MXPA00001409A - Apparatus for amorphous bonding of tubulars - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for amorphous bonding of tubulars comprises a clamping assembly (104, 105, 106, 107), which clamping assembly is adapted to maintain a pair of tubulars (112, 113) of which the ends are to be bonded in substantial axial alignment;a machining tool (110) comprising a body with a pair of spaced apart cutting units which, in use, prepare said adjacent ends of said tubulars such that the prepared ends are substantially parallel to each other;and an induction coil for heating the prepared ends of the tubulars while the prepared ends are pressed towards each other and the tubulars are maintained in substantial axial alignment by the clamping assembly.

Description

AN APPARATUS FOR THE AMORFA OF TUBULAR ELEMENTS UNION Field of Invention This invention relates to an apparatus for the amorphous union of tubular elements.

Background of the Invention The amorphous bond is used to join components in the automotive industry and, as disclosed in the European patent application No. 418606, for joining tubular elements. Typically, the surfaces to be joined are frosted so that they are substantially parallel. A film of a special alloy is then inserted between the surfaces, and the components are bonded together and heat is applied in the vicinity of the joint for a predetermined period of time. The bond is extremely strong and the metallurgical properties of the joint are relatively homogeneous therein.

Ref: 32639 Currently, the surfaces to be joined are brought to parallelism by a machine tool that has a working head with a grinding wheel arranged on each side thereof. During use, the machine tool is guided between the surfaces to be grinded on a track.

There is an old need to also use an amorphous union to join tubular elements in the construction, maintenance and repair of oil and gas wells. It will be appreciated that this generates technical problems both due to extremely dangerous vapors with drilling and due to the fact that many of our oil and gas reserves are accessed from offshore platforms that move forward and backward in heavy seas and bad weather .

The problem with the object of this invention is how to prepare and align the surface of tubular elements, which can vary from 15 cm to 105 cm in diameter before and during the amorphous bonding process.

The solution of the prior art is not possible for several reasons. First of all, if small diameter grinding wheels are used, it is virtually impossible to move the grinding tool around the tubular elements with sufficient precision considering that ground drilling rigs and offshore drilling rigs are mobile.

If larger diameter grinding wheels are used, the head of the machine tool becomes too large and the difficulties associated with separating the tool from the machine at a wellhead become discouraging.

The present invention faces the problem of alignment and preparation of the ends of tubular elements and of the alignment of the apparatus for the amorphous connection from a different angle.

Brief description of the invention.

The present invention provides an apparatus for the amorphous union of tubular elements, the apparatus comprising: a clamping assembly, the clamping assembly adapted to maintain a pair of tubular elements whose ends must be joined in a substantially axial alignment; a machining tool comprising a body with a pair of separate cutting units, which during use prepare said adjacent ends of said tubular elements so that the prepared ends are substantially parallel to each other; Y - an induction coil for heating the prepared ends of the tubular elements while the prepared ends are pressed against each other and the tubular elements are maintained in a substantially axial alignment by the clamping assembly.

Preferably, each cutting unit comprises at least two cutting edges, one of which can be wider than the other and which can be placed to end a cut started by a narrower driving cutter.

The body can be designed to be slid over the end of a tubular element or it can be a two-piece structure adapted to be mounted around the tubular elements to be cut. This two-piece structure is preferred since it allows a tube section containing a failed joint to be quickly cut.

It is noted that it is known to cut tubes using a split structure cutting device such as that manufactured and sold by Achs Limited of Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 7BD, England. This known cutting device essentially comprises two halves which can be mounted around a tubular element. The known cutting device only comprises a simple shear that is driven by a pneumatic, hydraulic or electric power source to cut the tubular element.

Preferably, the tubular elements are cut simultaneously by the apparatus according to the invention although they could be cut sequentially. It is also contemplated that the cutting of a tubular element may begin shortly before the cutting of the other tubular element. This last configuration has the advantage that the initial cut in the tubular element places the associated cutting element and thus acts as a guide when the cutting of the other tubular element begins.

