# US 2019/0314846 A1 · Apparatus for coating pipes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0314846 A1 - Document ID: US20190314846A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/309,365 - Filed: 2017-06-13 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-13 - Assignees: Shawcor Ltd. - Applicants: Shawcor Ltd. - Inventors: Jeremy Joseph Ellis; Jarrod Shugg; Shawn Doyle; Ronald J. Dunn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190314846A1 ## CPC - B05B 13/0436: {Installations or apparatus for applying liquid or other fluent material to elongated bodies, e.g. light poles, pipes (B05B13/0442, B05B13/0463 take precedence)} - B05B 12/00: Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area - B05D 1/02: performed by spraying - B05D 7/146: {to metallic pipes or tubes (processes for coating the interior of pipes B05D7/222)} - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) ## Abstract Provided is an apparatus for coating a girth weld and a cutback region surrounding said girth weld, said apparatus having lateral travel at least equal to the length of the cutback region and circumferential rotational travel around the pipe. The apparatus can provide a multiple component coating accurately and safely, without the need for solvent flushing of the apparatus. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-41. (canceled) ### Claim 42 An apparatus for coating a girth weld and a cutback region surrounding said girth weld on a coated steel pipe, comprising: a frame having: a roller carriage configured for mounting to a track affixed proximal to said cutback region and circumferentially around said coated steel pipe, said roller carriage having powered circumferential travel means providing circumferential rotational travel of said support frame at least 350 degrees around said track, said powered circumferential travel means comprising a powered drive gear, for example a pneumatically or hydraulically powered drive gear, on the support frame, operatively connected to and displacing along a rack on the track, and also comprising an electric motor for powering the powered drive gear, said powered circumferential travel means providing variable, user selectable rotation speed, said powered circumferential travel means providing unidirectional or bidirectional travel; and an arm cantilevered laterally from said frame; said arm having a spray head region at an end of said arm distal to said frame, said spray head region laterally or transversely adjustable relative to the arm and frame; said arm having powered lateral travel means providing lateral travel of the spray head region relative to said frame, the distance of said lateral travel at least equal to the length of half of the cutback region; a controllable means for spraying a mixed, multi-component liquid coating from the spray head region onto the cutback region to be coated; optionally a power source for the powered lateral travel means, the powered circumferential travel means, and/or the means for spraying the mixed, multi-component liquid coating; optionally a plurality of wheels affixed to the roller carriage to facilitate circumferential travel of said frame around said pipe; a controller operatively linked to and controlling the powered lateral travel means, the powered circumferential travel means, and the means for spraying the mixed, multi-component liquid coating, said controller optionally controlling the displacement means for displacing the at least two components; and optionally a control box wired to the controller, said control box having a user interface for operating and/or programming the apparatus. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The apparatus of claim 42 wherein controllable means for spraying a mixed, multi-component liquid coating from the spray head region onto the cutback region to be coated comprises: a cartridge carriage configured to receive at least one cartridge and optionally two or more than two cartridges, each said cartridge or cartridges containing one of the components of the multi-component liquid coating, or optionally more than one component of the multi-component liquid coating in separate compartments, wherein, when in use, the cartridge carriage contains at least one cartridge and at least two components of the multi-component liquid coating housed within said at least one cartridge; displacement means for displacing the at least two components of the multi-component liquid coating out of the cartridge or cartridges and into a mixer which mixes the at least two components to form the multi-component liquid coating, and therefrom through a spray nozzle attached, optionally by a multi-component liquid coating component hose, to said mixer; said spray nozzle affixed to the spray head region and configured to spray the multi-component liquid coating onto the cutback region when the apparatus is mounted to a track affixed proximal to said cutback region; wherein the cartridge or cartridges, the mixer, and/or the spray nozzle are optionally disposable consumables or reusable; further optionally comprising heating means for heating the cartridges, said heating means configured to travel with said reservoir frame. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The apparatus of claim 42 wherein controllable means for spraying a mixed, multi-component liquid coating from the spray head region onto the cutback region to be coated comprises: a reservoir carriage configured to receive two or more than two reservoirs, each said reservoir containing one of the components of the multi-component liquid coating, wherein, when in use, the reservoir carriage contains at least two reservoirs and at least one component of the multi-component liquid coating housed within each of said reservoirs; displacement means for displacing the at least two components of the multi-component liquid coating out of the reservoirs and into a mixer which mixes the at least two components to form the multi-component liquid coating, and therefrom through a spray nozzle attached, optionally by a multi-component liquid coating component hose, to said mixer; said spray nozzle affixed to the spray head region and configured to spray the multi-component liquid coating onto the cutback region when the apparatus is mounted to a track affixed proximal to said cutback region; a continuous component inlet on each of said reservoirs, adapted to receive a low pressure line comprising component, for filling the reservoir from a bulk supply located off the apparatus; wherein the cartridge or cartridges, the mixer, and/or the spray nozzle are optionally disposable consumables or reusable. further optionally comprising heating means for heating the cartridges, said heating means configured to travel with said reservoir frame ### Claim 45 (depends on 43) The apparatus of claim 43 further comprising