JPH08226577A - Pipe clamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pipe clamp for accurate, easy and short alignment between pipe ends. SOLUTION: A pipe clamp means 1 mounted on supporting members 5, 6 for rotational movement is provided with first and second clamp members 3, 4 for supporting pipe ends and driving means extending between each of the supporting members and each of the clamp members. The driving means and the supporting members are pivotally connected to each other and at least ones of the clamp means and the supporting members are movable so as to be close to or apart from the others of the clamp means and the supporting members.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to pipe clamps.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of polyethylene as a material for pipelines for gas and water distribution is commonly used to obtain the effects of its important properties.
In particular, due to the flexibility of polyethylene, the pipe formed thereby is rolled into a large diameter at the manufacturing site, which facilitates installation, transportation, and handling where the pipe is used. However, there is a drawback that the pipe is permanently bent due to the polyethylene pipe being wound.

[0003]

Thus, one pipe was laid on site, for example, in a groove, and another pipe wound around a drum was laid in a condition ready for laying. The ends of the pipe and the wound pipe are bent to make sure that the normal polyethylene pipe connection technology, electromelting, very reliable for accurate pipe end alignment to make an acceptable connection. It is very difficult to bring the pipe ends together to make a connection by any one of gluing, butt fusion, or socket fusion. As a result, large and heavy clamping systems and alignment devices are required, which require manual labor to be used effectively, are time consuming and inconvenient.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a pipe clamp which allows precise alignment of the pipe ends with each other and which does not have the above-mentioned drawbacks.

In the particular situation of use of pipe connections by electrofusion technology, the pipe ends inserted into the electrofusion sleeve remove a thin layer of material (overity) to provide a clean surface for the connection. It is very important that it is usually prepared to be exposed. For this reason, the worker
Cleaning and scraping are done at the pipe end by hand.
However, this is laborious, time consuming, and there is no guarantee that the entire circumference will be clean over the entire length of the pipe end inserted into the electrofusion sleeve.

A second object of the invention is therefore to provide a simple and effective means for the automatic scraping of pipe ends without the disadvantages mentioned above.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a pipe clamp includes first and second clamping means rotatably mounted on a supporting member and respective supporting means. A member and a drive means extending between the clamps, each drive means and the support member being pivotally connected, and at least one of the clamp means and the support member with respect to the other of the clamp means and the support member. Can be moved.

The drive means extending between the respective support members as well as the clamps simply comprise a threaded rod extending on one side of the respective support member via a threaded hole. A drive nut is attached to one end of this threaded rod, and the other end is ball-connected and attached to a clamping means, and is attached to each clamp by means such as an actuator plate to which a socket for receiving the ball is fixed. Engages in a mounted socket. A simple rotation of the threaded rod adjusts the angular position of each clamping means to match the angular position of the pipe ends supported in the clamp. In particular, this means that a long pipe has already been bent with its pipe end upwards, for example laid in a groove, and the next long wound pipe laid in the groove has its pipe end bent upwards. This is the case. Thus, according to the present invention, each clamp can be set at a predetermined angular position to facilitate the placement and mounting of the pipe end on the respective clamp. After this,
These clamps as well as the supported pipe ends can be moved in opposite directions and brought to the alignment position.

In order to allow movement between the clamp and the support member, one support member and the clamp are attached to the closed end of the double-acting piston / cylinder and the other support member and the clamp project from the cylinder. It is attached to the end of the bar. Thus, by driving the fluid pressure cylinder, the clamp and support member attached to the end of the bar can be moved in and out of the clamp and support member attached to the cylinder, as desired. .

For additional stability, one or more guide bars may be provided near the fluid pressure cylinder.
A support means attached to the cylinder is attached to the guide bar, and the support means attached to the rod is slidable.

The clamping means of the present invention may be mounted on a sled to facilitate transport. However, it is possible, in particular, to install the clamping means in the groove or on the ground near the groove to facilitate the loading of the pipe end into the clamp. This ensures that the pipe ends are set to be aligned and ready for connection. Once the pipe ends are loaded into the clamp and aligned,
An electromelting sleeve or the like may be located at the end of the pipe protruding from the fixed clamp. The piston / cylinder is then driven to move the moveable clamp and the pipe end supported thereby to a position where the pipe end is inserted into the opposite end of the sleeve. After this, the sleeve can be connected to a power source so as to effectively carry out the electrofusion of the sleeve to the pipe end.

