EP1533051B1 - Device for straightening a tube - Google Patents

Abstract

The correcting device (1) by means of a radially expanding expander head (8) and at least one correcting saddle (3), which is in synchronized operation with the expander head. By this means, it can serve as a pipe adjusting device. A rod or beam (4) is introduced into the pipe along which the correcting saddle can move. It can also be pressed outwards by a pressing device (5).

Description

The invention relates to a device for straightening a tube having a radially expandable expander head immersed in the tube and at least one straightening saddle which can be positioned at a desired position along the longitudinal axis of the tube and radial to a part of the wall of the tube Force to direct the pipe. Document JP-A 61 099 522 shows a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the manufacture of pipes made of thick metal sheets, according to the U-O-E process, the compression molding process, the 3-roll bending process or ähnl. are formed into a round slotted tube and then welded, the tube material is subjected in continuous longitudinal seam welding usually a very high thermal load. When manufacturing a pipe in this way, there is thus the problem that the pipe is subject to a considerable delay due to the welding process. The tube is after the manufacturing process usually so odd (banana shape), so it must be addressed to achieve the required degree of straightness.

For straightening pipes devices of the type mentioned are in use, such systems have saddles or rollers, which are recognized from the outside of the pipe and act on the pipe in the radial direction with a force. As a result, a bending moment is introduced into the tube, with the addition of the action of the expander head is attempted to eliminate the pipe in front of existing oddness. The attached from the outside of the tube saddle saddles require this a large, bulky Conversion to the necessary power consumption.

Another disadvantage of the known straightening devices for pipes, that the straightening effect mostly only in one axial direction, d. H. for example, only in the vertical direction, is limited. Known pipe straightening devices also have a relatively large elasticity, which is due to the relatively long way to the force introduction point.

In the manufacture of pipes with increasing wall thicknesses and higher material strengths, as they are more and more demanded, previously known pipe straightening devices reach their limits. You can no longer meet the requirements to ensure an efficient and therefore cost-effective tube manufacturing process.

The invention is therefore based on the object, a pipe straightening device of the type mentioned in such a way that the mentioned disadvantages are overcome and thus the manufacturing process of the pipe and in particular the straightening process is improved.

This object is achieved in that the at least one saddle saddle is formed in simultaneous cooperation with the expander head as Rohrjustiervorrichtung, wherein an insertable into the tube interior rod or tubular trained spar is provided, which is arranged at least one saddle adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the spar and means are provided for urging the saddle from the longitudinal axis of the support member radially outward so that the saddle presses against the inner surface of the tube. By pressing the saddle or the saddle saddle at the same time as the tube adjustment device at the same time as expanding, an effective pre-positioning can be achieved and in cooperation with the expander head of the multi-axis caused by this Use the stress state with a flow of the tube material to bend the tube straight. It is a power flow in tight spaces without redirection possible. The innnenliegend provided saddles also require no further effort, because a conversion to the power is unnecessary.

A first development provides means of movement with which the at least one saddle can be positioned at a predetermined position along the longitudinal axis of the spar.

Preferably, the expander head is arranged at an axial end of the spar, which has radially expandable segments relative to the longitudinal axis of the spar.

For the movement of the saddle straightening in the radial direction is advantageously provided that each saddle is in contact with a wedge, is moved radially by the translational movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the spar of the saddle. In particular, a linear actuator is used for the movement of the wedge.

Advantageously, several, preferably four, saddle straps are evenly distributed over the circumference of the spar.

Another embodiment provides measuring means with which the radial distance of the saddle from the longitudinal axis of the spar can be measured.

Furthermore, at least one measuring means can be arranged on the spar, with which the distance between the longitudinal axis of the spar and the inner surface of the tube can be measured. Preferably, a plurality of measuring means are arranged evenly distributed over the circumference of the spar.

Finally, it can be provided that the at least one saddle is arranged together with means for radially moving the saddle on a support which is translationally movable relative to the spar in the direction of its longitudinal axis.

The device according to the invention for straightening a tube advantageously ensures a relatively short force flow between the expander head and the straightening calipers, as a result of which the force to be introduced can be applied in a more accurately metered manner. The efficiency of the device and thus the tube manufacturing process is thereby improved. Furthermore, the pre-positioning can be provided by means of Rohrjustiervorrichtung at any point.

