GB2452540A - A pipe welding method and appratus including a slotted support sleeve - Google Patents

A pipe welding method and appratus including a slotted support sleeve Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2452540A
GB2452540A GB0717423A GB0717423A GB2452540A GB 2452540 A GB2452540 A GB 2452540A GB 0717423 A GB0717423 A GB 0717423A GB 0717423 A GB0717423 A GB 0717423A GB 2452540 A GB2452540 A GB 2452540A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
sleeve
pipe
welding
support sleeve
free ends
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB0717423A
Other versions
GB0717423D0 (en
GB2452540B (en
Inventor
Timothy Murphy
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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 Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0717423.8A priority Critical patent/GB2452540B/en
Publication of GB0717423D0 publication Critical patent/GB0717423D0/en
Publication of GB2452540A publication Critical patent/GB2452540A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2452540B publication Critical patent/GB2452540B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L13/00—Non-disconnectible pipe-joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive or caulked joints
    • F16L13/02—Welded joints
    • F16L13/04—Welded joints with arrangements for preventing overstressing
    • F16L13/06—Welded joints with arrangements for preventing overstressing with tension relief of the weld by means of detachable members, e.g. divided tension rings, bolts in flanges
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L13/00—Non-disconnectible pipe-joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive or caulked joints
    • F16L13/02—Welded joints
    • F16L13/0218—Welded joints having an inner or outer ring
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K31/00—Processes relevant to this subclass, specially adapted for particular articles or purposes, but not covered by only one of the preceding main groups
    • B23K31/02—Processes relevant to this subclass, specially adapted for particular articles or purposes, but not covered by only one of the preceding main groups relating to soldering or welding
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L1/00—Laying or reclaiming pipes; Repairing or joining pipes on or under water
    • F16L1/024—Laying or reclaiming pipes on land, e.g. above the ground
    • F16L1/06—Accessories therefor, e.g. anchors
    • F16L1/10—Accessories therefor, e.g. anchors for aligning
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L13/00—Non-disconnectible pipe-joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive or caulked joints
    • F16L13/02—Welded joints
    • F16L13/0218—Welded joints having an inner or outer ring
    • F16L13/0236—Welded joints having an inner or outer ring having an outer ring
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K2101/00—Articles made by soldering, welding or cutting
    • B23K2101/04—Tubular or hollow articles
    • B23K2101/06—Tubes

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Arc Welding In General (AREA)

Abstract

A pipe welding method for thin-walled pipes 20, 21 includes mounting a support sleeve 1 having a resilient unitary C-shaped body 2 across abutting ends 23, 24 of the thin-walled pipes 20, 21. Free ends 4, 5 of the body 2 are pulled together to clamp the sleeve 1 about the pipes 20, 21 bringing the pipes 20, 21 into alignment. The pipe ends 23, 24 are then tack welded together through welding access openings 6 in the body 2. After removal of the sleeve 1 the pipe ends 23, 24 are fully welded together.

