GB2380615A - Installing toroidal magnetic couplings - Google Patents

Installing toroidal magnetic couplings Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2380615A
GB2380615A GB0118653A GB0118653A GB2380615A GB 2380615 A GB2380615 A GB 2380615A GB 0118653 A GB0118653 A GB 0118653A GB 0118653 A GB0118653 A GB 0118653A GB 2380615 A GB2380615 A GB 2380615A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
flowline
laminate material
around
laminate
core
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0118653A
Other versions
GB0118653D0 (en
Inventor
Aldrin Duncan Adams
Nicholas James Yarr
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cobham Mission Systems Wimborne Ltd
Original Assignee
Flight Refuelling Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Flight Refuelling Ltd filed Critical Flight Refuelling Ltd
Priority to GB0118653A priority Critical patent/GB2380615A/en
Publication of GB0118653D0 publication Critical patent/GB0118653D0/en
Publication of GB2380615A publication Critical patent/GB2380615A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F38/00—Adaptations of transformers or inductances for specific applications or functions
    • H01F38/14—Inductive couplings
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F41/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or assembling magnets, inductances or transformers; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing materials characterised by their magnetic properties
    • H01F41/02—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or assembling magnets, inductances or transformers; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing materials characterised by their magnetic properties for manufacturing cores, coils, or magnets
    • H01F41/0206—Manufacturing of magnetic cores by mechanical means
    • H01F41/0213—Manufacturing of magnetic circuits made from strip(s) or ribbon(s)

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Cores, Coils, And Magnets (AREA)

