Patent Application
20210016990
The present disclosure relates to a transport system for a pipe, as well as a method for transporting a pipe.
The present disclosure also relates to a method for delivering a pipe.
A plurality of pipes, but in particular cold-formed pipes made of stainless steel, can be processed further after the actual production of the pipe only with difficulty, without the material properties of the pipe changing. By way of example, high-pressure pipes made of stainless steel for carrying liquid hydrogen are considered here, such as are required for connecting a storage tank to a fuel pump at a hydrogen fuelling station. Today, such pipes are supplied to the respective site as pipe sections and joined together there with the aid of pipe fittings. The pipes are supplied in maximum lengths; in this way they can be transported stretched out on an HGV. Typical maximum lengths of the individual pipe sections supplied are therefore approximately 12 m. However, pipelines with a much greater length are often to be laid at the site. As a welding of the work-hardened pipes lead to changes in the material in the area of the welded joint, only a screwing of the pipes comes into consideration. However, the screw connections often lie underground after completion of the site, which makes maintenance of the respective screw connection complex or impossible.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is necessary to create a transport system which makes it possible to transport pipes with any desired length and with the required quality to the place of use of the pipe.
A transport system for a pipe is therefore proposed, with a transport platform, a receptacle for the pipe, wherein the receptacle is configured such that the pipe can be received coiled up on the receptacle, a drive, wherein the drive is configured such that, with the drive, the pipe can be conveyed in a transport direction, and a straightening device, wherein the straightening device is configured such that the pipe can be straightened with the straightening device, wherein the receptacle, the drive and the straightening device are arranged on the transport platform such that, with the drive, the pipe can be drawn off the receptacle and fed to the straightening device in an automated manner.
The idea forming the basis of this transport system is to provide a transport system for a coiled pipe with substantially any desired length, limited only by the volume of the coil. However, a coiled pipe typically does not conform to the customer's requirements, at least with regard to its straightness. The transport system therefore makes an automated final processing of the pipe possible at the place of use of the pipe, i.e. at the customer's premises. This makes it possible to allow the transport system for the pipe to be provided by the pipe manufacturer, wherein the latter assumes for example the responsibility for the final processing at the customer's premises, wherein the customer only takes finished pipe sections with the desired length and quality from the transport platform. In one embodiment, the final machining is effected in a fully automated manner.
In one embodiment of the disclosure, the transport system additionally has a cutting device, wherein the cutting device is configured and arranged such that the pipe can be severed with the cutting device, with the result that a pipe section can be produced with a selectable length, and wherein the receptacle, the drive, the straightening device and the cutting device are arranged on the transport platform such that, with the drive, the pipe can be drawn off the receptacle and fed to the straightening device and the cutting device in an automated manner.
A transport platform is a carrier which has sufficient stability to receive the further elements of the transport system, wherein this stability is also provided during transport, e.g. by a heavy goods vehicle, from one location to another location.
It is crucial that, in one embodiment, the transport platform itself can be handled by crane and/or conveyed or is connected to a device, for example the floor of a roller container or a transport container, which can in turn be handled by crane or conveyed. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the transport platform can be transported for example with an industrial truck or container-handling equipment and can be received on a means of transport, such as for example a heavy goods vehicle or a railway wagon. In one embodiment, the transport platform or the device connected to it has the devices necessary for handling by crane or conveying. In one embodiment, the transport platform or the device connected to it has lifting eyes for securing hoisting devices and/or recesses for receiving the forks of an industrial truck.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the transport system additionally has four side walls and a roof. In one embodiment, in the four side walls and the roof are joined to the transport platform and together form a transport container, wherein the transport platform forms the floor of the transport container. In a further embodiment, a transport container is formed by the four side walls, the roof and an additional floor, wherein the transport platform is received on the floor inside the transport container and is preferably joined to it. The side walls and the roof make it possible to transport the pipe protected against environmental conditions. Likewise, the side walls and the roof provide protection for the other devices of the transport platform.
Such a solution also makes it possible to completely take away the customer's access to the coiled pipe as well as the devices inside the transport container. In one scenario, the pipe manufacturer supplies a coiled pipe in a closed transport container of the transport system according to the disclosure and the customer takes the pipe, and in one embodiment pipe sections with the length required in each case, from the transport container in an automated manner.
In one embodiment, a closable loading opening is provided in one of the side walls or in the roof for loading the transport system with the coiled pipe.
