main section (44) and a foot section (42), (b) the foot section (42) at the distal end of the pipe receiver (14 ) is arranged, (c) the foot section (42) is articulated on the main section (44) and - in a folded position, in which the foot section (42) and main section (44) are arranged in their longitudinal directions along each other, and - in a Unfolded position, in which the foot section (42) and main section (44) are arranged one behind the other, can be brought. Pipe welding machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that (a) the pipe holder (14) has a pipe lifter (50) by means of which the pipe (36) can be lifted at one end, (b) the pipe lifter (50) has two shoes (52) by means of which the pipe (36) can only be contacted laterally. Method for manufacturing a pipeline (56), with the steps: (i) Bringing a tube pickup (14) of a tube welding machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims into a pickup position in which at least part of the support surface runs at a pickup angle of at most 30° to the horizontal (H), by means of a movement device (22) the tube welding machine (10), (ii) moving a tube (36) onto the support surface, (iii) bringing the tube receiver (14) into a feed position in which a center point of the centering inner circle (K) is at the welding axis height (hA), (iv) feeding the pipe (36) to the welding unit (12) and (v) welding the tube (36) to a pipe (56). procedure after Claim 13 , characterized by the steps: (i) activating the welding unit (12) for welding a pipe (36) to a pipeline (56) so that a welding bead is formed, (ii) activating the lifting drive (66) for lifting the hold-down roller (60) , (iii) controlling an undercarriage (24) so that the pipe welding machine (10) moves, and (iv) controlling the lifting drive (66) to lower the hold-down roller (60). PL/be

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