Abstract

A magnetic coupling in the form of a toroidal core 11 is wound around a flow line 2 with the aid of rollers 12. The core is formed from multiple layers of a magnetic laminate material which is wound from supply reel S onto the rollers 12, allowing the core to be built up without the need to rotate the flow line 2. The rollers may also serve as spacing elements to keep a spacing between the flow line and the innermost layer of laminate material. The reel S of magnetic material may alternatively be rotated around the flow line in an orbital motion (see figure 3). The method of winding the core onto a flow line is useful for making inductive couplings that transmit data along the metallic structure of a flow line.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1>
Installing toroidal magnetic couplings This invention relates to the installation of toroidal magnetic couplings on flowlines, especially land based pipelines.
The applicants, and others, have developed various data transmission systems where the metallic structure of a flowline system is used as a signal channel.
To operate such systems it is necessary to be able to inject electric signals onto and extract electric signals from the metallic structure. One attractive method for doing this is to use a magnetic (inductive) coupling. In such an approach, a toroidal magnetic coupling comprising a toroidal core and associated windings is disposed around the flowline such that a transformer like arrangement is achieved where the flowline acts as a single turn winding. Electrical signals in the flowline will then induce corresponding signals in the coupling's windings and vice versa.
Problems however arise if it is desired to mount a toroidal coupling onto a flowline which is installed as part of a system which is in active use. In general terms it is impossible or impractical to disassemble the flowline to allow a complete toroidal coupling to be passed over a free end of the flowline and into position.
<Desc/Clms Page number 2>
An existing way to approach this problem is to use multipart, or"clam shell" toroid structures. In these cases pieces of magnetic material must be clamped together around the flowline. However, this causes efficiency problems due to the joins between the material. To minimise these problems the opposing end faces of the pieces must be produced with highly accurate flat surfaces.
Generally this calls for expensive machining operations. This is especially the case where the frequencies of exciting current to be used are such that cast ferrite cannot be used as the magnetic material.
In this application the term toroidal is used broadly and covers any generally ring or loop like structure. The cross-section of the material forming the loop or ring need not be circular, and in fact will often be square or rectangular. The ring or loop itself need not be circular and can be any suitable shape to fit around the flowline of interest.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a way to install a toroidal coupling onto a flowline which alleviates at least some of the problems associated with the prior art.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of installing, onto a flowline, a toroidal magnetic coupling comprising the step of
<Desc/Clms Page number 3>
winding laminate core material around the flowline so as to build up a toroidal core comprising a plurality of layers of the laminate material.
Spacer means may be provided between the flowline and the laminate layer nearest to the flowline.
The method may comprise the further step of providing electrical windings around the core. The step of providing electrical windings around the core may include the step of passing the windings through spaces maintained by the spacer means.
The laminate material may be wound onto the flowline from a supply source having a diameter similar to the toroidal core to be built up on the flowline.
The supply source may, for example, be a reel of laminate material or another toroidal core. This procedure can have the advantage that the laminate material is less likely to buckle during installation. Further it can ensure that the disruption to the magnetic properties of laminate material is minimised. When toroidal cores are manufactured in a factory environment great care can be, and is, taken to optimise the properties of the material of the core. This might for example include heat treatment. Such processing is not practical on site adjacent to the flowline, so the ability to disrupt the magnetic properties as
<Desc/Clms Page number 4>
little as possible is important.
The laminate material may be wound onto the flowline by causing the whole of the supply source to move around (orbit) the flowline. In practice this is a difficult operation not least because of the weight of the laminate material.
In one set of embodiments orbital support means may be provided. This can assist in winding the toroid where an orbital method is used. The orbital support means may comprise a first portion for bearing on a flowline around which the toroid is to be wrapped and a second portion for receiving a supply source for rotation. The orbital support means may comprise tensioning means for ensuring that the laminate material is kept in tension as it is wound around the flowline. The tensioning means may comprise a friction clutch for controlling rotational movement of a rotating portion of the support means, on which a supply source may be mounted, relative to the remaining non-rotating portions of the orbital support means.
Preferably the laminate material is wound onto the flowline by causing rotation of a lead end of the laminate material around the axis of the flowline. In general, rotation of a flowline, or flowline segment, as a whole is impractical.
Therefore preferably rotation of a lead end of the laminate material is
<Desc/Clms Page number 5>
facilitated by other means. Preferably the lead end and any other of the laminate material wound onto the flowline are rotated around the flowline as more laminate material is wound on to build up the core.
Rotational support means may be provided to aid in the rotation of the built up laminate material around the flowline. The rotational support means may comprise roller means provided between the flowline and the innermost layer of laminate material. Preferably the roller means also act as the spacer means mentioned above.
A toroid former may be used to aid in the winding process. The former may comprise the rotational support means. The former may comprise the spacer means. At least some portions of the former may be rotatable about the axis of the flowline to facilitate the preferred winding process.
A frame may be provided upon which the supply source may be mounted for rotation during the winding process. During winding, the laminate material may be transferred from the supply source to the flowline in a manner analogous to a reel to reel tape mechanism.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided
<Desc/Clms Page number 6>
apparatus for installing a toroidal core of a magnetic coupling onto a flowline by winding a plurality of layers of laminate material around the flowline, the apparatus comprising a toroid former comprising spacer means for maintaining a spacing between the flowline and an innermost layer of laminate material and rotational support means for allowing rotation of wound laminate material around the flowline.
A plurality of spacer rollers may be provided to act as spacer means and rotational support means.
The former may comprise a pair of spaced generally annular side plates for aiding alignment of successive layers of laminate material.
The apparatus may also comprise a frame upon which a supply source of laminate may be mounted for rotation.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for installing a toroidal core of a magnetic coupling onto a flowline by winding a plurality of layers of laminate material around the flowline, the apparatus comprising spacer means for maintaining a spacing between the flowline and an innermost layer of laminate material and orbital support means for
<Desc/Clms Page number 7>