In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a closable unloading opening is provided in one of the side walls or in the roof, with the result that the pipe or a pipe section can be taken out of the transport system through the unloading opening, wherein the receptacle, the drive, the straightening device and optionally the cutting device are arranged such that the pipe or a pipe section can be ejected through the unloading opening. It is understood that the unloading opening is arranged behind the last device on the transport platform in the conveying direction of the pipe.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the transport system comprises a roller container to be received on a heavy goods vehicle, wherein the transport platform is the floor of the roller container or the transport platform is received on a floor of the roller container. Such roller containers are known for example as part of operational systems of the emergency services such as the fire service and Technisches Hilfswerk [technical relief agency] and are easy to transport with a corresponding heavy goods vehicle and to set down essentially with pinpoint accuracy. In one embodiment, the roller container has an eye for gripping the roller container as well as optionally at least one roller under the floor of the roller container.
In an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the transport system comprises a transport container, for example a 40-foot container, in particular a 40-foot ISO container, wherein the transport platform is the floor of the transport container or the transport platform is received on a floor of the transport container. It is understood that, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, another roller base frame can be provided under the floor of the transport container. The roller base frame makes it possible to transport and set down or pick up a conventional transport container as a roller container with a correspondingly equipped heavy goods vehicle. For this, in one embodiment, the roller base frame has an eye for gripping the roller container as well as optionally at least one roller under the floor of the roller container.
A coiled-up or coiled pipe denotes, within the meaning of the present application, a pipe that is wound up, i.e. curved substantially in the shape of a circular arc in one or more windings.
In one embodiment, the receptacle for such a coiled pipe can be designed such that a drum, for example made of wood, can be received on it, wherein in turn the pipe is coiled onto the drum. Almost any desired lengths of pipes can be coiled onto a drum.
If cold-formed pipes made of stainless steel are considered, their length is initially limited by the length and mass of the blooms forming the basis of the manufacture (raw material for the cold-forming process, such as cold pilger rolling or cold drawing). However, lengths which can no longer be manufactured in a single piece piece by cold forming can also be provided in the transport system according to the present disclosure in one embodiment.
In one embodiment, therefore, several pipes manufactured by cold forming are joined together to form a single long pipe before being coiled onto a drum. This has the advantage that, continuously and without interruption, pipe material can be fed to the devices on the transport platform, in particular the drive, the straightening device and optionally the cutting device, without intervention by a user being necessary.
Therefore, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the transport system has a coiled pipe, wherein the pipe is received on the receptacle. In one embodiment, the pipe consists of a plurality of cold-formed pipe sections made of a stainless steel joined together at their end faces. In this way, coiled pipes with a length of up to 17,000 m can be supplied, which are then cut on-site into pipe sections with the required lengths. In one embodiment of the disclosure, the drum with the pipe coiled thereon is part of the transport system.
The joining of several pipes at their end faces to form one long pipe, which is then coiled, can be effected in quite different ways. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the individual pipes are joined together by orbital welding. Although welding the individual cold-formed pipe sections changes the properties of the pipe in the area of the welded joint, the welded joint can be cut out when pipe sections are taken out of the transport system and can be recycled as scrap. Alternatively, the pipe ends of two pipes joined together can be crimped to each other.
In one embodiment according to the present disclosure, the transport system comprises a device for detecting welded joints, which may be arranged before the cutting device in the material-flow direction. The device for detecting welded joints is configured and arranged such that it detects a welded joint between two pipe sections joined together. Such a detection of a welded joint can be effected for example with the aid of a camera and suitable image-evaluation software or else with the aid of an eddy current sensor. In one embodiment, the controller is connected to the device for detecting welded joints and configured such that it controls the cutting device such that it cuts the welded joint out of the pipe.
In an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the receptacle for the pipe comprises a reel, on which a pipe coiled loosely without a core or drum can be received. Such a pipe coiled without a core or drum is also called a “loose coil”. Such loose coils can for example be re-loaded onto the reel again and again by a customer, when the material is used up.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the receptacle for the pipe comprises, in addition to the reel for loading a loose coil, an adjustment device which makes it possible to draw the pipe off the reel at the height of the intake into the other devices of the transport system. In addition to such a height adjustment, the receptacle can also have a tilt device which makes it possible to tilt the winding axis of the reel. In a preferred embodiment, the winding axis is substantially horizontal for loading of the coiled pipe by a user and substantially vertical for drawing the coiled pipe off.
While the transport system according to the present disclosure is suitable in principle for all types of pipes, in one embodiment the pipe is a pipe made of a metal, preferably made of steel, but in particular made of a stainless steel. In one embodiment, the pipe contains a cold-formed, i.e. work-hardened, stainless steel or consists thereof. In a further embodiment, the pipe is a work-hardened pipe which was no longer annealed after cold-forming. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the pipe is a pipe made of a stainless steel for high pressures, wherein the wall thickness of the pipe is at least twice as large as the internal diameter of the pipe. It is understood that, in one embodiment of the invention, the pipe is part of the transport system.
