Method of improving the surface of steel pipe for corrosion resistant coating and apparatus for use in carrying out the method
AssigneeShaw Industries Ltd.
InventorsStephen E. McConkey, Guntrum N. Franzky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Surface anomalies on pipe are removed preparatory to corrosion coating. The removal is conducted by brushing with wire brush elements or Comax brush elements which may rotate about axes parallel to the pipe axis or substantially radially off the pipe. Both kinds of brush elements may be used in combination. Before subjecting the pipe to brushing, the surface is particulate blasted to remove ferric oxide and better expose surface anomolies. After wire brushing, the surface is again particulate blasted to provide an anchor pattern of indentations promoting adhesion of the coating.
Claims15
Apparatus for preparing the surface of steel pipe for coating comprising:
- (a) means for conveying pipe longitudinally along a conveying axis;
- (b) first and second particulate blasters spaced apart along said path for blasting the surface of said pipe;
- and
- (c) a wire brush element disposed between said first and second blasters, said brush element having wires extending generally radially with respect to said axis and having free wire ends disposable adjacent the surface of said pipe, means for biasing the free ends of the wires into abrasive engagement with the pipe surface, and means for rotating the wires relative to the pipe surface to abrade off substantially all surface anomalies from the pipe and provide a substantially smoothly curved abraded pipe surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.