Method and apparatus for producing pipe sections using a laser beam movable by a scanning device, and corresponding pipe section
AssigneeCosmocan Technology AG
InventorWerner Boltshauser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
When severing pipe sections from a pipe that is continuously produced, a closed separating line is formed around the section axis along the pipe circumference, the separating line being disposed by a section length from the free pipe end. In at least one embodiment, in order to sever a pipe section, a laser beam generated by a laser scanning device is deflected along the entire circumference of the pipe being produced to the separating line, always transversely to the section axis, such that a substantially focused contact region of the laser beam on the pipe being produced is guided completely along the closed separating line and, in the process, the pipe section is severed from the pipe being produced.
Claims23
A method for producing pipe sections, said method comprising:
- continuously advancing band-shaped flat material with an advancing speed;
- reshaping the material transverse to an axis of the band into a closed form;
- and
- forming the material into a pipe by welding a longitudinal seam;
- severing the pipe and producing the pipe sections at a free end of the pipe, wherein a pipe section to be severed extends over a sectional length along a section axis and wherein during the severing, a closed severing line is formed around the section axis in a circumferential direction of the pipe and wherein the severing line is located in a severing plane which is advanced continuously along with the pipe being formed and is located at a distance equal to a sectional length to the free end of the pipe, wherein in order to sever a pipe section, a laser beam supplied by a laser scanning device is conducted at least once along a complete circumference of the pipe being formed and, in the process, is directed with the aid of an optical element and transverse to the section axis onto the severing line, and wherein an essentially focused contact region of the laser beam on the pipe being formed is guided in the severing plane that continuously advances along with the pipe being formed completely along the closed severing line and in the process severs the pipe section from the pipe.
An apparatus for producing pipe sections, said apparatus comprising:
- device to continuously advance band-shaped flat material;
- a device to reshape the band-shaped flat material transverse to the band axis into a closed shape;
- a device to weld a longitudinal seam along a pipe;
- and
- a device to sever the pipe and produce a pipe section at a free end of the pipe, wherein the pipe section extends over a sectional length along a section axis, wherein during the severing operation a closed severing line is formed around the section axis along the pipe circumference and the severing line is positioned in a severing plane which advances continuously along with the pipe and is distanced by a section length from the pipe end, wherein the device to sever the pipe and produce a pipe section comprises a laser scanning device, wherein the laser scanning device causes a laser beam to be conducted at least once along the complete circumference of the pipe and directs this beam transverse to the section axis onto the severing line, thus making it possible for an essentially focused contact region of the laser beam on the pipe to be guided completely along the closed severing line in the severing plane which advances continuously along with the pipe.
A pipe section with a longitudinal seam, wherein the pipe section is severed from a continuously produced pipe, wherein for the production of the pipe section band-shaped flat material is continuously advanced with an advancing movement, is reshaped into a closed form transverse to the band axis and by welding a longitudinal seam is formed into a pipe to be produced from which pipe sections are severed at the exposed end, wherein a pipe section to be severed extends over a sectional length along a section axis, wherein during the severing operation a closed severing line is formed around the section axis along the pipe circumference and the severing line is positioned in a severing plane that is advanced continuously along with the pipe being produced and is spaced apart from the exposed pipe end by one section length, wherein a laser beam, generated by the laser scanning device for severing the pipe section, is guided at least once along the complete circumference of the pipe being produced, so that an essentially focused contact region of the laser beam for the pipe being produced is guided along the closed severing line and, in the process, the pipe section is severed from the pipe being produced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.