FR2492524A1 - HYDROSTATIC CONTROL APPARATUS - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO AN APPARATUS FOR HYDROSTATIC TESTING OF STEEL PIPES OR SIMILAR PRODUCTS. THE UNIT INCLUDES TWO MAIN BEAMS 1A AND A FRONT DOLL 4A AS WELL AS A REAR DOLL 11A WHICH ARE MOUNTED BETWEEN THE MAIN BEAMS SO THAT THE PLANE PASSING THROUGH A PIPE 30 TO BE CONTROLLED PRACTICALLY CONINCESES WITH THE AXIS LONGITUDINAL PASSING THROUGH THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF THE MAIN BEAMS, WHICH REDUCES THE DIMENSIONS OF THE SAID BEAMS AND WHICH ALLOWS TO PLACE A 40A PIPE TRANSFER DEVICE AND OTHER 50A, 60A DEVICES BELOW THE MAIN BEAMS FOR THE FACILITIES REAR DOLL. APPLICATION TO THE MANUFACTURE OF HIGH PRESSURE PIPES.

Description

The present invention relates to a hydrostatic control apparatus for

  check steel pipes or similar products. Steel pipes or similar products (hereinafter referred to as "pipes") are hydrostatically inspected for defects in the pipes. This

  hydrostatic control is the application of hydrostatic pressure

  of a predetermined value inside a pipe and for a predetermined time to check the pipe for leaks, or other similar defects, and a check under a hydrostatic pressure of up to a value of 400 to 900 bar in the case of pipes for very high pressure

  high or special casings for oil wells.

  In a hydrostatic tester of known type, a doll or front end support and a doll or

  rear end support are mounted on two main beams

  blades arranged vertically on a base plate through the

  medium of bearing elements and the plane passing through the axis of a

  pipe to be controlled is located above the longitudinal axis pas-

  by the center of gravity of the main beams. He is

  a name of bending is generated in the main beams

  when the test hose is hydrostatically tested

  the main beams must have a structure allowing them to withstand this bending meoment. he

  it is therefore necessary that the main beams, including

  taken the load-bearing elements, have very large dimensions and the coupling between the front end and rear end dollies and the main beams must also be rigid, this

  which not only increases the dimensions of the apparatus but also

  the cost of the equipment. In addition, because elements such as a transfer unit and locking devices are mounted above the main beams, there are many disadvantages in that the rear end doll can not

  not be easily moved, which implies providing ncmdi-

  equipment to control pipes of different lengths and this is reflected in particular by

  very strong decrease in yield.

  To remedy the aforementioned drawbacks of the apparatus

  of known type, the object of the invention is to provide a device

  hydrostatic control system in which an end doll

  and a rear endstock are mounted with pins between main beams so that the plane passing through the axis of a pipe to be controlled substantially coincides with the longitudinal axis passing through the center of gravity of the

  main beams, which reduces the

  said beams and what allows to place the various elements such

  a pipe transfer unit, below the main beams,

  cipales, and therefore allows easy movement of the doll

rear end.

  Other advantages and characteristics of the invention

  will be highlighted in the following description, given in

  As a nonlimiting example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 represents a sectional view taken along the sectional line referenced CC in FIG. 3, that is to say a front view schematically showing a hydrostatic control device of known type, allowing to better understand the

present invention.

  FIG. 2 represents a sectional view made according to the

  section line referenced A-A in Figure 1.

  FIG. 3 represents a sectional view made according to the

  section line referenced B-B in FIG.

  FIG. 4 represents a front view of a ncde de réa-

  of an apparatus according to the present invention, according to the

  section line referenced F-F in Figure 6.

  FIG. 5 represents a sectional view made according to the

  section line referenced D-D in FIG. 4.

  Figure 6 shows a sectional view made according to

  the section line referenced E-E in FIG.

  Fig. 7 shows a side view showing

  an embodiment of the pipe transfer unit, the

  blocking device and lifting device used in the application

  same hydrostatic control according to the invention.