Description

PIPE WELDING METHOD AND APPARATUS
Introduction
This invention relates to the welding of pipes, and in particular to the welding of thin-walled pipes.
The invention is particularly concerned with the fabrication of process systems for the pharmaceutical, beverage, and food industries which involves the installation of hygienic stainless steel OlD tube which is a thin-walled pipe. A key criterion for the pipework is a crevice-free internal surface and drainability of this pipework. A frequent problem encountered in welding two O/D pipes together is to get correct alignment of the two pipe ends. A further problem arises in that many of the pipe ends are somewhat eccentric due to the small wall thickness of 0/0 tube [approximately 1.5mm].
It is known, from Patent Specification No. SE 503694 and US 5,865,430 for example, to provide a C-shaped pipe clamp comprising a pair of pivotally connected semi-circular members for clamping about butt-joined pipes to aid in welding the pipes together. Given the nature of their construction, these pipe clamps are relatively expensive to produce and are somewhat awkward to fit and release in use which is a disadvantage where a large number of pipe joints have to be welded.
The present invention is directed towards overcoming these problems.
According to the invention there is provided a method for welding thin-walled pipes togc' r, including: inserting ends of two thin-walled pipes into an associated support sleeve, said support sleeve having a resilient unitary C-shaped body with an arcuate side wall terminating in spaced-apart free ends, a number of circumferentially spaced-apart welding access slots extending through the side wall to provide access to abutting pipe ends supported within the sleeve, positioning the ends of the thin-walled pipes at the welding access slots, pulling the free ends of the sleeve together for clamping the sleeve about the pes and aligning the pipe ends, tack welding the two pipe ends together at each welding access slot, releasing the free ends of the sleeve and removing the sleeve from the pipes and, welding the pipe ends together fully about the pipe ends.
In one embodiment of the invention, the method includes clamping the sleeve about the pipe ends by engaging a clamp with associated lugs at free ends of the sleeve for pulling said free ends of the sleeve together.
In another embodiment the body is formed by a continuous band of material.
In a particularly preferred embodiment the body is formed by stainless steel material.
In another embodiment the method includes welding an elbow piece to a pipe by mounting a support sleeve on the pipe, abutting an end of the elbow piece with the end of the pipe, sliding the support sleeve along the pipe for overlapping a side edge of the support sleeve with the elbow piece to align the elbow piece with the pipe, the support sleeve having one or more outer welding access slots along said side edge, pulling the free ends of the sleeve together for clamping the sleeve about the elbow oiece and the pipe and aligning abutting edges of the elbow piece and pipe, tack welding the elbow piece to the pipe at each outer welding access slot, releasing the free end of the sleeve, removing the sleeve and welding the abutting ends of the elbow piece and the pipe together frilly about said abutting ends.
In another aspect, the invention provides apparatus for carring out the method of the invention, including a sleeve having a resilient unitary C-shaped body defining a socket for reception of the ends of complementary pipes to be welded together, said body having an arcuate side wall with a number of circumferentially spaced-apart welding access slots extending through the side wall to provide access to abutting pipe ends supported within the sleeve in use, and means for gripping free ends of the sleeve side wall for puling said free ends together to clamp the sleeve about the pipe ends housed within the sleeve body in use.
In another embodiment, the gripping means comprises outwardly projecting lugs at each free end of the sleeve body.
In further embodiment, welding access slots are centrally located between side edges of the side wall.
In another embodiment, the welding guide slots are provided along at least one side edge of the side wall.
The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1 is a perspective view of pipe clamping apparatus used in the process of the invention; Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the pipe clamp apparatus; Fig 3 is an end elevational view of the pipe clamp apparatus; Fig.4 is an end elevational view of the pipe claim apparatus showing another side of the pipe clamp apparatus; Fig.5 is a plan view of the pipe clamp apparatus; Fig.6 is a perspective view showing the pipe clamp apparatus in use mounted on a pair of adjoining pipes; Fig.7 is an elevational view of the pipe clamp apparatus on the pipes corresponding to the view showed in Fig. 6; and Fig.8 is an end elevational view showing the pipe clamp apparatus clamped about the pipes by means of a clamp engaged with the pipe clamp apparatus.
Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a pipe clamp sleeve according to the invention indicated generally better by the reference numeral 1. The sleeve I has a resilient unitary C-shaped body 2 with an arcuate side wall 3 terminating in spaced-apart free ends 4, 5. A number of circumferentially spaced-apart welding access slots 6 extend through the side wall 3 to provide access to abutting pipe ends 23, 24 supported within the sleeve 1 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
The side wall 3 is a continuous band of stainless steel material. The body 2 is resilient in the sense that the free ends 4, 5 of the side wall can resiliently move together and apart for gripping and releasing pipes. The body 2 can be opened and closed due to its resilient nature.
In this case, circular access slots 6 are provided centrally located between opposite side edges 8, 9 of the side wall 3. These welding access slots 6 are positioned at 90° spacings around the circumference of the side wall 3. It will be appreciated that the number and location of slots may be varied, with typically a greater number of slots on larger diameter tubes.
In addition, outer welding access slots 12 are spaced around one edge 9 of the side wall 3. In this case, outer welding access slots 12 are in alignment with the inner slots 6, although this need not necessarily be so.
The free ends 4,5 of the side wall 3 are formed by outwardly projecting Jugs which can be readily easily gripped by a clamp such as a vice grips 15, as shown in Fig. 8., to clamp the sleeve I about OlD pipes 20, 21 as shown in Figs. 6-8.
Referring in particular to Figs. 6 to 8, the method of the invention will be described.
Two thin-walled OlD pipes 20, 21 are inserted into the support sleeve 1 as shown in 5..
Figs. 6 and 7, locating ends 23,24 of each pipe 20,21 within the sleeve 1. These ends 23, 24 of each pipe 20, 21 are positioned at the welding access slots 6 in abutting engagement. Next, the free ends 4,5 of the sleeve 1 are pulled together by engaging a clamp such as a vice grips 15, as shown in Fig. 8, with the free ends 4, 5 to pull the sleeve 1 tightly about the pipes 20, 21 bringing the pipes 20, 21 into alignment and forcing the pipe ends 23, 24 into concentricity. Then the pipe ends 23, 24 can be tack welded together at each of the welding access slots 6 to secure the pipe ends 23, 24 together. The vice grips 15 is then opened releasing the sleeve 1, which is removed from the pipes 20, 21. Then the pipe ends 23, 24 can be fully welded together about the pipe ends 23, 24.
To weld an elbow piece to an end of one of the pipes 20, 21, it would not be possible to use the inner welding access slots 6 due to the curvature of the elbow piece which ould not allow the sleeve I to slide sufficiently onto the elbow piece to centre the slots 6 at the joint. To overcome this problem the outer welding access slots 12 can be used. After sliding the side edge 9 into engagement with the elbow piece, the free ends 4, 5 of the sleeve 1 are pulled together as before to clamp the elbow piece in alignment with the pipe 20, 21. Tack welds are then made at the joint at each outer welding access slot 12. After removal of the sleeve I the joint can then be fully welded.
It Will be appreciated that apart from the cut-out welding access slots 6, 12, the side wall 3 is formed by a continuous band of material for even load distribution and preventing any localised pressure points which might distort the thin walled pipes 20, 21.
It will also be noted that the body 2 is of a simple unitary steel band construction which is relatively cheap to manufacture and is readily, easily and quickly engaged and disengaged with the pipes 20, 21 during use.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended daims.

