Pipeline argon filling device and process

Abstract

The pipeline argon filling device comprises a pipeline to be filled with argon, and the pipeline to be filled with argon comprises an air bag, a compressed air belt, an argon belt and a valve; the number of the air bags is two, and the two air bags are both installed in a pipeline to be filled with argon and located on the two sides of a weld joint correspondingly. An argon belt and a compressed air belt with holes penetrate through the first air bag, and two ends of the first air bag are respectively connected with the second air bag and the valve through the compressed air belt; the first air bag and the second air bag can block the pipeline after being inflated and expanded; one end of the argon belt is connected with the valve, and the other end penetrates through the first airbag and is exposed near the weld; and the compressed air belt and the argon belt respectively control the circulation of gas through corresponding valves. According to the pipeline argon filling device, the double-air-bag structure is adopted to be arranged on the two sides of a weld joint respectively, a short-distance sealing interval can be formed in a pipe, and the argon filling volume is remarkably reduced. Compared with a traditional mode that the two ends of the pipeline are plugged through a pipe cap (the whole long pipeline needs to be filled), the device only fills argon into a small-range space near a welding area, and the cost is greatly saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of marine oil engineering, and particularly relates to a pipeline argon filling device and process. Background Technology

[0002] The construction of marine engineering modules encompasses multiple professional fields, including piping and structure. During pipeline welding, different materials require corresponding welding processes. For non-ferrous metal pipelines such as stainless steel and nickel-based alloys, the welding process is particularly stringent. Argon gas must be continuously injected into the pipeline during welding to create an inert gas protective zone that isolates oxygen, preventing oxidation of the weld pool and heat-affected zone, thereby ensuring the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the weld metal.

[0003] Currently, the mainstream argon purging method involves installing caps at both ends of the pipeline for sealing, and then purging with argon gas through a gas line running through the caps. However, this method requires a large number of caps of different sizes, and these caps are prone to damage during operation, necessitating frequent replacements. This not only wastes materials but also increases the difficulty of on-site management. Technical specifications for some international projects explicitly require that the length of the sealing space not exceed 300 mm, and the distance between the sealing position and the weld edge not exceed 150 mm. However, in practice, the cap sealing position is usually 200 to 500 mm from the weld, failing to meet these technical requirements. This not only leads to an increase in the argon purging volume, significantly increasing argon consumption, but also makes long-distance gas flow diffusion prone to causing localized oxygen content exceeding the standard.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need to design a pipeline argon purging device and process to solve the problem of argon gas protection during pipeline welding mentioned above. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the technical problem mentioned in the background art where uneven force on one side of the latch easily leads to torsion and deformation and limited tensile strength, a pipeline argon filling device and process are provided.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the specific technical solution of the pipeline argon purging device of the present invention is as follows: An argon-filling device for pipelines includes a pipeline to be filled with argon, and also includes a gas bag, a compressed air belt, an argon belt, and a valve. Two gas bags are provided, both installed in the pipeline to be filled with argon, located on opposite sides of a weld. The first gas bag is passed through by the argon belt and a perforated compressed air belt, with its two ends connected to the second gas bag and the valve respectively via the compressed air belt. The first and second gas bags, after inflation, can seal the pipeline. One end of the argon belt is connected to the valve, and the other end passes through the first gas bag and is exposed near the weld. The compressed air belt and the argon belt control the gas flow through corresponding valves.

[0007] Furthermore, the pipeline argon filling device also includes a traction rope, which is connected to the first airbag, and the tooling is removed by dragging the traction rope.

[0008] Furthermore, the traction rope is made of nylon and has a wristband at the end with anti-slip texture on the surface; the wristband at the end makes it easy to pull the traction rope and prevents hand scratches caused by directly pulling the traction rope.

[0009] Furthermore, the airbag is made of high-pressure resistant rubber material, which can easily pass through pipelines when not inflated, and can completely fit with pipelines of different diameters to be filled with argon after inflation, forming a sealed area.

[0010] Furthermore, the airbag adopts a disc-shaped shape to prevent it from being too long to be placed in the corresponding position by compressed air during installation.

