Metal fusion bonding – Process – Specific mode of heating or applying pressure
Patent
1999-02-22
2000-10-17
Ryan, Patrick
Metal fusion bonding
Process
Specific mode of heating or applying pressure
228241, 228 443, 266167, B23K 3700, B23K 3102, C21B 1500
Patent
active
061318019
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention is related to a method and a device for underwater welding of joints with two bodies having substantially cylindrical cross section, such as pipes.
By new installations and repairs of steel pipelines at large depths from time to time the need arises to connect the ends of two pipes. As of today the most used solutions for this operation is butt welding performed by divers working in a welding chamber or welding habitat which has to be established around the pipe joint. Today diving is allowed to 360 m in emergency situations, however not more than 180 m is preferred. It is expected that limiting restrictions will be adapted to diving in the future.
Mechanical and hydraulic couplings also are used to seal pipe joints without welding. Such couplings may be installed without the use of divers, however huge installation frames are needed to adjust the pipes and move the couplings on the ends of the pipes.
Common for the two above mentioned methods, however, is that the ends of the pipes have to be very exactly adjusted to each other as to diameter, circularity, length and deviation from alignment.
With the method and the device according to the present invention, a possibility is provided for safe, secure and simple welding of pipe ends at large water depths without use of divers. With the present invention the tolerances for the adjustment of the ends of the pipes are increased substantially as related to the above mentioned known methods. Even a certain angle in the pipeline may be accepted.
With the present invention, sealing of a pipe joint may be achieved in a short time in relation to known methods and the invention is highly adaptable and advantageous when laying new pipes as well as repairs of existing pipes under water.
The above mentioned restrictions and disadvantages connected with known pipeline joint solutions are avoided with the method and the device according to the present invention, as defined by the features stated in the patent claims.
The device according to the present invention comprises a compact welding chamber covering the pipe joint and being adapted for thermite welding by creation of a muff or ring sealingly connecting the two pipes.
Thermite welding as such is a well known technology used extensively for welding of railroad rails and power lines. With the present invention, the thermite technology is used to weld pipe joints under water remotely controlled.
The device according to the present invention is specially designed to fulfil the requirements for the method and comprises a joint casing as well as equipment being connected with the casing during the welding operation as well as the operations necessary before the welding itself may start. Several standard components are included in the hydraulic system which will not be described in detail, as will not be the equipment for injection of cement and possibly equipment adapted for releasing of the equipment, thereby preparing some of the equipment for reuse. Furthermore standard equipment is assumed available comprising a support vessel with crane capacities of at least 25 tons, heave-compensated. A remote operated vehicle is necessary for performing the cutting work and observations by means of TV-cameras. Electric power is supplied for heating and operation of hydraulic pumps as well as for operation controls. Nitrogen is used in the sense of a protection gas mixture without oxygen to be adapted to the specific project depending on the water pressure and other circumstances on site.
FIG. 1 discloses a longitudinal section through the two pipes 1 and 2 which are to be connected by a seal proof joint, using the method and welding device according to the present invention and FIGS. 2 and 3 disclose enlarged the sealing ring in respectively an preoperational and an operative state.
The welding chamber consists of an outer connecting casing 8 and an inner connecting casing 5, with outer refractory lining 11 and inner refractory lining 15 and sealing rings 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21. The inner casing 5 is perm
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Edmondson Lynne
Ryan Patrick
LandOfFree
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