Claims (1)

  1. CLAJMS
    1. A method for lding thin-walled pipes together, including: inserting ends of two thin-walled pipes into an associated support sleeve, said support sleeve having a resilient unitary C-shaped body with an arcuate side wall terminating in spaced-apart free ends, a number of circumferentially spaced-apart welding access slots extending through the side wall to provide access to abutting pipe ends supported within the sleeve, positioning the ends of the thin-walled pipes at the welding access slots, pulling the free ends of the sleeve together for damping the sleeve about the pipes and aligning the pipe ends, tack welding the two pipe ends together at each welding access slot, releasing the free ends of the sleeve and removing the sleeve from the pipes, and welding the pipe ends together fully about the pipe ends.
    2. A method as claimed in claim one, including the step of clamping the sleeve about the pipe ends by engaging a clamp with associated lugs at free ends of the sleeve for pulling said free ends of the sleeve together.
    3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the body is formed by a continuous band of material.
    method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the method includes welding an elbow piece to a pipe by mounting the support sleeve on the pipe, abutting an end of the elbow piece with the end of the pipe, sliding the support eeve along the pipe for oveilapping a side edge of the support sleeve with the elbow piece to align the elbow piece with the pipe, the support sleeve having one or more outer welding access slots along said side edge, pulling the free ends of the sleeve together for clamping the sleeve about the elbow piece and the pipe and aligning abutting edges of the elbow piece and pipe, tack welding the elbow piece to the pipe at each outer welding access slot, releasing the free end of the sleeve, removing the sleeve and welding the abutting ends of the elbow piece and the pipe together fully about said abutting ends.
    5. A method for welding thin-walled pipes together substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
    6. A welding support sleeve for use in the method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said welding support sleeve includes: a resilient unitary C-shaped body having an arcuate side wall terminating in spaced-apart free ends; means for gripping the free ends of the sleeve side wall for puling said free ends together; and a number of circumferentially spaced-apart welding access slots extended through the sidewall.
    7. A welding support sleeve as claimed in claim 6 wherein the gripping means comprises outwardly projecting lugs at each free end of the sidewall.
    8. A welding support as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the side wall is formed by a continuous band of material.
    30. A dding support sleeve as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8 wherein a number of welding guide slots are provided spaced-apart around a side edge of the sidewall.
    10. A welding support sleeve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB0717423.8A 2007-09-07 2007-09-07 Pipe welding method and apparatus Active GB2452540B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0717423.8A GB2452540B (en) 2007-09-07 2007-09-07 Pipe welding method and apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0717423.8A GB2452540B (en) 2007-09-07 2007-09-07 Pipe welding method and apparatus

