Rotating device for pipes and pipe sections

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a rotary device for rotating large-diameter pipes about their longitudinal axis according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Large-diameter pipes, especially those made of longitudinally and circumferentially welded steel sheets, are used, for example, in the petroleum industry or in the construction of large metal structures. An important application is the foundation construction for offshore installations, particularly wind turbines. For large-diameter pipes used in offshore applications, such as monopiles or tripods, pipe diameters greater than 6 m and now even greater than 9 m are no longer uncommon. Relative to their diameter, these large pipes have very thin walls.

[0003] Before use, the pipes are manufactured in various stages and prepared for their intended application. For offshore use, for example, corrosion protection coatings are applied to protect the pipe from corrosion in saltwater. Given the pipe's dimensions, the coating process is carried out while the pipe is lying flat. To coat the entire surface, the pipe must be rotated around its longitudinal axis during the coating process. For this purpose, the pipe is placed on rotating fixtures. These fixtures must have sufficient load-bearing capacity to support the very large and heavy pipes. Because the pipes have relatively thin walls compared to their large diameters and high masses, they possess low radial stiffness.There is therefore a risk that the pipe's surface will dent or be damaged during storage on the rotating device or during rotation. Furthermore, excessive stress can occur during rotation, leading to irreversible damage. Many conventional rotating devices already lack sufficient load-bearing capacity given the weight of current large-diameter pipes. Some rotating devices are also designed for only one pipe diameter, meaning that different rotating devices must be kept on hand for pipes of varying diameters.

[0004] DE 10 2022 103 490 describes a rotary device for rotating large-diameter pipes about their longitudinal axis. The multi-roller rotary device has 6 to 10 rollers, with the rollers' axes of rotation arranged on a circular arc. The rollers are arranged side by side on a base frame. With this rotary device, it is possible to rotate pipes with diameters of at least 6 m safely and without damage, despite their weight and size, without causing dents or damage to the pipe surface. However, the rotary device has a large number of components and rollers, resulting in a high weight and requiring a relatively large amount of material for its manufacture. Further known devices are described in CN 114 832 961 A, CN 114 042 576 A, and CN 112 403 755 B.

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a rotating device that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages and, in particular, enables damage-free storage and safe and uniform rotation of pipes, such as monopiles or steel pipes, with a diameter of at least 6 m, without causing deformation of the pipe, such as dents or indentations. The rotating device should also be flexibly applicable to different pipe diameters and be constructed from relatively few components.

[0006] The main features of the invention are specified in the characterizing part of claim 1. Further embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims or are described below.

[0007] The rotary device according to the invention for rotating large-diameter pipes about their longitudinal axis comprises a base body and two support devices arranged on the base body, each support device comprising a base and at least one rocker element. The rocker element is pivotably mounted on an axis. The axis is arranged in a receptacle of the base, and the base is connected to the base body. Each of the two support devices has a first rocker element and a second rocker element. The first rocker element has a first axis and is pivotably mounted on the first axis in the receptacle of the base, with a main pivot axis of the support device passing through the first axis. The first rocker element has two main pivot arms extending from the first axis and arranged at a fixed angle to each other. A first main pivot arm of the first rocker element has a boom.The boom is designed as a continuation of the swivel arm and extends it. At the outer end of the boom, furthest from the first axis, a roller axle is arranged, on which a roller is rotatably mounted. A second main swivel arm of the first rocker element has a receptacle for a second axle at one end. A second rocker element is rotatably mounted on this second axle. A secondary swivel axis of the support device runs through the second axle. The second rocker element has two swivel arms extending from the second axle and arranged at a fixed angle to each other. A roller axle is arranged on each swivel arm of the second rocker element, on which a roller is rotatably mounted. The main swivel axis and the secondary swivel axis run parallel to each other. The support device can be swiveled independently about both swivel axes.Each roller has a roller axis and a rotation axis passing through the roller axis, with the rotation axes of the rollers being parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal axis of a tube mounted on the rotating device. Only the rollers form the contact points for a tube, so that when a tube is placed on the rotating device, only the rollers are in contact with the tube surface.

[0008] The base body forms the foundation of the rotating device, which stands on the ground, a transport vehicle, or other surface. The base body has a top surface on which the support devices are mounted. Preferably, the top surface is a flat surface, for example, with an approximately rectangular footprint. This flat surface can be designed, for example, as a sliding surface for stepless adjustment of the support devices and / or with equidistantly distributed holes for fixing the support devices using locking pins. The base body can have feet on its underside for standing on the ground. Additional components, such as lifting elements for attachment to a crane, can also be provided on the base body.