The drive within the meaning of the present disclosure can be either a drive integrated into one of the other elements, in particular the receptacle, the straightening device or the cutting device, which brings about the necessary feed motion of the pipe, or a separate driving tool which is provided for bringing about the feed motion.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the straightening device, in particular a straightening set, can be designed such that it is actively driven in order to provide the necessary feed motion for feeding to the individual devices, but also for drawing the pipe off the receptacle.
In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the drive is part of the receptacle, which then has the effect that the receptacle uncoils the pipe and feeds it to the further devices.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the driving tool is a roller conveyor, wherein the pipe to be conveyed is guided between at least two rollers, wherein the rollers are driven in an automated manner and are in frictional engagement with the pipe, with the result that a rotation of the rollers leads to an advance of the pipe.
In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the straightening device comprises a straightening set with at least two profile rollers or a skew-rolling straightening machine.
The straightening device serves to bring the coiled pipe back into a shape stretched out straight with the necessary straightness.
In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the cutting device comprises a saw or a parting-off head, which makes it possible to sever the pipe. In this way, the customer can take pipe sections of almost any desired length from the transport system in a finished state.
In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the cutting device has a cooling system for cooling a cut surface of the pipe with CO2. Such a cooling system is advantageous for providing high-quality cut surfaces.
It is understood that the transport system can have, beyond the necessary devices, i.e. the drive, the straightening device and optionally the cutting device, any desired further devices for machining or processing the pipe.
Thus, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the transport system has a marking device arranged on the transport platform, for example a printer, for marking a pipe section. In this way, the pipe sections taken from the transport system can be clearly marked. Possible items of information that can be applied to the pipe section are for example its material and length.
In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the transport system has a bending device arranged on the transport platform for defined bending of a pipe section. The bending device makes it possible to bend a straightened and cut-to-length pipe section into the shape needed for the further processing. Such a bending device is advantageous for example when the pipe sections taken out of the transport system are to be used in aircraft manufacture, where the pipe sections must have a curved shape with a defined radius of curvature before installation.
In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the transport system has a pig launcher arranged on the transport platform, wherein the pig launcher is configured and arranged such that, with the pig launcher, an internal wall of a cut-to-length pipe section can be cleaned with the aid of a pig to be shot through the pipe section. In this way, residues from the severing of the pipe can be removed from the internal wall of the pipe section.
In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the transport system has a degreasing device arranged on the transport platform for degreasing the pipe. In this way, oil residues, which typically arise from preceding manufacturing steps for the pipe, can be removed.
In a further embodiment, the transport system comprises a polishing device, which is configured and arranged such that a section of the pipe, in particular an end face or a cylindrical outer surface, can be polished with the polishing device.
In one embodiment of the disclosure, the transport system comprises a device for deburring the ends of the pipe severed by the cutting device.
In a further embodiment, the transport system has a finishing device, which is configured and arranged such that, with it, at least one end of a pipe section can be finished such that the pipe section can be joined to another pipe section. For example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the transport system has a finishing device, wherein the finishing device is configured and arranged such that, with the finishing device, a compression fitting can be fitted on at least one end of a pipe section.
The transport system according to the present disclosure has the advantage for the customer purchasing the pipe that from the transport system they can take straightened pipe sections with a length predefined by the customer. In one embodiment, the customer need not worry about either the transport or the final manufacturing steps such as straightening and cutting.
For the manufacturer of the pipe, the transport system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure has the advantage that they integrate the final manufacturing steps such as straightening and cutting into the customer's production process.
In one embodiment of the transport system, the transport system has an electronic controller effectively connected to the receptacle and/or the drive and/or the cutting device, wherein the controller is configured such that during operation of the transport system the controller receives data from the receptacle and/or the drive and/or the cutting device and/or issues control commands to the receptacle and/or the drive and/or the cutting device. It is understood that, in one embodiment, the electronic controller has a processor, in particular a computer.
In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller comprises a communications interface that can be connected to a data network, wherein the communications interface is configured such that, with the communications interface, data can be transmitted from the transport system to a server and/or from a server to the transport system. It is understood that, in one embodiment, the data network is the internet.
With the transport system according to the present disclosure, the pipe manufacturer may connect directly to their customer's production process. With the aid of the controller, data can be collected from the individual devices of the transport system, but also from the pipe received therein, and fed into the pipe manufacturer's manufacturing process and into the customer's manufacturing process via the communications interface.