It is also referred to that the induction coil is equipped with an alignment device for clamping at least one of said tubular elements, the alignment device which is maintained in a fixed relationship with respect to said induction coil and which the alignment device it comprises wheels on rails, which are mounted on the support structure.

Preferably, said alignment device comprises spring-loaded arms, the arms comprising centering rollers.

Alternatively, the alignment device comprises eccentric wheels that can be driven by a motor in a synchronized manner, and the alignment device comprises two halves, each comprising at least one eccentric roller.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the induction coil comprises at least two separate separate parts and that the apparatus further includes a housing having at least two separate and distinct parts, each of the parts containing one of said parts of the coil of induction and those parts being forced during use to form a protective gas chamber sealed around the heating coil and the ends of the tubular elements attached during the amorphous bonding process.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

For a better understanding of the present invention reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention, showing the components just before a cutting operation; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the cutting apparatus illustrating the principle of the cutting process according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic view of the cutting apparatus of Figure 2 which is used to remove a section of tubular element containing a failed joint; Figure 4 is a vertical section through part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 upon completion of the cutting operation; Figure 5 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the alignment assembly of the heating coil of the amorphous bonding machine as shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 is an enlarged bottom plan view of a portion of the alignment centering assembly of the heating coil of the amorphous attachment apparatus as shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a side view of a second embodiment of an alignment assembly of the heating coil of an apparatus according to the present invention; Y Figure 8 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 is a detailed, enlarged scale view of the split heating coil of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a view on another enlarged scale, part of the view shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 but showing an alternative heating coil assembly in an open position; Y Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing a heating coil assembly in a clamped position.

Detailed description of the invention.

With reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, an amorphous bonding apparatus according to the invention is shown.

The apparatus, which is generally identified with the reference number 100, comprises a support structure 102 which is mounted on wheels 103 which run on rails that are in channels (not shown).

The support structure 102 is provided with a grip assembly comprising four jaws 104, 105, 106, and 107 positioned as a lower pair 104, 105 and an upper pair 106, 107. The jaws 106, 107 can be raised and lowered by the two piston and cylinder assemblies 108, 109.

A pipe cutter 110 is mounted on a support that is mounted on the support structure 102. The pipe cutter 110 will be described in more detail below. However, at this point it should be understood that during use, a lower tubular member 112 will be held in wedges (not shown). The upper part of the lower tubular element 112 is held firmly by the jaws 104 and 105 while an upper tubular element 113 is held firmly by the jaws 106, 107 in substantially axial alignment with the lower tubular element 112.

The position of the jaws 106, 107 in the horizontal plane can be adjusted by micro-jacks to ensure a substantially axial alignment of the upper tubular element 113 with the lower tubular element 112.

Prior to the cutting operation the piston and cylinder assemblies 108, 109 are driven such that the tubular element 113 is lowered from the position shown in Figure 1 until the adjacent faces of the lower tubular element 112 and upper tubular element 113 are separated by approximately 20 mm.

At that time the tube cutter 110 is advanced and mounted around the joint, as shown. The tube cutter 110 is a Wachs split structure cutter as supplied by Wachs Limited of Máceles field, Cheshire, SKll 7BD, England. The standard Wachs split structure cutter has a single cutting unit, which when the device is operated, cuts the tube in one place.

On the contrary, as shown in Figure 2, the tube cutter 110 of the apparatus according to the present invention has two cutting units 116, 117 which are about 40 mm apart but are mounted on a common body 118.

To facilitate the cutting operation, each cutting unit 116, 117 is provided with two shears, one of which is wider than the other. The narrowest cutter that has, for example, a width of 3.6 mm is placed to make the initial cut while the wider cutter, which has a width of, for example, 4 mm, is designed to follow the cutting more narrow and perfect the edge.

When the pipe cutter 110 is activated, it cuts the ends 119, 120 of the lower tubular element 112 and the upper tubular element 113, respectively, leaving the surfaces 121 and 122 parallel according to the cutting units. 116 and 117. It will be appreciated that the surfaces 121 and 122 will be parallel regardless of the orientation of the tube cutter 110 although good engineering practice requires that the surfaces 121 and 122 should be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lower tubular element 112 and element. upper tubular 113.