[0011] Furthermore, the compressed air belt consists of a flexible hose with an armored layer, the armored layer being a stainless steel wire braided structure; one end is connected to a valve, and the other end passes through the first air bladder and connects to the second air bladder.

[0012] Furthermore, a scale line is drawn above the compressed air band between the first and second airbags. The scale line is marked every 10 mm from the edge of the first airbag to the second airbag to indicate the relative distance between the first and second airbags and the weld.

[0013] Furthermore, the argon gas line consists of a flexible tube with an armored layer, positioned at the lowest point of the argon filling device to ensure complete argon filling of the pipeline.

[0014] Furthermore, there are two valves, one located on the argon gas belt and the other on the compressed air belt.

[0015] A pipeline argon purging process includes the following steps: S1. Insert the uninflated airbag into one end of the pipeline and move the compressed air belt to move it along the pipeline. S2. Connect the compressed air source, open the compressed air belt, and fill the first and second air bags with compressed air. After the first and second air bags have expanded and are pressed tightly against the pipe wall, close the compressed air belt. S3. Connect the argon gas source, open the argon gas channel, and allow argon gas to flow into the pipeline sealing area until the welding process is completed; S4. After welding is completed, release the compressed air inside the first and second airbags. After the airbags return to their original state, slowly move the pipeline argon filling device out of the pipeline.

[0016] The pipeline argon purging device of the present invention has the following advantages: The device employs a dual-bladder structure, arranged on both sides of the weld, forming a short-distance sealed area (typically ≤300mm) within the pipe, significantly reducing the argon purging volume and meeting the stringent requirement in foreign project technical specifications that "the sealing space length should not exceed 300mm." Compared to the traditional method of sealing the pipeline from both ends using pipe caps (requiring filling the entire long pipe section), this device only purifies a small area near the welding zone with argon, reducing argon consumption by more than 60% and significantly saving costs. Argon is directly delivered to the vicinity of the weld, avoiding airflow disturbances or localized oxygen content exceeding standards caused by long-distance diffusion, effectively protecting the molten pool and heat-affected zone, preventing oxidation, and improving the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of welds made of high-requirement materials such as stainless steel and nickel-based alloys. The air bladders are flexible and expandable structures, driven by compressed air, allowing for a tight fit against the pipe wall in pipelines of different diameters, eliminating the need for multiple sizes of pipe caps and solving the problem of complex accessories in traditional methods. The compressed air belt serves as both the airbag connector and the air supply channel, while the argon belt is independently installed and controlled by valves. The system has a compact structure and clearly defined functions, enabling an integrated operation process of "injection-sealing-argon filling-recovery".

[0017] The pipeline argon purging process of this invention has the following advantages: The standardized and replicable four-step operation procedure is clear and easy to understand, suitable for various on-site personnel to quickly master, reducing training costs and improving construction consistency. Closed-loop management throughout the process ensures welding quality. Compared to the traditional method of disassembling pipe caps and resealing, this process requires no cutting or damage to any components, saving approximately 40%-50% of the time per operation. It eliminates the need for disposable pipe caps, avoiding metal waste and aligning with the green construction concept of marine engineering. The process steps are clearly defined, and in the future, it can be further developed into an intelligent argon purging robot system by combining an electric pushing mechanism and an automatic gas filling control system. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the pipeline argon filling device of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the pipeline argon purging device of the present invention; Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of point A in the middle.

[0019] Explanation of markings in the diagram: 1. Airbag; 2. Compressed air belt; 3. Argon gas belt; 4. Valve; 5. Towing rope. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0021] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. The terms "first position" and "second position" refer to two different positions.

[0022] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances. Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of this invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0023] Those skilled in the art will understand that although some embodiments herein include certain features included in other embodiments but not others, combinations of features from different embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention and form different embodiments. For example, in the claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

[0024] The following is a reference to the appendix. Figure 1 To be continued Figure 3 This invention describes a pipeline argon purging device.