In one embodiment, the controller detects what pipe lengths of a coiled pipe received on the receptacle have been taken from the transport system by the customer and the controller triggers a repeat order, via the interface, as soon as it is identifiable when the pipe received on the receptacle has been used up.
With the aid of the controller and the communications interface, a tally of the amount of pipe taken out of the transport system by the customer can also be calculated and invoicing can be triggered.
On the other hand, via the communications interface the customer can for example transmit to the controller the length of a pipe section to be provided next, with the result that the transport system prepares and ejects the desired length of a pipe section. Furthermore, via the controller and the communications interface, a certificate or report about the quality and grade of a pipe section taken out of the transport system can be transmitted directly to the customer, with the result that the latter can generate their documentation for the built-in pipe sections in an automated manner.
The transport system according to the present disclosure thus makes a direct interlocking possible between the manufacture by the pipe manufacturer and the further processing of the pipe by the customer.
It is understood that, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the communications interface is a network interface for connection to a LAN or a wireless LAN. In particular, however, the communications interface, in one embodiment, is a mobile radio interface, for example based on the LTE standard.
In addition, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller has an electronic reading device for contactless reading of a data carrier.
Within the meaning of the present application, the term data carrier is to be understood broadly. Examples of such a contactlessly readable data carrier are an RFID tag or also a barcode. Such an electronic reading device, in one embodiment, makes an automated detection of the pipe material received on the receptacle possible.
For this, the transport system, in one embodiment, has a drum for the coiled pipe, in particular a drum with the coiled pipe, wherein the drum is received on the receptacle and wherein the drum is provided with a contactlessly readable data carrier, which can be read by the reading device of the controller. After the transport system has been loaded with the drum, preferably the drum with the coiled pipe, the controller automatically has the information available as to what type of pipe the transport system can provide to the customer.
In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the transport system has a coiled pipe, wherein the pipe is received on the receptacle and wherein the pipe is provided with a contactlessly readable data carrier, which can be read by the reading device. In the case of such an embodiment, it is possible to provide the determination of the type of pipe which is received in the transport system and which can be made available to the customer, not indirectly or not exclusively indirectly via the drum for the coiled pipe, but directly through a marking of the pipe itself. It is understood that the contactlessly readable data carrier can be integrated for example into the pipe. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the contactlessly readable data carrier is attached to the outside of the casing of the pipe. If the attachment of the contactlessly readable data carrier is effected in an end section of the pipe, this end section can be cut off at the start, so that the data carrier does not disrupt the further processing processes.
In addition, a method for delivering a pipe is proposed with the steps of coiling up the pipe, receiving the pipe on a receptacle arranged on a transport platform, transporting the transport platform from a first location to a second location, conveying the pipe in a transport direction with a drive arranged on the transport platform, with the result that the pipe is drawn off the receptacle and fed to a straightening device in an automated manner, and straightening the pipe using the straightening device arranged on the transport platform.
In one embodiment, the conveying of the pipe additionally comprises a feeding to a cutting device and the method has the step of severing the pipe in the cutting device arranged on the transport platform, with the result that a pipe section is produced with a selected length.
Where aspects of the present disclosure with regard to the transport system are described in the preceding and in the following, these also apply to the corresponding method for delivering a pipe, and vice versa. Where the method is carried out with a transport system according to this disclosure, the latter has the corresponding devices for this. In particular, embodiments of the transport system are suitable for carrying out the method.
It is to be noted that the above-named method steps need not necessarily be passed through in the order indicated. Thus, it is conceivable for the transport platform to be transported first and then for the coiled pipe to be received on the receptacle. However, it is likewise possible for the coiled pipe to be received on the receptacle first and then for the transport platform to be transported with the pipe.
In one embodiment, the steps of straightening and severing can also be swapped, in particular when pipe sections are manufactured with short lengths.
In one embodiment, the conveying, the straightening and optionally the cutting are controlled by a common controller, wherein the controller collects data which are a measure of the length of the pipe drawn off the receptacle, and wherein the controller transmits the data to a server via a communications interface and a data network.
Further advantages, features and possible uses of the present disclosure will become clear with reference to the following description of embodiments and the associated figures. The preceding general description as well as the following detailed description of embodiments will be better understood when they are read in conjunction with the attached drawings. It is to be noted that the embodiments shown are not limited to the precise arrangements and means.
Identical elements are given identical reference numbers in the figures.