[0009] Preferably, the roller axes are arranged at the outermost end of the boom from the first axis and at the outermost end of the pivot arms of the second rocker element from the second axis, so that the rollers extend beyond the boom and the second rocker element and the rollers form the support points for the pipe in the direction of the pipe.

[0010] In one embodiment, the rollers are designed as floating rollers and have no drive mechanism. In another embodiment, the rollers are designed as driven rollers.

[0011] Each of the two support devices comprises a base and two rocker elements, as well as a total of three rollers. The base of the support device has a receptacle designed as an axle bearing. A first rocker element is pivotally mounted in the receptacle on a first axis, the main pivot axis of the support device passing through this first axis. The first rocker element has two main pivot arms. The main pivot arms are preferably of the same length and have the same basic shape. More preferably, they are integrally connected to each other. The first main pivot arm of the first rocker element has a boom. A roller is arranged at the end of the boom. The roller has a roller axle on which it is rotatably mounted on the boom. The second main pivot arm has a receptacle for a second axis, the receptacle being designed as an axle bearing. A second rocker element is mounted on this second axis.The second rocker element is arranged at one end of the second main pivot arm. A secondary pivot axis of the support device runs through the second axis. The second rocker element has two pivot arms arranged at a fixed angle to each other. The pivot arms are preferably of equal length and have the same basic shape. More preferably, they are integrally connected. A roller is arranged at each end of the pivot arms of the second rocker element. Each roller has a roller axle on which it is rotatably mounted on the pivot arm. In a preferred embodiment, the pivot arms of the second rocker element are mirror-symmetrical, with the plane of symmetry passing through the second axis.

[0012] The rocker element preferably comprises at least two parallel and interconnected side supports, with the roller arranged between the side supports. In one embodiment, the first rocker element comprises four parallel side supports that are largely congruent. The side supports include both the main pivot arms and the boom. In this embodiment, there are two outer side supports forming the outer sides of the first rocker element and two inner side supports. The two inner side supports can be connected to each other via one or more stabilizing elements. The outer roller, i.e., the roller mounted on the boom, is then arranged between the two inner side supports. The first axle and the second axle pass through all four side supports, as does the axle of the outer roller.

[0013] In one embodiment, the second rocker element preferably comprises two parallel side supports that are largely congruent. The side supports can be connected to each other via one or more stabilizing elements. The side supports form the two pivot arms of the second rocker element. The second axis and the roller axles pass through both side supports. The side supports of the second rocker element are, for example, each arranged between an outer and an inner side support of the first rocker device.

[0014] In one embodiment, the base of the support device is firmly connected to the base body, e.g. welded to the base body.

[0015] In another embodiment, the base of the support device is adjustable and mounted on the base body, preferably with connecting elements in openings in the base body. In this embodiment, the base is detachably attached to the base body, allowing its position to be adjusted. For this purpose, the base body preferably has grid-shaped openings, slot-shaped openings, or a mounting rail to accommodate the connecting elements, enabling stepless or incremental adjustment of the distance between the support devices on the base body. It is also possible to permanently connect the base of a first support device to the base body and to make the base of a second support device adjustable. In this embodiment, the distance can be adjusted simply by changing the position of a support device on the base body, thus requiring minimal assembly effort.

[0016] The support devices are preferably positioned symmetrically on the base body with respect to a central axis M of the base body, wherein the arm of the first rocker element is arranged towards the outside of the base body and the second rocker elements are arranged on the side facing the central axis. The two second rocker elements are thus arranged on the inside of the support device towards the center of the rotary device, while the arms of the first rocker element each point towards the outside of the rotary device as a load arm.

[0017] The rotary device according to the invention is used for rotating (around the longitudinal axis) longitudinally and circumferentially welded steel pipes with large diameters, so-called large-diameter pipes, and large-diameter pipe sections with a pipe diameter of at least 6 m, preferably at least 8 to 10 m. Pipe diameters up to 12 m and beyond, such as those found in floating offshore foundation structures (spar buoys), can also be rotated with the rotary device. Longitudinally welded large-diameter pipe sections are manufactured from steel sheet panels. The sheet blank is first bent into a circle, and the open edges of the resulting slotted pipe section are tacked together with a temporary weld, which is later removed during the production process. The tack-welded pipe section is positioned at a welding station, and first the inner weld and then the outer weld are applied to the pipe section. Subsequently, the pipe can be further processed, e.g.,be coated.