[0025] This embodiment describes a pipeline argon purging device. Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the argon purging device for pipelines; Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the pipeline argon purging device; such as Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the pipeline argon filling device includes a pipeline to be filled with argon, and also includes a gas bag 1, a compressed air belt 2, an argon belt 3, and a valve 4. There are two gas bags 1, and both gas bags 1 are installed in the pipeline to be filled with argon, located on both sides of the weld. The first gas bag 1 is passed through by the argon belt 3 and the perforated compressed air belt 2, and its two ends are connected to the second gas bag 1 and the valve 4 respectively through the compressed air belt 2. After the first gas bag 1 and the second gas bag 1 are inflated, they can seal the pipeline. One end of the argon belt 3 is connected to the valve 4, and the other end passes through the first gas bag 1 and is exposed near the weld. The compressed air belt 2 and the argon belt 3 control the flow of gas through their respective valves 4.

[0026] This pipeline argon purging device employs a dual-bladder structure, with one bladder positioned on each side of the weld. This creates a short-range sealed area (typically ≤300mm) within the pipe, significantly reducing the argon purging volume and meeting the stringent requirement in international project technical specifications that "the sealing space length should not exceed 300mm." Compared to the traditional method of sealing the pipeline from both ends with caps (requiring filling the entire long pipe section), this device only purifies a small area near the welding zone with argon, reducing argon consumption by over 60% and significantly saving costs. Argon is directly delivered to the vicinity of the weld, avoiding airflow disturbances or localized oxygen content exceeding standards caused by long-distance diffusion. This effectively protects the molten pool and heat-affected zone, prevents oxidation, and improves the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of welds made of high-requirement materials such as stainless steel and nickel-based alloys. The bladder is a flexible, expandable structure, driven by compressed air, allowing it to fit tightly against the pipe wall in pipelines of different diameters. This eliminates the need for multiple sizes of caps, solving the problem of cumbersome accessories in traditional methods. The compressed air belt 2 serves as both a connector for the airbag 1 and a gas supply channel. The argon belt 3 is independently installed and controlled by the valve 4. The system has a compact structure and clear functions, realizing an integrated operation process of "injection-sealing-argon filling-recovery".

[0027] Furthermore, Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of point A, as shown below. Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the pipeline argon filling device also includes a traction rope 5, which is connected to the first airbag 1. The tooling is removed by dragging the traction rope 5.

[0028] Understandably, after welding, airbag 1 deflates and returns to its original shape. However, due to the possibility of weld slag, deformation, or bending sections inside the pipeline, the device is prone to getting stuck. With the traction rope 5 installed, it can be smoothly pulled out using external pulling force, avoiding the risk of blockage or secondary construction caused by the device remaining inside the pipeline. Recovery can be completed without the need for endoscopes or mechanical hooks, reducing the investment in auxiliary equipment and manual intervention time, and shortening the overall welding cycle. The traction rope 5 is fixed to the first airbag 1, ensuring a stable force point and preventing airbag 1 from detaching or disintegrating during dragging, ensuring the entire dismantling process is safe and controllable.

[0029] Furthermore, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, the traction rope 5 is made of nylon and has a wristband at the end with anti-slip texture on the surface; the wristband at the end makes it easy to pull the traction rope 5 and prevents hand injuries caused by directly pulling the traction rope 5.

[0030] Understandably, the wristband structure at the end, with its anti-slip texture, allows operators to hold it firmly and prevents slippage when applying significant pulling force, thus reducing labor intensity and the risk of work-related injuries.

[0031] In practical applications, without wristbands, workers would have to pull the thin rope by hand, which could easily cause burns or cuts due to friction. This design reflects ergonomic considerations and meets on-site safety regulations. Furthermore, the nylon material possesses high strength, wear resistance, oil resistance, and aging resistance, making it suitable for long-term use in complex industrial environments. It is not prone to breakage or wear, ensuring reliable traction.

[0032] Furthermore, the airbag 1 is made of high-pressure resistant rubber material, which can easily pass through pipelines when not inflated, and can completely fit with pipelines of different diameters to be filled with argon after inflation, forming a sealed area.