supporting a supply source of laminate material during orbit around the flowline.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a flowline system comprising at least one flowline segment and a toroidal magnetic coupling mounted on the flowline segment, which coupling comprises a toroidal core having a plurality of continuous layers of laminate material wound around the flowline segment, and spacer means arranged to maintain a spacing between the flowline segment and an innermost layer of the laminate material.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 schematically shows a toroidal magnetic coupling mounted on a flowline; Figure 2 schematically shows a setup used in installing the coupling onto a flowline; and Figure 3 schematically shows an alternative setup used in installing a coupling
<Desc/Clms Page number 8>
onto a flowline.
Figure 1 shows a toroidal magnetic coupling 1 mounted on a flowline 2. The coupling 1 comprises a toroidal core 11, a plurality of spacer rollers 12 and at least one set of associated windings 13.
The toroidal core 11 is made up of a plurality of layers of a laminate material Ila which has been wound in a spiral around the flowline 2. The laminate material is transformer iron having a high relative permeability. The thickness of the laminates is ideally chosen on the basis of the frequency of the signals which will be carried in the windings in order to maximise efficiency. The spacer rollers 12 are provided between an innermost layer of the laminate material lla and the flowline 2. The spacer rollers 12 provide an important function during the winding of the laminate material 11a onto the flowline and also serve to maintain spacings between the core 11 and the flowline 2 through which the windings 13 can be passed in assembly and which accommodate the windings 13 in use.
As mentioned above, there may be more than one set of windings 13, in particular one set of windings may be provided for use during transmission of
<Desc/Clms Page number 9>
signals onto the flowline 2 and another set of windings may be provided for use during reception of signals from the flowline 2.
Figure 2 schematically shows a setup that may be used during winding of the laminate lla onto the flowline 2. This arrangement avoids the need to move a supply reel or toroid of laminate material lla around the flowline 2 during the installation process.
A frame 3 is provided for supporting a supply source S of laminate material lla. Preferably the supply source S consists of a previously wound, carefully produced, magnetic core toroid having a diameter which is substantially the same as the diameter of the toroidal core 11 which is to be produced on the flowline 2. This can help to avoid buckling and can preserve, as well as possible, the magnetic properties of the laminate material lla.
The supply source S is mounted for rotation on the frame 3 and the frame 3 is provided with suitable anchor points 31 so that it may be securely fixed in position adjacent to the flowline 2 on which the toroidal core 11 is to be installed.
In the process of installing the toroidal magnetic coupling 1 onto the flowline
<Desc/Clms Page number 10>
2, the following steps are carried out.
Firstly, with the frame 3 correctly positioned, the toroidal core 11 is wound onto the flowline 2. To carry this out, a lead end of the laminate material 11a in the supply source 11 is located, freed from any attachment to the remainder of the source S, and passed to and around the flowline 2. When this is done, it is ensured that the laminate material lla will be wound onto the flowline 2 in the same direction in which it was wound on the supply source S, that is to say, the outermost surface of each part of the laminate 11a when on the supply source S will be the outermost surface when on the toroidal core 11.
The spacer rollers 12 are positioned between this first layer of laminate 11a and the flowline 2. At this point any slack in the laminate material 11a between the supply source S and the flowline 2 is removed and the laminate l1a is kept in tension throughout the whole of the winding process. This may be achieved most simply by the careful work of two operators or by providing suitable tensioning means at the frame 3. The toroidal core 11 is built up by rotation, around the flowline 2, of the lead end of the laminate material 11a and the other laminate material 11a already wound onto the flowline 2. The spacer rollers 12 act to facilitate this rotation.
<Desc/Clms Page number 11>
As can be seen in figure 2, the general arrangement is similar to that in a reel to reel tape mechanism such as that found in cassette tapes.
In alternatives, more elaborate toroid formers may be provided to aid in the rotation and alignment of the laminate layers lla. Such formers may include spaced generally annular side plates to help alignment and may include integral roller mechanisms to aid rotation. Of course such formers need to be constructed so that they may be fitted around the flowline, they may therefore include two generally semi-annular parts which can be joined around the flowline 2. Any such side plates may be removed after installation is complete.
Some form of spacers are very useful during the installation of the windings but might be removed after this step.
After the laminate layers lla are secured to prevent unravelling, the associated windings 13 are wound into position by passing the appropriate wires around the toroidal core 11 and through the spacings provided by the spacer rollers 12.
The windings may then be connected to the appropriate circuitry to allow the transmission and/or reception of signals.
Figure 3 schematically shows a second setup that may be used during winding
<Desc/Clms Page number 12>
of laminate material Ha onto a bowline 2. In this arrangement it is necessary for the supply reel or toroid S of laminate material 11 la to be made to orbit or rotate around the axis of the flowline 2. This means that sufficient clearance is needed around the whole of the flowline 2. In some circumstances, for example, this might necessitate digging out a trench underneath the flowline 2.
For at least these reasons, this setup is currently less preferred than that shown in, and described with reference to Figure 2, but yet is still a method which might be used.
This setup eases the process of rotating the supply reel or torold 5 of laminate material 11 a around the flowline This is achieved by the provision of orbital support means 4 which provides support for the supply reel S as it is made to orbit around the flowline 2 The support means 4 shown in Figure 3 is only of a schematic nature to illustrate the principle. Further, the spacing between the innermost layer of the laminate material 11 a and the flowline 2 has been exaggerated for the sake of clarity in the drawings.
Spacer means 12a are provided between the innermost layer of laminate
<Desc/Clms Page number 13>
material and flowline 2 However, in this case the spacer means 12a do not, and indeed should not, encourage rotation of the wound laminate material 11 a around the axis of the flowline 2 Thus, in the present setup, the spacer means 12a are not rollers.
The orbital support means 4 generally comprises a pair of arms 41 (only one of which is shown in Figure 3) At a first end of each arm 41 there is a respective bearing portion 42 which is arranged to surround and bear upon the flowline 2, and at another end of each arm there is a support portion 43 for receiving and supporting the supply source S for rotation relative to the arms 41.
The bearing portions 42 each comprise a ring portion to surround and bear upon the flowline 2. Of course this ring must be made of two or more pieces so that it may be clamped around a flowline which is in situ.
The supply source receiving and supporting portion 43 comprises a rotating portion 44 which may, for example, be a hub, and which is arranged for rotation relative to the arms 44 With such a setup it is possible to wind successive layers of laminate material 11 a In the spiral around the flowline 2 by causing the supply source S to orbit
<Desc/Clms Page number 14>
(arrow A) around the flowline 2 and at the same time allowing the laminate material to be wound off (arrow B) of the supply source S Friction clutch means (not shown) may be provided between the rotating portion 44 and the arms 44 to control rotation of the supply source S to ensure that the laminate material 11 a is retained in tension as it is wound around the flowline 2.