The invention allows quasi "remote-controlled" saddle saddles, which are arranged displaceably on a support element, for pre-positioning, being used as a carrier element in particular the spar of the expander for expanding the tube used. As a result, the tube can be bent from the inside and thus directed with a very short power flow.

The size and direction of the straightening moment can easily be adjusted individually for each expansion step of the tube, so that the straightening process can be carried out in an optimized manner.

If the relevant pipe data are detected by appropriate measuring means when using the proposed pipe straightening device, the straightening process can be partially automated. But even if no automation is provided, the straightening process can be manually corrected at least interactively.

The proposed device is used in particular when straightening large pipes.

Fig. 1

den Schnitt durch ein Rohr mit in diesem angeordneter Rohrrichtvorrichtung samt Expanderkopf und

Fig. 2

den Schnitt A-B gemäß Fig. 1.

In the drawing, an embodiment of the invention is shown. Show it:

Fig. 1

the section through a pipe with arranged in this pipe straightening device together with expander head and

Fig. 2

the section AB of FIG. 1.

A larger, thick-walled tube 2 has a distortion after welding, ie it is not ideal straight. To eliminate this imprecision, the device 1 is used for straightening the tube 2. The device 1 has a spar 4. The longitudinal axis L _{T of} the spar 4 is identical to the longitudinal axis L of the tube 2. The device 1 is arranged for straightening the tube 2 in the interior I of the tube 2.

At an axial end 7 of the spar 4, an expander head 8 is arranged, which has a plurality of segments 9 distributed over the circumference. In Fig. 1, the vertically upwards and the vertically downwardly oriented segment 9 can be seen. The expander head 8 has a truncated pyramid 15 on which the segments 9 are arranged to be radially displaceable. The spar 4 still comprises a pull rod 17, these parts being arranged coaxially with each other. The spar 4 interacts axially immovably with the segments 9. This makes it possible, with a relative axial displacement of the tie rod 17 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L _{T of} the spar 4 by means of the truncated pyramid 15, the segments 9 to move radially away from the longitudinal axis L _T and thus to press its radially outer end against the inner tube wall ,

On the spar 4, a carrier 14 in the form of a carrier plate or the like is arranged. The carrier 14 can be positioned with moving means 6 at a desired position x of the spar 4.

On the support 14 wedges 10 are arranged, which can be moved in the direction of the longitudinal axis L _{T of} the spar 4 on the support 14 by means of linear actuators 11. The wedges 10 act together with a plurality of a leveling device forming straightening saddles 3, which are arranged on the wedges 10 so that when moving the wedges 10 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L _T the straightening saddles 3 are moved radially outward. As a result, the straightening saddles 3 generate a radially outwardly directed force F on the inner surface of the tube 2.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, in the embodiment, the Rohrjustiervorrichtung of four straightening saddles 3, which are uniformly distributed over the circumference of the spar 4 - the carrier 14 is not shown here. By appropriate activation of the respective linear actuators 11, a force F for pre-positioning is generated precisely at the point at the same time as the action of the expander head 8, allowing the expander head 8 to deform (bend) the tube 2 in such a way that its straightness is achieved.

The current displacement of the wedges 10 relative to the spar 4 can be detected by measuring means 12. The value measured by the measuring means 12 can be used to determine the radial distance of the radially outer surface of the saddle member 3 from the longitudinal axis L _{T of} the bar 4 via the conical surface of the wedge 10.

The spar 4 or support 14 and the wedges 10 and straightening saddles 3 arranged on it together with the linear actuators 11 and the measuring means 12 represent means 5 with which the straightening saddles 3 can be pressed radially outward from the longitudinal axis L _{T of} the spar 4 , so that the straightening saddles 3 produce the desired Vorpositionierungseffekt by applying the forces F, ie by pressing against the pipe inner wall. On the bar 4 measuring means 13 may further be arranged, which is the distance of the inner surface of the tube 2 from the bar 4 determine. Of these measuring means 13 may be arranged evenly distributed over the circumference several.

In Fig. 1 it is shown that the measuring means 13 is fixedly arranged on the spar 4 and measures the distance to the inner tube wall. It should be noted that the measuring means 13 can also be arranged on the support plate 14 and thus then moves along with the displacement of the support plate 14 relative to the spar 4.