[0033] Understandably, the high-pressure resistant rubber material is soft and easily folded when uninflated, allowing it to pass smoothly through bends or diameter changes. When inflated, it expands elastically, adhering tightly to the pipe wall to achieve a reliable seal, preventing argon leakage or outside air intrusion. It can adapt to pipelines ranging from DN50 to DN300 and even larger, eliminating the need to change tooling, significantly improving equipment reusability, and reducing procurement and management costs. Its high-pressure resistant design allows for repeated inflation / deflation without fatigue cracking, making it suitable for batch welding operations and extending service life.

[0034] Furthermore, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, the airbag 1 has a disc-shaped shape to prevent it from being too long to be placed in the corresponding position by the compressed air belt 2 during installation.

[0035] Understandably, traditional cylindrical airbags (1) are prone to bending and jamming in curved pipelines, making it difficult to accurately deliver them to the designated location. The disc-shaped (flat disk-shaped) design shortens the axial length, improves throughput, and is particularly suitable for complex pipeline systems containing bends and tees. The compact structure facilitates precise positioning within ±150mm of the weld seam, meeting high-standard process requirements and avoiding insufficient protection due to misalignment. The shortened body length of airbag 1 reduces frictional resistance during pipeline pushing, making it easier to be pulled into position by the compressed air belt (2), thus reducing construction difficulty.

[0036] Furthermore, the compressed air belt 2 is composed of a flexible hose with an armored layer, the armored layer being a stainless steel wire braided structure; one end is connected to the valve 4, and the other end passes through the first airbag 1 and connects to the second airbag 1.

[0037] Understandably, the stainless steel wire braided armor layer gives the hose excellent resistance to pressure, tension, and torsion, preventing it from being flattened or torn during high-pressure inflation or towing, thus ensuring uninterrupted air supply. Marine engineering sites often present harsh conditions such as humidity, salt spray, and high temperatures; the stainless steel material has good corrosion resistance, extending the hose's service life and adapting to the demanding working conditions of offshore platforms. The armor structure prevents the hose from collapsing, ensuring stable compressed air transmission to both air chambers 1, achieving synchronous and uniform expansion of both air chambers 1, and avoiding displacement or seal failure caused by unilateral expansion.

[0038] Furthermore, such as Figure 1 As shown, a scale line is drawn above the compressed air band 2 between the first airbag 1 and the second airbag 1. The scale line is marked every 10 mm from the edge of the first airbag 1 to the second airbag 1 to indicate the relative distance between the first airbag 1, the second airbag 1 and the weld.

[0039] Understandably, the scale lines provide an intuitive distance reference, allowing operators to judge the positional relationship between airbag 1 and the weld in real time during installation, ensuring the distance between the two airbags 1 is controlled within 300mm to meet technical standards. A standardized scale eliminates human estimation errors, ensuring consistent quality levels for each installation, facilitating standardized operations and quality traceability. When used with cameras or endoscopes, scale values ​​can be read from images, facilitating archiving and quality inspection, and improving construction transparency and compliance.

[0040] Furthermore, the argon gas line 3 consists of a flexible tube with an armored layer, positioned at the lowest point of the argon filling device to ensure complete argon filling of the pipeline.

[0041] It is understandable that argon gas, being denser than air, is introduced from the bottom of the pipeline, allowing air to be gradually expelled from bottom to top, forming a stable inert gas layer and preventing residual air bubbles or argon deficiency in dead zones. This low-point intake + top exhaust pattern conforms to fluid dynamics principles, shortening purging time and improving pre-welding preparation efficiency. The use of armored flexible hoses also prevents the argon gas line from closing under bending or compression, ensuring continuous gas supply and eliminating welding defects caused by gas supply interruptions.

[0042] Furthermore, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, there are two valves 4, one of which is located on the argon gas belt 3 and the other is located on the compressed air belt 2.

[0043] Understandably, the separate installation of valves 4 ensures that the compressed air system and the argon system do not interfere with each other, allowing for independent opening and closing, and enabling an orderly operational process of "sealing first, then filling with argon" and "stopping argon first, then depressurizing." Closing the argon valve cuts off the gas supply, preventing accidental opening that could lead to waste or danger; closing the compressed air valve locks the gas bag 1 in its position, preventing accidental depressurization from causing sealing failure. When a leak occurs in a pipeline, closing the corresponding valve 4 isolates the faulty section without affecting the operation of other parts, improving system availability and maintenance convenience.