Once the surfaces 121 and 122 were prepared, a film of a suitable alloy is inserted between them. The surfaces 121 and 122 are pressed against each other using piston and cylinder assemblies 108, 109 while heat is applied to the joint area using an induction heater shown in Figures 5-9. This procedure forms the joint that is subsequently tested. If the joint fails then the tube cutter 110 is again mounted on the tubular member and driven to cut a tubular section as shown in Figure 3.

With reference to Figure 4, the tube cutter 110 comprises two halves 123 and 124 which are secured to each other in a manner surrounding the tubular element 112. The tube cutter 110 comprises a lower element 125 which is provided with numerous segments 126 whose position Radial is adjusted by adjustment ankles 127. The position of the segments 126 is fixed such that when the two halves 123 and 124 are secured together, the tube cutter 110 is firmly mounted on the lower tubular element 112.

Numerous rollers 128 are mounted on the lower element 125 and allows the rotation of a carriage 129 around the tubular element 112.

Two cutting units 116 and 117 are mounted on the carriage 129. The cutting unit 116 comprises two cutting edges of which only one is visible in Figure 4. Similarly, the cutting unit 117 comprises two cutting edges of which only one is visible in the cutting unit. Figure 4 As can be seen in Figure 4, the cutting unit 116 is more separated from the carriage 129 than the cutting unit 117.

During use, the carriage 129 is rotated relatively to the lower element 125. This can be achieved in any convenient manner, for example, by a small hydraulic motor having its body mounted on the lower element 125 and rotating a pinion which meshes in a track on the car 129. As you can see, the cutters move radially inward as the cut progresses. This can be done by any convenient advancement mechanism that can be manually operated automatically With reference to Figures 5 and 6, there is shown an apparatus for aligning an induction coil with a tubular element according to the invention. The apparatus, which is generally identified with the reference numeral 20, comprises a first set 12 and a second set 14.

The second set 14 comprises a container 23 containing a device 24 for producing high current for an induction coil 26, 28. The equipment 24 is rigidly attached to the container 23 which is explosion-proof. The container 23 is rigidly attached to a half of an explosion-proof double-walled housing 25 which houses one half of the induction coil 26, 28.

The first set 12 comprises the other half of the double-walled housing 27 explosion-proof and the other half of the induction coil 28. The first set 12 is mounted on one end of the hydraulic cylinders 15. The other end of the cylinders 15 is attached to the support structure 102 (see Figure 1).

The container 23 is mounted on rollers 29 that roll along a track 22 that is rigidly secured to the support structure 102.

The container 23 is also rigidly connected to an alignment device 30. The alignment device 30 comprises two arms 31 and 32, each arm having a centering roller 33 and 34, respectively. The arms 31 and 32 are movably connected to the housing 35 of the alignment device 30 around bolts 36 and 37, respectively. The arms 31 and 32 are inclined relative to one another by means of springs (not shown). A centering roller 38 is additionally provided in the housing 35 between the arms 31 and 32.

A hydraulic cylinder 21 is attached at one end to the container 23 by a fin 39 and at the other end to the support structure 102.

During use, the support structure 102 is pushed onto the lower tube 112 as shown in Figure 1. The upper tube 113 is lowered to the position. In this step the cutting operations at the ends of the lower and upper tubes 112, 113 can be performed. When it is desired to join the lower and upper tubes 112, 113 the second assembly 14 is advanced towards the tube 112 using the hydraulic piston 21. The second set 14 rolls along the track 22 until the three rollers 33, 34, 38 engage the lower tube 112 (as shown in Figure 6). When the second assembly 14 advances towards the lower and upper tubes 112, 113, the rollers 33 and 34 at the ends of the arms 31 and 32 roll over the lower tube 112. The second assembly 14 is now held in a fixed position with respect to to the lower tube 112. The first set 12 can now move to engage with the second set 14 using pistons 15 (shown in Figure 1). The two halves of the explosion-proof housing 25, 27 and the two halves of the induction coil 26, 28 cooperate to seal the volume surrounding the induction coil 26, 28 and to allow current to flow through the coil of induction 26, 28. The joining procedure now begins. After the joining procedure, the pistons 15 are pushed back the first assembly 12. The piston 21 extends to back the second assembly 14. The alignment device 30 is released from the engagement with the tubular element 112.