In a second aspect of the invention, the pipe
A clamp is arranged between the first and second clamping means, a means for moving at least one clamping means with respect to the other clamping means, and between these clamping means,
It comprises a scraper mounting body having at least two scrapers which are movable with respect to the clamping means and which face each other and are rotatable about the axis of the clamping means, and means for rotating said scrapers.

Thus, the clamping means comprises a double-acting piston / slide with slide bars in close proximity for stability.
In the pipe clamp as described in detail provided on the support member mounted on the cylinder, the support block to which the scraper mounting body is detachably attached may be slidably arranged on the slide bar. Thus, after loading the pipe end into the clamping means and moving the pipe end to the alignment position, the scraper mount is mounted on the support block and the piston / cylinder is pulled on the clamp connected to the cylinder rod to pull the pipe end. Can be driven to engage the scraper on the side of the scraper mount. At the same time, the driving means for rotating the scraper is driven, and the scraper is rotated around the outer circumference of the pipe to scribing while gradually moving the pipe end between the scrapers. This is because the pipe end engages the scraper mount and moves the entire scraper mount along the slide bar so that the opposite scraper engages the pipe end supported by the fixed clamp, and The rotation is continued until the scraper is gradually moved along the pipe end. As a result, the scribing of the pipe ends can be performed to a desired degree along the length direction of the pipe ends while ensuring that the scribing is effectively performed over the entire circumference of both pipe ends.

Alternatively, when the scraper is reattached to the support block slidably arranged on the slide bar, the scraper provided on the opposite side is initially latched in the inoperative position. Then, by one clamp and the first movement of the pipe end supported by this,
The pipe end is biased into the scraper and engages the release means so that the scraper contacts the pipe at a longitudinal location. Then, by further moving the clamp, the scraper and the slidable support block are moved, and the scraper is pushed over the pipe end supported by the fixed clamp on the side opposite to the side of the equipment. . Then, again, the scraper is first latched in the inoperative position and is released into contact with the surface of the pipe when the pipe comes into contact with the release means located in the scraper. When the first clamp and the pipe are pulled while simultaneously rotating the scraper, this first pipe end is scraped clean as it pulls out of the scraper on that side. At this point, the connecting rod protruding from the first clamp contacts the support block and pulls the pipe end of the fixed clamp. As the support block is pulled, it is cleanly scraped to the pipe end.

In order to reduce the time required to scrape both pipe ends, a means is provided for moving the scraper mount in the direction of the fixed clamp at the same time as the moveable scraper moves in the direction of the scraper mount. Can be done. As a positional form of this configuration, the movement of the scraper mounting body occurs as a result of the movement of the movable scraper, so that both pipe ends are simultaneously scraped. This is accomplished by a Z-link mechanism, one end of each of which is pivotally supported by the clamp support member and which is pivotally supported by the support member for the scraper mount. In this device, the scraper mount is moved in the fixed clamp direction by moving the clamp that is movable in the scraper mount direction. The Z-link mechanism moves the scraper mount in the fixed clamp direction by half the distance the movable clamp moves in the direction of the scraper mount, thus scraping both pipe ends equally at the same time.

Alternatively, movement of an equal half distance can be achieved by providing spring-loaded means between the scraper mount and the fixed and movable clamps, respectively. Each spring has a spring coefficient that reduces the simultaneous and equal progression of the scraper to each pipe end.

Also, another drive mechanism for the scraper mount, such as a hydraulic drive mechanism, may be provided to be actuated simultaneously with the drive mechanism for the movable clamp. As a result, both pipe ends can be scraped at the same time.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION As shown in the drawings, a pipe clamp means 1 capable of accurately aligning pipe ends 2 with each other is a pipe clamp member 3 rotatably mounted on support members 5 and 6, respectively. , 4. These supporting members 5 and 6 are arranged between both side plates 7 of the clamping means. These side plates perform a sliding function that allows the pipe clamping means to rest on the ground. One or more wheels 8 may be provided at one end of the pipe clamping means to facilitate movement of the pipe clamping means along the ground.