[0044] This embodiment also provides a pipeline argon purging process, including the following steps: S1. Insert the uninflated airbag 1 into one end of the pipeline and move the compressed air belt 2 along the pipeline. S2. Connect the compressed air source, open the compressed air belt 2, and fill the first airbag 1 and the second airbag 1 with compressed air. After the first airbag 1 and the second airbag 1 are both expanded and stick to the pipe wall, close the compressed air belt 2. S3. Connect the argon gas source and open the argon gas channel 3 to allow argon gas to flow into the pipeline sealing area until the welding process is completed; S4. After welding is completed, release the compressed air inside the first airbag 1 and the second airbag 1. After the airbag 1 returns to its original state, slowly move the pipeline argon filling device out of the pipeline.

[0045] Understandably, this pipeline argon purging process features a standardized and replicable four-step operation procedure that is clear and easy to understand, allowing various on-site personnel to quickly master it, reducing training costs, and improving construction consistency. The closed-loop management throughout the process ensures welding quality. Compared to the traditional method of disassembling pipe caps and resealing, this process requires no cutting or damage to any components, saving approximately 40%-50% of the time per operation. It eliminates the need for disposable pipe caps, avoiding metal waste and aligning with the green construction principles of marine engineering. With clearly defined process steps, it can be further developed into an intelligent argon purging robot system by combining an electric pushing mechanism and an automatic gas filling control system.

[0046] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make other variations or modifications based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively describe all embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A pipeline argon purging device, comprising a pipeline to be argon-purified, characterized in that, It also includes airbags, compressed air belts, argon belts, and valves; there are two airbags, both installed in the pipeline to be filled with argon, located on both sides of the weld; the first airbag is passed through by the argon belt and the perforated compressed air belt, and its two ends are connected to the second airbag and the valve respectively through the compressed air belt; the first and second airbags can seal the pipeline after being inflated; one end of the argon belt is connected to the valve, and the other end passes through the first airbag and is exposed near the weld; the compressed air belt and the argon belt control the gas flow through corresponding valves.

2. The pipeline argon purging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pipeline argon filling device also includes a traction rope, which is connected to the first airbag. The tooling is removed by dragging the traction rope.

3. The pipeline argon purging device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The leash is made of nylon and has a wristband at the end with a non-slip texture. The wristband at the end makes it easy to pull the leash and prevents hand injuries from directly pulling the leash.

4. The pipeline argon purging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The airbag is made of high-pressure resistant rubber. When not inflated, it can easily pass through pipelines. When inflated, it can completely fit with pipelines of different diameters that are to be filled with argon, forming a sealed area.

5. The pipeline argon purging device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The airbag has a disc-shaped design to prevent it from being too long to be placed in the correct position using compressed air during installation.

6. The pipeline argon purging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The compressed air belt consists of a flexible hose with an armored layer, the armor being a stainless steel wire braided structure; one end is connected to a valve, and the other end passes through the first air bladder and connects to the second air bladder.

7. The pipeline argon purging device according to any one of claims 1 or 6, characterized in that, A scale line is drawn above the compressed air band between the first and second airbags. The scale line is marked every 10 mm from the edge of the first airbag to the second airbag to indicate the relative distance between the first and second airbags and the weld.

8. The pipeline argon purging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The argon gas line consists of a flexible tube with an armored layer, positioned at the lowest point of the argon filling device to ensure complete argon filling of the pipeline.

9. The pipeline argon purging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, There are two valves, one located on the argon gas belt and the other on the compressed air belt.

10. A pipeline argon purging process, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Insert the uninflated airbag into one end of the pipeline and move the compressed air belt to move it along the pipeline. S2. Connect the compressed air source, open the compressed air belt, and fill the first and second air bags with compressed air. After the first and second air bags have expanded and are pressed tightly against the pipe wall, close the compressed air belt. S3. Connect the argon gas source, open the argon gas channel, and allow argon gas to flow into the pipeline sealing area until the welding process is completed; S4. After welding is completed, release the compressed air inside the first and second airbags. After the airbags return to their original state, slowly move the pipeline argon filling device out of the pipeline.

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