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0717423D0 GB0717423D0 (en) 2007-10-24
GB2452540A true GB2452540A (en) 2009-03-11
GB2452540B GB2452540B (en) 2012-03-21

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0717423.8A Active GB2452540B (en) 2007-09-07 2007-09-07 Pipe welding method and apparatus

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106826085A (en) * 2017-03-27 2017-06-13 江苏新天宝机械有限公司 A kind of thin-walled pressure vessel flexibility full circle welding tooling and its processing method
CN107442958A (en) * 2017-07-28 2017-12-08 南京律智诚专利技术开发有限公司 Anti-corrosion pipeline terminal port flange welding method

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111843103B (en) * 2020-08-11 2022-04-15 中国电建集团山东电力建设有限公司 Split tee fitting assembly welding method

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE581719C (en) * 1933-08-01 Siemens Schuckertwerke Akt Ges Connection for pipes butt welded to one another at the end faces
GB2018378A (en) * 1978-03-20 1979-10-17 Plastics Design & Eng Ltd Device for aligning pipes
SE503694C2 (en) * 1994-10-17 1996-08-05 Stig Hansson Easily (dis)assembled pipe clamp used in a splicing operation
US20050189768A1 (en) * 2004-02-26 2005-09-01 Breeze-Torca Products, Llc Pipe clamp with button engagement hole
EP1767842A2 (en) * 2005-09-16 2007-03-28 The Victaulic Co., Of Japan, Ltd. Housing type joint

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE581719C (en) * 1933-08-01 Siemens Schuckertwerke Akt Ges Connection for pipes butt welded to one another at the end faces
GB2018378A (en) * 1978-03-20 1979-10-17 Plastics Design & Eng Ltd Device for aligning pipes
SE503694C2 (en) * 1994-10-17 1996-08-05 Stig Hansson Easily (dis)assembled pipe clamp used in a splicing operation
US20050189768A1 (en) * 2004-02-26 2005-09-01 Breeze-Torca Products, Llc Pipe clamp with button engagement hole
EP1767842A2 (en) * 2005-09-16 2007-03-28 The Victaulic Co., Of Japan, Ltd. Housing type joint

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106826085A (en) * 2017-03-27 2017-06-13 江苏新天宝机械有限公司 A kind of thin-walled pressure vessel flexibility full circle welding tooling and its processing method
CN106826085B (en) * 2017-03-27 2018-06-01 江苏新天宝机械有限公司 A kind of thin-walled pressure vessel flexibility full circle welding tooling and its processing method
CN107442958A (en) * 2017-07-28 2017-12-08 南京律智诚专利技术开发有限公司 Anti-corrosion pipeline terminal port flange welding method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0717423D0 (en) 2007-10-24
GB2452540B (en) 2012-03-21

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