The transport systems 1, 1′, 1″ in
The container 2 has in each case a transport platform in the form of the floor 3 of the container 2, four side walls 4, 5, 6, 7 and a roof 8. A door 37, which closes a loading opening 9, is provided in one of the long walls 4. In addition, the front wall 5 is designed in the form of a double-leaf door, as is usual for shipping containers. An unloading opening 10, through which pipe sections 11 can be taken out of the container 2, is additionally provided in the front wall 5. It is understood that the unloading opening 10 can be closed with the aid of a cover plate, in order to completely protect the inside of the container 2 from environmental conditions during transport.
In the embodiment represented, the container is additionally received on a rolling adapter, with the result that the container can be transported and set down with pinpoint accuracy with the aid of a heavy goods vehicle 12 equipped for it, as shown by way of example in
In addition to the container 2, the transport system 1, 1′, 1″ in each case comprises devices inside the container 2. The basis for the transport or the delivery of a pipe 18 is in each case the receptacle 14 or 14′ for the coiled pipe. The variants of
In the case of the transport system 1 from
The receptacle 14′ for the coiled pipe of the variant from
The variants of the transport system 1, 1′ shown are in each case a transport system for a pipe made of a stainless steel which was produced by cold-forming. The long pipe lengths on the drum 19 are produced by orbital welding of several pipes at their end faces. The material properties of the work-hardened pipes in the vicinity of the welded joint are, however, negatively altered by the welding. These must therefore be cut out of the pipe 18 before the pipe sections are ejected for the customer, and represent scrap which is to be recycled.
In the two variants of
A straightening device in the form of a straightening set 23, 24 with a plurality of profile rollers is provided behind the driving tool 20 in the feed direction. The straightening set has two sets 23, 24 of rollers, wherein the axes of rotation of the rollers of the first set 23 are perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the rollers of the second set 24. The straightening device 24 serves to provide the pipe 18, which has been given a curvature of its surfaces by the coiling, with the necessary straightness.
A cutting device in the form of a parting-off head, which rotates around the pipe 18 in a motor-driven manner and severs it, is provided behind the straightening device 23, 24 in the conveying direction. After the parting-off with the aid of the cutting device 25, the pipe section 11 can be taken from the transport system 1, 1′ in the desired straightness and length.
With reference to the variant of the transport system 1′ from
However, the computer 28 additionally also receives information about the operational state of the individual devices 21, 24, 25 via the data lines 29. From this information on the operational state, the computer 28 can deduce how many metres of the pipe 18 have already been drawn off the drum 19 and taken from the container 2 in cut form. As the controller, in addition to the computer 28, also has a mobile radio interface 30 connected to the computer 28, the computer 28 is capable of communicating with a server 32 of the pipe manufacturer over the Internet 31. The server 32 in turn is connected to a computer 33 of the customer over the Internet. In this way, the pipe manufacturer's server 32 can generate invoices for the lengths of the pipe 18 taken from the container 2 in an automated manner. In addition, certificates for the individual pipe section 11 can be transmitted to the customer in an automated manner. If the computer 28 establishes that the entire length of the pipe 18 received on the drum 19 will be drawn off within a particular time, the computer 28 triggers a repeat order for a pipe 18 of the same type via the communications interface 30, the Internet 31 and the pipe manufacturer's server 32. This is then delivered to the customer in a new container 2 in time. The delivering HGV 12 can then replace the empty container with the full container at the customer's location.
Furthermore, the computer 28 of the controller 34 is connected to an electronic reading device in the form of a contactless RFID reader 35. The RFID reader 35 serves to read RFID tags 36 which are arranged on the drum 19. In this way, the transport system 1′ can detect, in an automated manner, the type of pipe 18 which is provided on the drum 19. The corresponding information is stored in the RFID tag 36.
For the purposes of original disclosure, it is pointed out that all features, as revealed to a person skilled in the art from the present description, the drawings and the claims, even if they were described specifically only in connection with particular further features, can be combined with others of the features or groups of features disclosed here both individually and in any desired combinations, unless this has been expressly ruled out or technical circumstances make such combinations impossible or pointless. The comprehensive, explicit representation of all conceivable combinations of features is dispensed with here only for the sake of the brevity and readability of the description.
While the disclosure has been represented and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description, this representation and description is effected merely by way of example and is not intended as a limitation of the scope of protection as defined by the claims. The disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown.
Modifications of the disclosed embodiments are obvious for a person skilled in the art from the drawings, the description and the attached claims. In the claims the word “have” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact of particular features being claimed in different claims does not exclude the combination thereof. Reference numbers in the claims are not intended as a limitation of the scope of protection.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2018 107 306.2 | Mar 2018 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2019/057610 | 3/26/2019 | WO | 00 |