By the measuring means 12 and 13 and by the moving means 6 and linear actuators 11 all conditions are created that the straightening process can be performed fully automatically or semi-automatically or can be done in the case of manual implementation with the greatest possible support.

For the automation or support of the straightening process control means (not shown) can be used which detect the position of the inner wall of the tube 2 by the measuring means 13, namely at different axial positions of the tube 2. Furthermore, the measuring means 12 provide information This can be determined by algorithms known per se, at which axial position x of the tube 2 on which saddle saddle 3, a pressing force F must be applied in order to interact with the expander head. 8 be able to initiate such a bending moment in the tube 2 that the highest possible straightness of the tube is achieved.

The radial movement of the saddle saddle 3 takes place in the embodiment of the wedges 10. It should be noted that in principle also spindles, hydraulic cylinders or similar movement elements can be used.

The saddle saddle 3 can be designed as plates or to compensate for longitudinal expansion of the tube 2 as a plate roller segment or as a sliding plate.

Both the movement means 6 and the linear actuators 11 are schematically sketched in the embodiment as piston-cylinder units. It should also be noted that any movement means can be used, for example electric drives with spindle systems.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, the four straightening saddles 3 are arranged uniformly distributed over the circumference of the spar 4. For straightening the tube 2, at least one saddle 3 is required. The more straightening saddles 3 the tube adjusting device has on the spar 4, the more accurate straightening can be done.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

contraption

2

pipe

3

straightening saddle

4

Holm

5

Means for radially moving the saddle

6

means

7

axial end of the spar

8th

expander head

9

segment

10

wedge

11

linear actuator

12

measuring Equipment

13

measuring Equipment

14

support plate

15

truncated pyramid

17

pull bar

x

position

L

Longitudinal axis of the tube

L _T

Longitudinal axis of the carrier element

F

radial force

I

Inside of the pipe

Claims (10)

1. Device (1) for the straightening of a pipe (2), which exhibits a radially expandable expansion head (8) which is introduced into the pipe, and at least one straightening saddle element (3), which can be positioned at any desired position (x) along the longitudinal axis (L) of the pipe (2) and which can exercise a radial force (F) on a part of the wall of the pipe (2) in order to straighten the pipe (2).
   characterised in that
   the minimum of one straightening saddle element (3) is designed to interact simultaneously with the expansion head (8) as a pipe adjustment device, whereby a spar (4) in the form of a bar or pipe is provided for, which can be introduced into the interior of the pipe (I), the minimum of one straightening saddle element (3) being arranged so as to be displaced along the longitudinal axis (L_T) of the spar (4), and whereby means (5) are provided with which the straightening saddle element (3) can be pressed radially outwards from the longitudinal axis (L_T) of the spar (4), so that the straightening saddle element (3) presses against the inner surface of the pipe (2).
2. Device according to Claim 1,
   characterised in that
   movement means (6), with which the minimum of one straightening saddle element (3) can be positioned at a predetermined position (x) along the longitudinal axis (L_T) of the spar (4).
3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the expansion head (8) is arranged at one axial end (7) of the spar (4), this head exhibiting segments (9) which can be expanded radially relative to the longitudinal axis (L_T) of the spar (4).
4. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in that
   the minimum of one straightening saddle element (3) is connected to a wedge element (10), the translational movement of which causes the straightening saddle element (3) to be moved in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L_T) of the spar (4).
5. Device according to Claim 4,
   characterised in that
   the wedge element (10) can be subjected to the effect of a linear actuator (11).
6. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 5,
   characterised in that
   several, for preference four, straightening saddle elements (3) are arranged distributed equally over the circumference of the spar (4)
7. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
   characterised by
   measuring means (12) which detect the radial distance of the straightening saddle element (3) from the longitudinal axis (L_T) of the spar (4).
8. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7,
   characterised in that
   at least one measuring means (13) is arranged at the spar (4), with which the distance can be measured between the longitudinal axis (L_T) of the spar (4) and the inner surface of the pipe (2).
9. Device according to Claim 8,
   characterised in that
   several measuring means (13) are arranged distributed equally over the circumference of the spar (4)
10. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 9,
    characterised in that
    the minimum of one straightening saddle element (3), together with means (5) for the radial movement of the straightening saddle element (3), is arranged on a carrier (14), in particular on a carrier plate, which can be moved in a translational manner relative to the spar (4) in the direction of its longitudinal axis (L_T).

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