a spray nozzle and a pressurized air input, optionally including pressurized air preparation means, such as an air filter, an air dryer, and/or a heater, upstream of the pressurized air input and connected thereto by a pressurized air line. ### Claim 46 (depends on 44) The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising a spray nozzle and a pressurized air input, optionally including pressurized air preparation means, such as an air filter, an air dryer, and/or a heater, upstream of the pressurized air input and connected thereto by a pressurized air line. ### Claim 47 (depends on 43) The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the displacement means for displacing the at least two components comprises a piston for displacement of each of the components out of the cartridge or cartridges, and a cartridge gun for displacing the pistons, said cartridge gun selected from a pneumatic cartridge gun, an electric cartridge gun, and a hydraulic cartridge gun. ### Claim 48 (depends on 44) The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the displacement means for displacing the at least two components comprises a piston for displacement of each of the components out of the cartridge or cartridges, and a cartridge gun for displacing the pistons, said cartridge gun selected from a pneumatic cartridge gun, an electric cartridge gun, and a hydraulic cartridge gun. ### Claim 49 (depends on 42) The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the arm comprises at least two shafts linking the spray head region with the frame, and slidable relative to the frame. ### Claim 50 (depends on 42) The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the powered lateral travel means is a non-captive stepper motor on said frame, turning a lead screw on said arm, which in turn moves the arm relative to the frame. ### Claim 51 (depends on 43) The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the two components of the multi-component liquid coating comprise (a) an epoxy base and (b) an epoxy curing agent, and wherein the cartridges or reservoirs are of an appropriate size to contain sufficient epoxy curing agent and/or epoxy base, respectively, for coating one cutback region. ### Claim 52 (depends on 44) The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the two components of the multi-component liquid coating comprise (a) an epoxy base and (b) an epoxy curing agent, and wherein the cartridges or reservoirs are of an appropriate size to contain sufficient epoxy curing agent and/or epoxy base, respectively, for coating one cutback region. ### Claim 53 (depends on 42) The apparatus of claim 42 further comprising: at least two continuous component inlets each adapted to receive a high pressure line through which a component flows; a valve for controlling the flow of component from the component inlets into a mixer which mixes the components to form the multi-component liquid coating, and therefrom through a spray nozzle attached, optionally by a high pressure multi-component liquid coating hose, to said mixer; said spray nozzle affixed to the spray head region and configured to spray the multi-component liquid coating onto the cutback region when the apparatus is mounted to a track affixed proximal to said cutback region. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The apparatus of claim 53 further comprising the mixer, the high pressure multi-component liquid coating hose, and/or the spray nozzle. ### Claim 55 (depends on 53) The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the nozzle, the high pressure multi-component liquid coating hose, and/or the spray nozzle, are disposable consumables or reusable. ### Claim 56 (depends on 42) The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the apparatus is less than 50 lbs in weight and transportable by one person. ### Claim 57 (depends on 43) A method of coating a cutback region of a pipe, comprising: (a) affixing or clamping a track having a rack, circumferentially around an outer surface coating of said pipe, proximal to said cutback region; (b) mounting an apparatus of claim 43 to said track so that the circumferential travel means engages with the rack; (c) positioning the spray head region laterally within the cutback region of the pipe; (c1) optionally pre-heating the at least one cartridge; (d) installing the at least one cartridge into the cartridge carriage, said at least once cartridge loaded with at least two of the components of the multi-component liquid coating; (e) priming the mixer and spray nozzle with multi-component liquid coating by displacing the components from the cartridge into the mixer and spray nozzle; (f) spraying the multi-component liquid coating out of the spray nozzle onto the cutback region of the pipe while rotating the apparatus around the pipe, optionally comprising providing pressurized air to the nozzle; (g) optionally displacing the spray head region laterally relative to the frame of the apparatus, while rotating the apparatus around the pipe or between rotation cycles, to spray the multi-component liquid coating onto the entirety of the cutback region, resulting in a relatively even coating of the multi-component liquid coating onto cutback region; wherein step (d) is done in any order relative to the other steps, and steps (a), (b), (c), (e) and (f) are done in the order herein provided; ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) The method of claim 57 wherein steps (e) and optionally (f) are computer controlled and automated. ### Claim 59 (depends on 42) A method of coating a cutback region of a pipe, comprising: (a) affixing or clamping a track having a rack, circumferentially around an outer surface coating of said pipe, proximal to said cutback region; (b) mounting an apparatus of claim 42 to said track so that the circumferential travel means engages with the rack; (c) positioning the spray head region laterally within the cutback region of the pipe; (d) installing the high pressure component lines to the continuous component inlets; (e) priming the mixer and spray nozzle with multi-component liquid coating by displacing the components from the high pressure component lines into the mixer and spray nozzle; (f) spraying the multi-component liquid coating out of the spray nozzle onto the cutback region of the pipe while rotating the apparatus around the pipe; (g) optionally displacing the spray head region laterally relative to the frame of the apparatus, while rotating the apparatus around the pipe or between rotation cycles, to spray the multi-component liquid coating onto the entirety of the cutback region, resulting in a relatively even coating of the multi-component liquid coating onto cutback region; wherein step (d) is done in any order relative to the other steps, and steps (a), (b), (c), (e) and (f) are done in the order herein provided.