Pipe connection butt welding apparatus and method
By developing a pipe connection butt welding device and method, the problem of controlling the gap and misalignment when connecting the L-tube to the central beam pipe opening was solved, achieving high-quality welding results and improving the assembly quality and production efficiency of fusion reactor components.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- GUIZHOU AEROSPACE XINLI CASTINGSAND FORGINGS
- Filing Date
- 2022-12-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-03
AI Technical Summary
In fusion reactors, during the butt welding process between the L-tubes and the central beam, it is difficult to control the gap and misalignment between the tubes, resulting in substandard welding quality. Furthermore, the L-tube openings are prone to deflection due to welding stress, which can affect subsequent assembly.
A pipe connection butt welding device is adopted, including a support structure and a butt welding structure. Using components such as positioning pins and adjusting bolts, it is ensured that the gap and misalignment between the L-pipe and the central beam pipe opening are within 0.05mm. Spot welding is performed before full welding to avoid welding stress in the suspended state.
This improved the welding qualification rate, avoided welding deviations, ensured the connection quality between the L-tube and the center beam, increased production efficiency, and reduced costs.
Smart Images
Figure CN116493811B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of butt welding technology, and in particular to a butt welding device and method for pipe connections. Background Technology
[0002] The first wall (FW) component is a critical component in a fusion reactor that directly faces plasma at temperatures exceeding hundreds of millions of degrees Celsius. In the manufacturing of the FW component, the quality of the assembly and welding of the central beam and the L-tube directly affects the final assembly result. During the butt welding process between the L-tube and the central beam, factors such as the gap and misalignment between the tubes during assembly, the inner weld seam after tube welding, and the parallelism between the L-tube opening and the side of the central beam during assembly and welding are all difficult to control. If the L-tube is not parallel to the side of the central beam during assembly and welding, it will cause the other end of the L-tube to deflect, affecting subsequent mating and assembly with the finger pair.
[0003] For example, in the article "Preliminary Design of the First Wall of ITER with Enhanced Heat Load for Pipeline Connection Assembly" in the journal "Nuclear Fusion and Plasma Physics," the pipe-to-pipe welding is performed using a one-time tool welding method, and the welding operation is as follows: Figure 4 As shown, the welding operation is simple and quick, avoiding internal hole welds. The lengths of the front and middle pipe openings of the fingers and the corresponding welding pipe opening lengths on the central beam are designed to allow for one welding + two repair weldings, making the fingers (pairs) replaceable.
[0004] However, in the welding of the cooling channel of the central beam of the first wall and the L-tube butt joint, due to the small size and special shape of the L-tube, it is suspended when butt welded to the central beam pipe opening. Each time welding, the concentration of welding stress causes a certain deviation in the butt joint dimensions, which can easily lead to unqualified welding of the cooling channel of the central beam and the L-tube butt joint. Moreover, it is difficult to guarantee the welding quality in one welding operation. Summary of the Invention
[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a pipe connection butt welding device and method.
[0006] This invention is achieved through the following technical solution:
[0007] A pipe connection butt welding device includes a support structure and a butt welding structure. The support structure includes a movable base, a support seat, a locking nut, and an adjusting shaft. The lower end of the adjusting shaft is mounted on the movable base via the locking nut, and the support seat is mounted on the upper end of the adjusting shaft. The butt welding structure includes a fixing block, which is mounted on the adjusting shaft. The lower end of the fixing block has a grooved end face, and the upper end of the fixing block has an inclined plate.
[0008] Furthermore, the lower end of the fixing block has notches at both ends of the groove surface.
[0009] Furthermore, the inclined plate at the upper end of the fixing block is provided with a through hole.
[0010] Furthermore, the docking structure also includes adjusting bolts and adjusting shims, with the adjusting bolts mounted on the lower end of the fixing block via the adjusting shims.
[0011] Furthermore, the docking structure also includes a positioning pin and an L-tube, with the L-tube placed in a groove on the fixing block and the positioning pin connected to the upper opening of the L-tube.
[0012] Furthermore, the adjusting bolt passes through the bottom of the groove in the fixing block.
[0013] Furthermore, a pipe connection butt welding method includes the following steps:
[0014] Step 1: Place the L-tube into the grooved end face at the lower end of the fixing block, and move the base and adjusting shaft to make the side opening of the L-tube approach and align with the opening on the center beam.
[0015] Step 2: Insert the positioning pin into the upper opening of the L-tube through the through hole on the inclined plate at the upper end of the fixing block;
[0016] Step 3: Adjust the bolts to ensure that the weld gap and misalignment after the L-tube side opening and the pipe opening on the center beam are within 0.05mm.