Reference will now be made to Figures 7 and 8 in which a second embodiment of the heating coil and the device according to the invention, generally identified with the reference numeral 220, are shown. The device 220 comprises a first set 212 and a second set 214.

The second assembly 214 comprises a container 223 that contains an apparatus for producing high current for an induction coil 226, 228. The device is rigidly attached to the container 223. The container 223 is rigidly attached to a housing half 225 explosions containing one half of the induction coil 226.

The first set 212 comprises the other half of the explosion-proof housing 227 and the other half of the induction coil 228. The first assembly 212 is mounted on hydraulic cylinders 15 which are attached to the support structure 102.

The second set 214 moves along a track (not shown). The container 223 is mounted on rollers 229 that roll along a track in a manner similar to that of the first embodiment.

Half of an alignment device 230 is rigidly mounted below the base 231 of the half of the explosion-proof housing 225. The other half of the alignment device 240 is rigidly mounted below the base 241 of the other half of the explosion-proof housing 227. Each half of the alignment device 230, 240 comprises two eccentric wheels 232, 233, 242, 243. Each eccentric wheel has a slotted hole with which an axle with slots 234, 235, 244, 245 engages. Each eccentric wheel has a slotted hole with which an axle with slots 234, 235, 244, 245 engages. Half of the alignment device 230 is provided with hydraulic pistons 236, 237 that are rotatably mounted on vanes 238 and 239. The other half of the device of alignment 240 is provided with fins 246 and 247 for retaining said hydraulic pistons 236, 237.

During use, the support structure 102 is put in position and pushed on the lower tube 112. The upper tube 113 is lowered to the position. In this step various operations may be performed to prepare the ends of the lower and upper tubes as revealed in Figures 2-4. The second assembly 214 is brought closer to the lower tube 112 using a hydraulic piston (not shown). The second assembly 214 rolls along the track 22 until the eccentric wheels 232 and 233 make contact with the lower tube 112. The first assembly 212 is also brought closer to the lower tube 112 using hydraulic pistons (not shown). The hydraulic pistons 236, 237 are rotated on the fins 246, 247 and hydraulic pressure is applied to the pistons to bring the two halves of the device 230, 240 closer together. The slotted axes 234, 235, 244 and 245 are rotated by a hydraulic motor (not shown) for centering the device and therefore the induction coil 226, 228 with respect to the lower tube 112, while maintaining parallelism between the lower and upper tubes 112, 113.

Start the joining procedure now. After the joining procedure the pistons 236, 237 are extended and rotated freely with respect to the vanes 246, 247, the pistons (not shown) are also made to retract to retract the first and second assemblies 212 and 214.

Other modifications and / or improvements are contemplated, so that the container 23, 233 can be explosion-proof and / or double-walled.

With respect to Figures 9 and 10 it is shown that each half 310, 311 of a shell surrounding the tubular member 112 (and also 113) contains separate and different segments 313, 314, 315 of a coil 316.

The coil 316 comprises a heating element 317, the radially outer surface of which is provided with a cooling channel 318. The heating element 317 is connected to a high frequency oscillator 319 by means of rods 320 and 321.

The rod 320 is welded to a segment 322 that is provided with an ear 323. The ear 323 is made of solid brass and has a contact face 324 that is coated with silver.

The segment 315 has an ear 325, 326 at each end thereof. Each ear 325, 326 is welded to segment 315 and is made of solid brass having a contact face 327, 328 coated with silver. Finally, one end of the segment 313 is connected to the rod 321 while the other end is provided with an ear 329 having a contact face 330 which is silver.

As can be seen from Figure 10 the ears 323, 325, 326, 329 are brought together. This is extremely important for several reasons, in particular, to minimize electrical resistance and to inhibit sparking.

