Method of installing a heat tube on pre-insulated piping

A method for installing a heat tube on a pre-insulated pipe, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a steel carrier pipe having an exterior surface, an interior surface and a given length extending along a central longitudinal axis;
• placing the steel carrier pipe on a first section of a conveyor line which rotates the steel carrier pipe while simultaneously moving the steel carrier pipe in a longitudinal direction past a first foam application station where a first layer of foam insulation is sprayed onto the exterior surface of steel carrier pipe;
• passing the steel carrier pipe through a curing station located on a second section of the conveyor line located downstream of the first foam application station by moving the steel carrier pipe longitudinally down the second section of the conveyor line and allowing the first layer of foam insulation to cure to a given radial thickness to thereby form a pre-insulated pipe as it is being moved longitudinally down the second section of the conveyor line;
• passing the pre-insulated pipe to a third section of the conveyor line where it continues to be moved in a longitudinal direction to a cutting station which includes a cutter assembly connected to carriage assembly and a linear track along which the carriage assembly can move;
• moving the carriage assembly along the linear track, whereby the cutter assembly is moved down the pre-insulated pipe and cuts a longitudinal slot through the first layer of foam insulation along at least a portion of the length of the steel carrier pipe, thereby exposing the exterior surface of the steel carrier pipe;
• installing a heat tube within the longitudinal slot whereby the heat tube contacts the exposed exterior surface of the steel carrier pipe;
• after installing the heat tube, moving the pre-insulated pipe to a fourth section of the conveyor line which moves the pre-insulated pipe in a longitudinal direction while simultaneously rotating the pre-insulated pipe;
• passing the pre-insulated pipe past a second foam application station while spraying a second layer of foam insulation onto the exterior surface of the steel carrier pipe as the pre-insulated pipe is being rotated and moved in the longitudinal direction on the fourth section of the conveyor line, thereby filling the longitudinal slot and covering the installed heat tube to form an insulated pipe;
• moving the insulated pipe down a final section of the conveyor line while applying a polyolefin coating around the insulated pipe to thereby form a finished insulated pipe having an outer protective jacket;
• rolling the finished insulated pipe off the final section of the conveyor line into a finished pipe area.