TPT January 2013

Technology News

Improved coupling for pipes FOR a recent pipe coating project, Dhatec successfully adapted and applied its pipe coupling for clad pipes. Pipe couplings are tools that are applied to improve the stability of the coating process and minimise radial movement between pipes in the coating line. With the new improvements, Dhatec’s complete range of pipe couplings is now suitable for application on clad pipes. The range was also expanded with a new line of mini-couplings for pipe diameters 1" to 6". process due to pipe movements does not only cause damage to pipe-ends, it may also cause thickness variations or air seals in the coating layer, which is of course undesirable.

couplings for pipe diameters 1" to 6". The main goal of the coupling is to line up pipes. However, there are additional design features that can be identified in order to make a pipe coupling fully functional in a coating process: strong construction, shock resistant; strong fixation and line up during coating; easy release during separation of pipes after coating; effective bevel protection; adjustable for a wide wall thickness range; bridge thermal expansion of the pipe in an induction oven (220°C); small and isolating contact surface with the pipe, to minimise heat loss and take any internal cutback in to consideration; allow cooling water to flow through the pipe; and fast and easy application or removal.

The coupling is designed to carry pipes over a certain distance, between support rollers in the coating process. The coupling, and all its parts, have to be strong enough to withstand not only a portion of the pipe weight, but also extra forces caused by collision, friction, oval pipes, curved pipes and vibration. The impact of these forces are different in each coating process and therefore different models of pipe couplings are developed to comply with each situation: a standard pipe coupling for normal circumstances and for pipe diameters between 8" and 40"; a premium pipe coupling for improved usability for pipe diameters between 8" and 56"; and a recently developed new range of mini-

Pipe coating plants are often confronted with strict demands for undamaged pipe ends and pipe surfaces. At the same time coating plants are aiming to produce at full capacity. In order to stabilise the coating process and to limit undesirable radial pipe movements, the process often needs to be slowed down if couplings are not applied. An unstable coating

Dhatec BV – The Netherlands Email: info@dhatec.nl Website: www.dhatec.nl

Laser sensing systems SERVO-ROBOT is a producer of intelligent laser sensing systems for welding automation, including seam tracking, seam finding, adaptive welding and also weld inspection. The company’s systems are applied in the pipe and tube industry improving weld quality and increasing productivity. or special purpose welding machines to perform the following functions: joint tracking and adaptive welding for SAW, GMAW and laser welding processes; automatic gap control with real-time root measurement; real-time ultrasonic probe position control; and 100 per cent automatic weld geometry and defect detection. Welding and clamping table BERND Siegmund GmbH has further developed its established welding and clamping table systems. The essential change concerning accuracy of welding tables was on the basis of material – the new welding and clamping table is extremely hard. With a hardness of approximately 700 Vickers, the Professional Extreme is harder than most tool steel or most Japanese knives. The level of hardness is reached by the combination of two processes. Professional Extreme consists of pre-hardened steel, making the new welding and clamping table not only more resistant against rust and welding spatters, but also extremely robust against impact or scratches. All table components have been completely revised and optimised

relating to stability, load capacity and practicability. Professional Extreme is steadier, more load-bearing and more effective with larger foot plates, forming tubes and additional ripping on the table bottom side. Bernd Siegmund GmbH – Germany Email: info@siegmund-group.com Website: www.siegmund-group.com

solution for joint tracking and adaptive process control designed for special purpose welding machines and can operate on sheet metal applications as well as on thick wall tubes. In addition to these advanced sensing systems in the pipe and tube industry Servo-Robot offers the all-new Wiki-Scan handheld welding inspection system, used to manually inspect joints and weld bead geometry for quality control.

The laser vision systems are used in several stages of pipe and tube production, including seam tracking and adaptive welding of inside and outside welds, inspection of seam or weld bead geometry and guidance of ultrasonic inspection probes. Servo-Robot’s systems can be integrated to any robot

The intelligent laser sensing systems for welding automation are offered under two product names: Power-Trac is a joint tracking system for robotic arc welding that increases travel speed, eliminates defects and reduces over welding; Auto-Trac is a complete

Servo-Robot Inc – Canada Email: info@servorobot.com Website: www.servorobot.com

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J anuary 2013