  In Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a hydrostatic control apparatus of known type; 1 denotes two main beams which are arranged with a predetermined spacing and which are imbedded vertically on a base plate 3 by means of support elements 2. A reference 4 has been designated a front end doll placed on two rails 5 arranged on the upper surface of the main beams 1 and fixed thereto by pins 6. The front end doll 4 comprises a pipe connection port 7, one end of which is connected to a source of hydraulic pressure ( not shown). The reference 11 designates a rear end doll comprising a front portion 13 and a rear portion 12 which are interconnected by a discharge pipe 14 incorporated in the rear portion 12 of the doll. A cylinder or hydraulic cylinder has been designated by reference 15 to actuate the front portion 13 of the rear tailstock 11. Reference 16 designates a carrier frame. Rollers 18 are positioned between the support frame 16

  and two outer frames 17. The support frame 16 and the outer frames

  Each of the plurality of holes 17 is each provided with at least one spigot hole 19, these holes being aligned longitudinally, while the main beams 1 are each provided with a plurality of spigot holes 20 located therein. the same plane as holes 19 and

  in the same longitudinal direction, in order to allow the assembly

  of the main beams 1 with the support frame 16 by the in-

  The term "pin 21" is used to denote a hole in the front end of the front tail portion 13 for receiving a pipe to be controlled. The

  rollers 18 positioned between the support frame 16 and the outer frames

  17 are arranged for rolling on the main beams 1 on the path of the rails 5 and therefore the rear end doll 11 is movable on the main beams 1 in the direction of their length by rotation of the rollers 18 under the influence of a driving device 23 which is placed at the rear of the rear doll there. Also, the front portion 13 of this rear doll 11, including the hose receiving hole 22, is actuated by the cylinder or hydraulic cylinder 15 and thus the rear portion 12 of the rear doll is moved in the longitudinal direction relative to at the front part 13. Reference 40 designates a device for transferring a hose to be checked and 50 several locking devices which are placed between the front doll 4 and the rear doll 11 in order to block the hose 30. The devices 40

  and 50 are placed above the main beams 1.

  In the known type of hydrostatic control apparatus arranged in the manner described above, the pipe 30 introduced by the transfer unit 40 is blocked by the blocking devices.

  50 and is also securely fastened between the connecting hole

  7 and the receiving port 22. Then water at a high level

  pressure from the hydraulic pressure source is introduced

  in the pipe 30 to perform the hydrostatic test. In this case, the pipes 30 to be controlled may have different lengths (for example 15, 20 and 30 m) so that, if the lengths differ considerably, the pins 21 of the back doll are removed. it is moved along the rails 5 by the driving device 23. When it reaches a position o les. pin holes 20 of the main beams 1 are aligned with the passage holes of

  pins 19 of the support frame 16 and outer frames 17 to proxies

  m the position corresponding to the length of the pipe 30, the rear doll 11 is stopped and it is locked in position by means of the pins 21. Then the front portion 13 of the rear doll 11 is moved by the cylinder or hydraulic cylinder 15 to a position corresponding to the length of the pipe 30,

  thus positioning the rear doll 11.

  The hydrostatic tester of known type, which

  is constructed in the manner described above, presents

  many disadvantages, as mentioned above, and we have

  to solve the problems posed.

  In the apparatus according to the present invention, shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, two main beams 1a are placed in high positions and a front doll 4a and a rear doll 11a are disposed between the main beams 1a. The front doll 4a and the rear doll 11a are respectively fixed by pins 6a and 21a on the main beams 1a, in the same plane as a straight line connecting the center of a connecting orifice 7a of the front doll 4a in the center of a receiving orifice 22a of the rear tailstock 11a (and therefore the axis of the pipe 30 to be controlled). More specifically, the main beams 1a are provided with pin passages 20a arranged along the longitudinal axis passing through the center of gravity of the main beams 1a and the front doll 4a is provided with pinholes 8a whose axis corresponds to the central axis 0-0 of the connection orifice 7a, as indicated on

  FIG. 5, this doll being assembled with the main beams

  cipals it using pins 6a. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, a carrier frame 16a and outer frames 17a are provided with pin-through holes 19a whose axis is located on the central axis 00 of the receiving orifice 22a, and rollers 18a distributed along the upper part of the support frame 16a are arranged to roll on rails 5a placed on the main beams 1a. The rear doll lla is

  fixed on the main beams la using the pins 21a.

  With the apparatus according to the invention having the structure which has just been described, the hydrostatic control of a pipe

  is done in the same way as in the case of Figure 1.

  According to the present invention, the bending moment which acts on the main beams 1a can be practically neglected since the pipe 30 is positioned so that its axis is situated essentially in the same plane as the longitudinal axis passing through the center of gravity. main beams. As a result, the main beams and their members

  carriers 2a have dimensions considerably reduced by

  parison to the known type device (about half as far as the sections are concerned). Also, because of the size reduction of the main beams 1a and the supporting members 2a, their ends (and their intermediate parts if any) can be placed on pedestals 3a arranged on a base plate 3 so as to restore a space below the device. This allows for example to install a transfer unit 40a and a lifting device 60a for the pipe 30 below the main beams 1a and furthermore the locking devices 50a of the pipe 30 to be controlled are also placed on the

  z main beams the so as to be moved along those

  ci using rollers. In consequence, the rear doll 11a can be moved independently of these devices and units. As a result, it can be done very easily and in a short time

  the arrangements necessary to control different hoses

lengths.

  Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of an arrangement

  cementing the pipe transfer unit, the lifting device

  and the blocking device according to the present invention.

  In the figure, there is designated by 40a at least one transfer unit of the pipe 30 to be controlled, which is positioned between the front doll

  4a and the rear doll 11a of Fig. 4. A large number of

  then pipe 44 are distributed at predetermined intervals on a belt 41 which is driven in the direction of the arrow by a pinion 42 (and / or 43) itself actuated by a motor (not shown) so that the belt 41 is stopped for a predetermined time and is again driven in the direction of the arrow. However, the invention is not limited to unity

  shown and any other device can be used.

  tif, for example a beam advancing step by step. Reference 50a designates a device for blocking the pipe 30, in which rollers 52 are mounted on a body

  or support 51, the device being carried by the main beams

  Cipales the on the way of the rails 5a. A pipe support has been designated by 53 and blocking arms 54 which are arranged to be opened and molded by a cylinder or hydraulic cylinder 55. Several such locking devices 50a, in number greater than ten if necessary, are arranged between the front and rear dolls 4a, 11a. The body 51 of the device can be attached to the main beams 1a with pins. Reference 60a denotes a lifting device of the pipe 30; one or more lifting devices 60a are placed below the straight line connecting the connecting port 7a of the front doll 4a to the receiving hole 22a of the rear doll 11a. A support member 62 is moved vertically by a cylinder or cylinder

hydraulic 61.

  The apparatus according to the invention having the structure described

  above works as follows. A pipe 30 to control

  1er is placed on each of the supports 44 of the transfer unit 40a and the pipes 30 are moved in steps each corresponding to the spacing between the supports 44. When a pipe "30t" to control is brought to a position located in below. from the straight line connecting the connecting port 7a of the front doll 4a to the receiving port 22a of the rear doll 11a, the transfer unit 40a is stopped and the lifting device 60a comes into action so that the hose " 30t "is placed on the support 62 and that

  the last is raised while maintaining the pipe "30t" between the

  port 62 and the supports 53 of the locking devices 50a. When

  this happens, the cylinders or hydraulic cylinders 55 of the dis-

  positive locking 50a come into action so that the locking arms 54 are closed and the pipe "30t" is maintained in

  position. In this case, the pipe axis "30Ct" is located

  in the same plane as the longidudinal axis passing through the center of gravity of the main beams la. In this condition, the ends of the pipe "30t" are respectively connected to the connection port 7a of the front doll 4a and to the receiver port 22a of the rear doll 11a, and high pressure water is introduced into the "30t" pipe from the hydraulic pressure source, with a view to

  hydrostatic control of it.

  After the completion of the hydrostatic control, the hose

  "30t" is disconnected from the connection port 7a and the original

  receiver 22a and the locking arms 54 are open. The

  support 62 of the lifting device 60a is then lowered from

  that the "30t" pipe is placed on support 44 and

  calf moved step-by-step to be evacuated-. In this way,

  pipes 30 are successively subjected to a hydrostatic control.

  Although, in the embodiment described above, there is provided respectively a connection port 7a for

  the front doll 4a, a receiver orifice 22a for the doll

  11 and a support 53 for each locking device 50a, and although the pipes 30 are controlled by a par. one, the invention

  is not limited to this arrangement and the number of parts

  cited may be equal to or greater than two for the purpose of

  two pipes or more. Also, although the

  of the front portion 13 of the rear doll 11, the opening and closing of the locking arms 54, the raising and lowering of the lifting device support 62 and the actuation of the other parts are provided by cylinders or cylinders hydraulic,

  It goes without saying that other means of training can also be used.

nenent.

Claims (3)

  1. Hydrostatic Pipe Tester, Characteristics   characterized in that it comprises two main beams (1a) spaced apart by a predetermined distance and a front doll (4a) and a rear doll (1a) which are mounted in position between said main beams and in that a longitudinal axis (0-O) passing through the   center of gravity of said main beams (la) coiincide es-   sensitively with a plane passing through the axis of a pipe (30) to control.   2. Hydrostatic control apparatus according to claim   cation 1, characterized in that it further comprises means (50a) for locking said pipe (30), said blocking means   being positioned on said main beams (] a).   3. Hydrostatic tester according to one of   claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it further comprises   pipe transfer means (40a) and hose lifting means (60a), said transfer means and said means   are positioned below said main beams blades (la).