Electric induction heating and coating of the exterior surface of a pipe

A modular apparatus for electric induction heating electric induction heating and coating of an exterior surface of a pipe, the modular apparatus comprising:

• an interchangeable central main frame assembly, the interchangeable central main frame assembly comprising a central top drive frame assembly and a coil main frame assembly, the central top drive frame assembly disposed above the coil main frame assembly, the central top drive frame assembly comprising a coating system driver and a coil main frame assembly driver system for moving the coil main frame assembly between a closed coil main frame assembly position when the coil main frame assembly forms an encircling closed coil main frame assembly around an axial section of the pipe in a pipe treatment region and an opened coil main frame assembly position when the coil main frame assembly forms an opening for the entry or exit of the axial section of the pipe to or from the pipe treatment region;
• a coil assembly mounting structure located on the coil main frame assembly;
• an interchangeable induction coil assembly mounted to the coil assembly mounting structure whereby the interchangeable induction coil assembly moves within the coil main frame assembly to the closed coil main frame assembly position to form an encircling closed interchangeable induction coil assembly around the exterior surface of the pipe in the axial section of the pipe in the pipe treatment region and to the opened coil main frame assembly position to form the opening for the entry or exit of the axial section of the pipe to or from the pipe treatment region;
• a first and a second side outer drive frame assemblies, the first and second side outer drive frame assemblies respectively and removably connected to a first and second sides of the interchangeable central main frame assembly whereby the axial section of the pipe can pass through the first side outer drive frame assembly, the pipe treatment region of the encircling closed coil main frame assembly and the second side outer drive frame assembly, the first and second side outer drive frame assemblies detachable from the interchangeable central main frame assembly for replacement of the interchangeable central main frame assembly for use with the first and second side outer drive frame assemblies to form a modified pipe treatment region;
• a first and second coating head mounting structures located respectively in the first and second side outer drive frame assemblies, the first and second coating head mounting structures connected respectively to a first and second coating head drive assembly located respectively in the first and second side outer drive frame assemblies, the first and second coating head drive assemblies connected to the coating system driver;
• and
• one or more interchangeable coating head cartridges mounted to the first and second coating head mounting structures, each of the one or more interchangeable coating head cartridges comprising one or more coating pans connectable to a source of a coating material for release of the coating material from the one or more coating pans onto the exterior surface of the pipe in the pipe treatment region.