[0017] Step four: Spot weld the L-tube, remove the control mechanism, and weld the side opening of the L-tube and the opening on the central beam after spot welding.
[0018] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:
[0019] This invention proposes a pipe connection butt welding device and method. The device connects an L-shaped pipe to the pipe opening on a central beam. A locating pin is used to ensure the axis of the L-shaped pipe opening is parallel to the side of the central beam, preventing the other end of the L-shaped pipe from deflecting and affecting subsequent processing and assembly with the finger joint. By finely adjusting the position of the L-shaped pipe, the weld gap and misalignment after the L-shaped pipe and the central beam pipe opening are within 0.05mm. Furthermore, the method of spot welding followed by full welding improves the welding qualification rate. By placing the L-shaped pipe on the welding device of this invention, the current common welding method avoids the situation where the L-shaped pipe opening and the pipe opening on the central beam are suspended during welding, ensuring that welding stress does not cause deviation between the L-shaped pipe opening and the pipe opening on the central beam. Attached Figure Description
[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;
[0021] Figure 2 This is another structural schematic diagram of the present invention;
[0022] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of the present invention;
[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of pipe welding and forming using tools.
[0024] In the diagram: 1-fixed block, 2-positioning pin, 3-adjusting bolt, 4-adjusting shaft, 5-locking nut, 6-moving base, 7-L-tube, 8-adjusting pad, 9-support seat. Detailed Implementation
[0025] The technical solution of the present invention is further described below, but the scope of protection is not limited to what is described.
[0026] In the welding of the cooling channel of the central beam of the first wall and the L-pipe 7 butt joint, numerous tests have revealed that due to the small size and special shape of the L-pipe 7, it is suspended when butt-welded to the central beam pipe opening, and the operating space is narrow. Whenever welding, the concentration of welding stress causes a certain deviation in the butt joint dimensions, which easily leads to the welding of the cooling channel of the central beam and the L-pipe 7 butt joint being unqualified. This invention proposes a pipe connection butt welding device and method to ensure that the gap and misalignment between the L-pipe 7 and the central beam pipe opening are within the qualified range.
[0027] like Figure 1 As shown, the non-circular tube butt welding device includes a support structure and a butt welding structure. The support structure includes a movable base 6, a support seat 9, a locking nut 5, and an adjusting shaft 4. The lower end of the adjusting shaft 4 is mounted on the movable base 6 via the locking nut 5, and the support seat 9 is mounted on the upper end of the adjusting shaft 4. The butt welding structure includes a fixing block 1, which is mounted on the support seat 9. The lower end of the fixing block 1 has a grooved end face, and the upper end of the fixing block 1 has an inclined plate with a through hole. The butt welding structure also includes an adjusting bolt 3 and an adjusting shim 8. The adjusting bolt 3 is mounted on the lower end of the fixing block 1 via the adjusting shim 8.
[0028] The bottom of the groove at the lower end of the fixing block 1 is arc-shaped, and the outlet of the groove is circular. The diameter of the circular outlet is larger than the outer diameter of the side opening of the L-tube 7. There are notches at both ends of the groove surface near the outlet. The two notches are symmetrically distributed. When the L-tube 7 is placed in the groove, the side opening of the L-tube is located in the notches at both ends of the groove.
[0029] like Figure 2As shown, L-tube 7 is placed in the groove on the fixing block 1. The positioning pin 2 is inserted into the upper opening of L-tube 7 through the through hole on the inclined plate at the upper end of the fixing block 1. The fit between the upper opening of L-tube and the positioning pin 2 is a small clearance fit to ensure that the axis of the upper opening of L-tube 7 is parallel to the side of the center beam, preventing the other end of L-tube from deflecting and affecting the subsequent mating and assembly with the finger. Then, the adjusting bolt 3 is finely adjusted to align the upper opening of L-tube 7 with the opening on the center beam, ensuring that the gap and misalignment of the weld after the upper opening of L-tube 7 and the opening on the center beam are within 0.05mm. In this way, when using TIG self-fusion welding to butt weld L-tube 7 and the opening of the center beam, since no filler wire is used, the molten weld metal automatically fills the gap. Under the premise that the gap after pipe-to-pipe connection is less than 5mm, there will be no phenomena such as incomplete penetration, deviation, undercut, and tungsten inclusion caused by the gap and misalignment of the two pipe openings not meeting the requirements. The quality of welding assembly will be effectively improved.