Threaded holes are formed in the frame member 9 at each end of the pipe clamping means. Threaded rods (bolts) 10 and 11 are inserted into these screw holes. These threaded rods are attached to the extensions 14, 15 to the clamps 3, 4. Thus, by rotating the threaded rod 10 or 11, the clamping members 3, 4 can be rotated about the pivotal connection to the support members 5, 6. As a result, the clamping axis is brought to a position corresponding to the angle of the pipe end, for example in a groove or a position extending from the conveying coil. Each clamp member consists of two halves, the upper half of which can be removed. The pipe end is mounted in a clamp at the lower half, the upper half is placed on this and is locked to the lower half by suitable bolts. By rotating the bolts 10 and 11 in the desired direction, the clamp will center the pivot connection with respect to the support member until the long axis of the clamp and the pipe end located in the clamp are in horizontal alignment. Is rotated as. As shown particularly in FIG. 2, the support member 6 is provided with a wheel 16. These wheels are runners 1 arranged on the inner surface of the side plate 7.
Located within 7. The support member 6 also comprises a bridge member 18 having holes 19. One end of each cylinder 20 of the piston / cylinder is located in and attached to these holes. The piston rod of this piston / cylinder is attached to a support member 5 mounted on a side plate 7. The bridge member 18 has a further hole 20a. As will be described later, a guide bar 21 extending partway along the length direction of the clamp means is inserted into these holes 20a. Further, the bridge member 18 is formed with another hole 22 into which a slide bar 23 extending over the entire length of the pipe clamp means is inserted.

The scraper mounting body 24 is disposed between the clamping means 3 and 4 and the wheel 26 is disposed in the runner 17.
It is removably attached to the support member 25 having.
Rotatable socket-shaped members 27 are provided on both sides of the mounting body 24, respectively. Each socket-shaped member has at least two blades 28 arranged so as to face each other, and these blades can be expanded and contracted between a non-operating position and an operating position by a latch mechanism 29.

In a manner similar to the support member 6, the support member 25 for the scraper mount 24 is the cylinder 2
0, slide bar 23, and through hole for rod 21 respectively. The length of these rods 21 is the same as that of the support member 2.
It is set to extend slightly beyond 5 to the collar member attached to the end thereof.

Thus, when the pipe ends are clamped in place and brought into a horizontal aligned condition, they can be prepared to receive an electrofusion coupling sleeve or the like. In order to make this possible, the piston / cylinder is a movable clamp, the clamp 4 (support member 6) and the pipe end supported by the clamp 4 is a clamp 3 (support member 5).
Further, it is driven so as to move toward the pipe end supported by the pipe. The movement of the clamp 4 causes the pipe end to contact a latch 29 on one side of the mounting body 24 to release the blades 28 of the scraper mounting body, until the blade end contacts the outer circumference of the pipe end until the pipe end 2 is socketed. It is inserted into the member 27. Due to the continuous movement of the clamp 4, the scraper mounting body 24 is entirely moved in the direction of the fixed clamp 3 and the pipe end supported thereby. Then, the other pipe end is inserted into the socket-shaped member 27 provided on the other side of the scraper mounting body 24,
The pipe ends contact latches 29 to release blades 28, which contact the outer circumference of the pipe ends.
In this state, when the socket-shaped member is rotated and the piston / cylinder is inverted, the clamp 4 is separated from the clamp 2, and the pipe ends are respectively removed from the socket-shaped member 27 with the blade rotated. As a result, the pipe end is cleaned and ovality.
Are removed. By the movement of the clamp 4 in the opposite direction, the rods 21 are pulled from the support members 25, and the collars at the tips of these rods come into contact with the support members. Then, at this point where the scraper mounting body 24 is separated from the clamp 3, the rotating socket-shaped member 27 is moved away from the pipe end supported by the clamp 4, and as a result, the pipe end is cleaned, In addition, ovality is removed.

Thus, the pipe ends are ready to receive a connecting sleeve, for example an electrofusion connecting sleeve, which pipe ends can be attached to each other.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of a pipe clamp / pipe scraper.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of FIG. 1 with the scraper accessory removed.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pipe clamp means, 3, 4 ... Pipe clamp members, 5, 6 ... Supporting member, 10, 11 ... Threaded rod, 24 ... Scraper mounting body, 25 ... Supporting member, 27
... Socket-shaped member.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first and a second clamp means each rotatably mounted on a support member, and a drive means extending between the respective support members and clamps, each drive means and a support member. Is a pivotal connection, and at least one of said clamp means and a support member is movable relative to the other said clamp means and support member. 2. A first and a second clamping means, a means for moving at least one clamping means with respect to the other clamping means, arranged between these clamping means and movable with respect to the clamping means, Facing each other,
At least two rotatable about the axis of the clamping means
A pipe clamp comprising a scraper mount having three scrapers and means for rotating said scrapers.