Claims (23)

  1. CLAIMS: 1. A method of installing, onto a flowline, a toroidal magnetic coupling comprising the step of winding laminate core material around the flowline so as to build up a toroidal core comprising a plurality of layers of the laminate material.
  2. 2. A method according to claim 1 in which spacer means are provided between the flowline and the laminate layer nearest to the flowline.
  3. 3. A method according to claim I or claim 2 comprising the further step of providing electrical windings around the core.
  4. 4. A method according to any preceding claim in which the laminate material is wound onto the flowline from a supply source.
  5. 5. A method according to claim 4 in which the supply source has a diameter similar to the toroidal core to be built up on the flowline.
  6. 6. A method according to any one of claims I to 5 in which the laminate material is wound onto the flowline by causing rotation of a lead end of the laminate material around the axis of the flowline.
  7. 7. A method according to claim 6 in which the lead end and other of the laminate material already wound onto the flowline are rotated around the flowline as more
    <Desc/Clms Page number 16>
    laminate material is wound on to build up the core.
  8. 8. A method according to claim 7 in which rotational support means are provided to aid in the rotation of the built up laminate material around the flowline.
  9. 9. A method according to claim 8 in which the rotational support means comprise roller means provided between the flowline and the innermost layer of laminate material.
  10. 10. A method according to claim 9 in which the roller means also act as spacer means.
  11. 11. A method according to claim 4 or claim 5 comprising the step of winding the laminate material onto the flowline by causing the whole of the supply source to move around the flowline.
  12. 12. A method according to claim 11 wherein orbital support means are provided to assist in winding the toroid.
  13. 13. A method according to claim 12 in which the orbital support means comprise a first portion for bearing on a flowline around which the toroid is to be wrapped and a second portion for receiving the supply source for rotation.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 17>
  14. 14. A method according to claim 12 or claim 13 in which the orbital support means comprises tensioning means for ensuring that the laminate material is kept in tension as it is wound around the flowline.
  15. 15. A method according to claim 14 in which the tensioning means comprise a friction clutch for controlling rotational movement of a rotating portion of the support means, on which the supply source is mounted, relative to the remaining non-rotating portions of the orbital support means.
  16. 16. A method according to any preceding claim in which a toroid former is used to aid in the winding process.
  17. 17. Apparatus for installing a toroidal core of a magnetic coupling onto a flowline by winding a plurality of layers of laminate material around the flowline, the apparatus comprising a toroid former comprising spacer means for maintaining a spacing between the flowline and an innermost layer of laminate material and rotational support means for allowing rotation of wound laminate material around the flowline.
  18. 18. Apparatus according to claim 17 comprising a plurality of spacer rollers arranged to act as spacer means and rotational support means.
  19. 19. Apparatus according to claim 17 or claim 18 in which the toroid former comprises a pair of spaced generally annular side plates for aiding alignment of
    <Desc/Clms Page number 18>
    successive layers of laminate material.
  20. 20. Apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 19 further comprising a frame upon which a supply source of laminate may be mounted for rotation.
  21. 21. Apparatus for installing a toroidal core of a magnetic coupling onto a flowline by winding a plurality of layers of laminate material around the flowline, the apparatus comprising spacer means for maintaining a spacing between the flowline and an innermost layer of laminate material and orbital support means for supporting a supply source of laminate material during orbit around the flowline.
  22. 22. A flowline system comprising at least one flowline segment and a toroidal magnetic coupling mounted on the flowline segment, which coupling comprises a toroidal core having a plurality of continuous layers of laminate material wound around the flowline segment, and spacer means arranged to maintain a spacing between the flowline segment and an innermost layer of the laminate material.
  23. 23. A method of installing, onto a flowline, a toroidal magnetic coupling comprising the step of winding laminate core material around the flowline so as to build up a toroidal core comprising a plurality of layers of the laminate material, wherein a lead end of the laminate material and any other of the laminate material already wound onto the flowline are rotated around the flowline with the aid of a rotational support as more laminate material is wound on to build up the core.
GB0118653A 2001-07-31 2001-07-31 Installing toroidal magnetic couplings Withdrawn GB2380615A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0118653A GB2380615A (en) 2001-07-31 2001-07-31 Installing toroidal magnetic couplings