[0030] After adjusting the position of L-tube 7, the welding operation begins. In this embodiment, it is preferable to use a welding torch to spot weld the adjusted L-tube. The spot welding positions can be selected as three points, one of which is above the pipe opening on the side of L-tube 7, and the other two are at the notches at both ends of the groove surface at the lower end of the fixing block 1. After the spot welding is completed, the positioning pin 2 is removed and the butt welding control mechanism is moved away. The spot-welded L-tube 7 is then welded to the pipe opening of the central beam. By spot welding and then removing the butt welding control mechanism, the displacement between the pipes due to contact during welding is effectively avoided.
[0031] like Figure 3 As shown, the pipe opening axes of the middle part of the central beam body are on the same horizontal line. When welding the pipe openings of the middle part of the central beam, it is not necessary to readjust the height of the fixing block 1. After moving the base 1 to align the pipe opening of L pipe 7 with the pipe opening of the central beam, the adjusting bolt 3 is finely adjusted to ensure that the gap and misalignment of the weld are within the required range.
[0032] The movable base 6 is made of steel, which allows it to be magnetically attached to the assembly table, ensuring the stability of the device during welding.
[0033] like Figure 3 As shown, the butt welding method based on the irregular tube butt welding device is achieved through the following steps:
[0034] Step 1: Place L-tube 7 into the groove end face at the lower end of the fixing block 1. Adjust the position of the moving base 6 to bring the butt welding control mechanism close to the pipe opening of the center beam. Adjust the height of the fixing block 1 by adjusting the shaft 4 so that the side pipe opening of L-tube 7 is close to and connected with the pipe opening on the center beam. Tighten the locking nut 5.
[0035] Step 2: Insert the positioning pin 2 into the upper opening of the L-tube 7 through the through hole on the inclined plate at the upper end of the fixing block 1, so that the axis of the upper opening of the L-tube is parallel to the side of the central beam.
[0036] Step 3: Adjust bolt 3 to ensure that the weld gap and misalignment after the pipe opening on the side of L pipe 7 is connected to the pipe opening on the center beam are within 0.05mm.
[0037] Step 4: Spot weld at the L-tube and the central beam pipe opening, remove the butt welding control mechanism, and weld the side opening of the L-tube 7 and the pipe opening on the central beam after spot welding.
[0038] The above-mentioned mechanism and method for welding L-shaped pipes can meet the requirements for weld gap and misalignment, resulting in a high welding qualification rate, thereby improving production efficiency and reducing production costs.
[0039] Contents not described in detail in this specification are prior art known to those skilled in the art. Although illustrative specific embodiments of the invention have been described above to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the scope of the specific embodiments. Various modifications are readily apparent to those skilled in the art as long as they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined and determined by the appended claims, and all inventions utilizing the concept of this invention are protected.
Claims
1. A pipe connection butt welding device, comprising a support structure and a butt welding structure, characterized in that: The support structure includes a movable base (6), a support seat (9), a locking nut (5), and an adjusting shaft (4). The lower end of the adjusting shaft (4) is mounted on the movable base (6) via the locking nut (5), and the support seat (9) is mounted on the upper end of the adjusting shaft (4). The docking structure includes a fixing block (1), an adjusting bolt (3), an adjusting pad (8), a positioning pin (2), and an L-tube (7). The fixing block (1) is installed on the adjusting shaft (4). The lower end of the fixing block (1) has a grooved end face. The upper end of the fixing block (1) has an inclined plate with a through hole. The adjusting bolt (3) is installed on the lower end of the fixing block (1) through the adjusting pad (8). The L-tube (7) is placed in the groove on the fixing block (1). The positioning pin (2) is connected to the upper opening of the L-tube (7).
2. The pipe connection butt welding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixing block (1) has notches at both ends of the groove surface at the lower end.
3. The pipe connection butt welding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adjusting bolt (3) passes through the bottom of the groove of the fixing block (1).
4. A method for butt welding pipe connections, characterized in that, Using the pipe connection butt welding device according to any one of claims 1-3, the butt welding method includes the following steps: Step 1: Place the L-tube into the groove end face at the lower end of the fixing block (1), and move the base (6) and the adjusting shaft (4) to make the side opening of the L-tube close to and aligned with the opening on the center beam. Step 2: Insert the positioning pin (2) into the upper opening of the L-tube through the through hole on the inclined plate at the upper end of the fixing block (1); Step 3: Adjust the bolt (3) to ensure that the weld gap and misalignment after the L-tube side opening and the central beam opening are connected are within 0.05mm. Step four: Spot weld the L-tube, remove the control mechanism, and weld the side opening of the L-tube and the opening on the central beam after spot welding.