Returning to Figure 10, the ear 323 is supported by an insulator 331 which is mounted on the end of a threaded rod 332 which is slidably mounted in a housing 333. The insulator 331 can be advanced and retracted by the rotation of an adjusting screw 334. A nut 335 mounted on the threaded rod 332 limits movement in one direction.

The ear 329 is supported in a manner similar to the ear 323 and the support assembly will not be discussed in detail.

The ear 325 is inclined against the ear 323 by an assembly comprising an insulator 336 and a rod 337 which is slidably mounted in a bushing 338 firmly with the half 311. The other end of the rod 337 is connected to a piston 339 which can be advanced by introducing hydraulic fluid into the chamber 340.

The ear 326 is associated with an assembly similar to the ear 325 and this will not be described in detail.

During use, after the halves 310, 311 were fastened together, the ears 323, 325, 326, 329 will be located opposite each other. At this stage, hydraulic fluid is admitted in the chamber 340 (and chamber 341) to advance the respective rods and bring the ears closer to each other with the required force.

Once the required force is applied, the heating can begin and the amorphous union is completed.

In the described embodiment, the cooling channel 318 is formed by the inlet channel 342, circumferential channels 343, 344 and 345 and an outlet channel 346, stagnant water connections formed between the circumferential channels 343 and 344, and 344 and 345 when the halves 310, 311 are joined. However, if desired, segments 343 and 345 in half 310 could be cooled by a water cooling system and segment 344 in the other half by a separate and different water cooling system.

Figures 11 and 12 show an alternative embodiment of the split heating coil. The parts that have functions similar to the parts shown in Figures 9 and 10 have been identified with the same reference number but in the series "400".

The main difference is in the element for approaching the ears 423, 425; 426, 429 among themselves. In this case the element comprises a base plate 450 which is screwed to the bottom of the half 410. A fixed support 451 is mounted on the base plate 450 and supports the ear 423. A movable support 452 is mounted rotatably around an upright 453 projecting upwards from the base plate 450.

A piston and hydraulic cylinder unit is mounted below the base plate 450 and is positioned to rotate the movable support 452 between its open position shown in Figure 11 and its closed position shown in Figure 12. This configuration has the advantage of that the forces that hold the ears together do not act between the two halves 410, 411.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 11 and 12 the water cooling group for the coil was omitted for clarity.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property.

Claims (12)

Claims

1. An apparatus for the amorphous union of tubular elements, the apparatus characterized in that it comprises: - a clamping assembly, a clamping assembly adapted to maintain a pair of tubular elements whose ends must be joined in a substantially axial alignment; a machining tool comprising a body with a pair of axially spaced cutting units, which during use prepare the adjacent ends of the tubular elements so that the prepared ends are substantially parallel to each other; Y an induction coil for heating the prepared ends of the tubular elements while the prepared ends are pressed against each other and the tubular elements are maintained in a substantially axial alignment by the clamping assembly.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a support structure carrying the clamping assembly, the machining tool and the induction coil.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that each cutting unit comprises at least two cutters or shears.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that one of the shears is wider than the other and is located to finish a cut started by a guide shear.

5. The apparatus according to claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the body is a two-piece structure adapted to be mounted around the tubular elements to be cut.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the body is movably mounted on the support structure.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the induction coil is equipped with an alignment device for gripping at least one of the tubular elements whose alignment device is maintained in a fixed relationship with respect to at least part of the induction coil. '

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the alignment device comprises a section that is mounted on wheels that run on rails that are mounted on the support structure.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the alignment device comprises arms loaded with springs, arms comprising centering rollers.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the alignment device comprises eccentric rollers that can be driven by a motor in a synchronous manner and the centering device comprises two halves, each half comprising at least one eccentric roller.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the induction coil comprises at least two separate and different parts.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that it further includes a casing having at least two separate and different parts, each part containing one of the parts of the induction coil and whose parts are, in use, joined together to form a protective gas chamber sealed around the heating coil and the ends of the tubular elements joined during the amorphous bonding process.