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0118653A GB2380615A (en) 2001-07-31 2001-07-31 Installing toroidal magnetic couplings

Publications (2)

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GB0118653D0 GB0118653D0 (en) 2001-09-19
GB2380615A true GB2380615A (en) 2003-04-09

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2982409A1 (en) * 2011-11-07 2013-05-10 Schneider Electric Ind Sas Method for manufacturing magnetic core for direct current sensor in differential circuit breaker, involves fixing layers with each other to form band, and forming core from band, where section of core is formed based on number of layers

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0011733A1 (en) * 1978-12-04 1980-06-11 Allied Corporation Magnetic core winding method and apparatus
EP0083567A1 (en) * 1982-01-06 1983-07-13 Kuhlman Corporation Toroidal electrical transformer and method of producing same
JPS62147714A (en) * 1985-12-23 1987-07-01 Tohoku Metal Ind Ltd Manufacture of inductor with toroidal core
GB2344896A (en) * 1998-12-18 2000-06-21 Dresser Ind Conductive loop for short hop telemetry along a drill string

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0011733A1 (en) * 1978-12-04 1980-06-11 Allied Corporation Magnetic core winding method and apparatus
EP0083567A1 (en) * 1982-01-06 1983-07-13 Kuhlman Corporation Toroidal electrical transformer and method of producing same
JPS62147714A (en) * 1985-12-23 1987-07-01 Tohoku Metal Ind Ltd Manufacture of inductor with toroidal core
GB2344896A (en) * 1998-12-18 2000-06-21 Dresser Ind Conductive loop for short hop telemetry along a drill string

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2982409A1 (en) * 2011-11-07 2013-05-10 Schneider Electric Ind Sas Method for manufacturing magnetic core for direct current sensor in differential circuit breaker, involves fixing layers with each other to form band, and forming core from band, where section of core is formed based on number of layers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0118653D0 (en) 2001-09-19

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