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US 9,956,583 B2Granted
Method and device for applying protective sheeting of polymer material to a pipeline
AssigneeSaipem S.P.A.
InventorValerio Bregonzio
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of applying protective sheeting of polymer material to a pipeline, the method including the steps of advancing a carriage along an annular path extending about the longitudinal axis of the pipeline; extruding the protective sheeting on the carriage; winding the protective sheeting, as the protective sheeting is extruded, about a cutback on the pipeline; and plastifying the polymer material on board the carriage.
Claims12
A polymer material protective sheeting application device comprising:
- a carriage configured to move along an annular path extending about a longitudinal axis of a pipeline, said carriage configured to apply a protective sheeting to a cutback on a pipeline;
- a frame including two facing and spaced apart grippers, each of the grippers having a first sector and two second sectors which are hinged to the first sector about a hinge axis parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein:
- the first sector and the two second sectors are complementary with one another to define a ring,
- the first sector and the two second sectors are configured to be operated by a plurality of actuators to rotate between a closed position and an open position to grip and release the pipeline, and
- in the closed position, the first sector and the two second sectors of each of the grippers define a circular guide configured to guide the carriage;
- and
- a plastifying and extrusion assembly including a storage tank, a plastifying device, and an extrusion head with an extrusion port, said plastifying and extrusion assembly mounted on the carriage, wherein:
- said plastifying and extrusion assembly is configured to:
- (i) plastify a polymer material from which the protective sheeting is made, and
- (ii) extrude the protective sheeting on board the carriage,
- said storage tank is configured to store the plastified polymer material on board the carriage, and
- said plastifying device is configured to supply a smaller amount of the polymer material than a capacity amount of the extrusion head.
9 more elements
A polymer material protective sheeting application device comprising:
- a carriage configured to move along an annular path extending about a longitudinal axis of a pipeline, said carriage configured to apply a protective sheeting to a cutback on a pipeline;
- a rolling assembly hinged to the carriage and including a roller configured to press the protective sheeting onto the cutback;
- a frame including two facing and spaced apart grippers, each of the grippers having a first sector and two second sectors which are hinged to the first sector about a hinge axis parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein:
- the first sector and the two second sectors are complementary with one another to define a ring,
- the first sector and the two second sectors are configured to be operated by a plurality of actuators to rotate between a closed position and an open position to grip and release the pipeline,
- the first sector and the two second sectors each include adjustable spacers facing the pipeline and configured to be positioned contacting the pipeline to center the frame on the pipeline, and
- in the closed position, the first sector and the two second sectors of each of the grippers define a circular guide configured to guide the carriage;
- and
- a plastifying and extrusion assembly including a storage tank, a plastifying device, and an extrusion head with an extrusion port, said plastifying and extrusion assembly mounted on the carriage, wherein:
- said plastifying and extrusion assembly is configured to:
- (i) plastify a polymer material from which the protective sheeting is made,
- (ii) extrude the protective sheeting on board the carriage, and
- (iii) rotate about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline to remotely adjust a distance between the extrusion port and the cutback,
- said storage tank is configured to store the plastified polymer material on board the carriage, and
- said plastifying device is configured to supply a smaller amount of the polymer material than a capacity amount of the extrusion head.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.