[0018] The pipes, in conventional construction, have a wall thickness of 35 mm to 250 mm, preferably 40 mm to 200 mm, and particularly preferably 50 mm to 170 mm. Large-diameter pipes and pipe sections with a diameter of 6 m to 10 m preferably have a wall thickness of 50 mm to 170 mm. A large-diameter pipe section typically has a length of 2 m to 4.2 m. The pipes are welded together from a multitude of pipe sections and have lengths of up to 120 m. In these dimensions, the pipes weigh on average over a thousand tons. With the rotating device according to the invention, it is possible to rotate these pipes safely and without damage, despite their weight and size, without dents or damage to the pipe surface.

[0019] The base body and, if applicable, the support devices are preferably made of steel, particularly preferably of structural steel. The base body and the support devices are particularly preferably made of steel.

[0020] The support device can pivot around two axes: the main pivot axis and the secondary pivot axis, thus adapting to the diameter of the pipe placed on it. Pivoting the rocker elements changes the position of the rollers. When the pipe is placed on the rotating device, it first contacts the roller in the second rocker element, which is oriented towards the center. The weight of the pipe presses this roller downwards, causing the second rocker element to pivot downwards around its secondary pivot axis until the other roller in the second rocker element also contacts the pipe surface. Simultaneously, the weight also presses the first rocker element downwards, causing it to pivot downwards around its main pivot axis towards the center until the outermost roller on the boom also contacts the pipe surface. The extent of the pivot around the pivot axis depends on the pipe diameter and the distance between the support devices.The rocker elements each pivot around the pivot axis as the pivot point, with the pivoting movement taking place through a deflection angle until a stop is reached.

[0021] The rotary device according to the invention adapts to different pipe diameters due to its rocker elements, thus eliminating the need to replace the rotary device and the need to keep multiple rotary devices for different pipe diameters. This allows for flexible use through the variability of the rotary device for different pipe diameters without any conversion effort. Furthermore, in the version with adjustable bases, the rotary device can be adapted to other pipe diameters with just a few conversion steps, even when there are large differences between the pipe diameters.

[0022] The invention further relates to a system comprising at least 2 rotary devices according to one of claims 1 to 7 and a pipe with a pipe diameter of at least 8 m.

[0023] The rotary device according to the invention is explained in more detail in exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a rotary device according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a section of a rotary device according to the invention in perspective view, Fig. 3 shows a section of a rotary device according to the invention in side view and Fig. 4 shows a side view of a rotary device according to the invention with a tube resting on it.

[0024] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a rotary device 1 according to the invention. The rotary device comprises a base body 2 and two support devices 3. Each support device has a base 4. The base 4 is formed from two base elements 4a and 4b, each of which has a triangular longitudinal section, i.e., is designed as a three-sided prism. The base 4 is attached to the top surface 15 of the base body 2. A first rocker element 5 is pivotably mounted on the base 4 via a first axis 7. The first rocker element 5 has two main pivot arms 8 and 11. A boom 9 is arranged on the first main pivot arm 8. In this embodiment, the first main pivot arm 8 and the boom 9 are integrally connected to each other, and the boom 9 represents a continuation of the first main pivot arm. A roller 10 is rotatably mounted on a roller axle 31 at the end of the boom 9. The second main pivot arm 11 is extended towards the center of the rotary device.oriented towards the other support device. At the end of the second main swivel arm 11, a receptacle for a second axis 21 is arranged. A second rocker element 6 is pivotally mounted on the second axis 21. The second rocker element has two swivel arms. At the ends of each swivel arm, a roller 24 is rotatably mounted on a roller axle 30. The base body 12 stands on the ground. For this purpose, it has feet 14 as a contact surface, which rest on the ground.

[0025] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a support device 3 from Figure 1The first rocker element 5 is mounted on the base 4 via the first axis 7. The first main pivot arm 8 extends outwards to the left of the center of the rotating device in the figure. The first pivot arm 8 is extended to form the boom 9. The first rocker element 5 is formed by four parallel, interconnected side supports 12, which encompass both the main pivot arms and the booms. There are two outer side supports, forming the outer sides of the first rocker element, and two inner side supports. The two inner side supports 12 are connected to each other via a stabilizing element 13. The outer roller 10 is arranged between the two inner side supports 12. The first axis 7 passes through all four side supports, as do the second axis 21 and the roller axis 31 of the outer roller 10. The second rocker element 6 is pivotally mounted on the second axis 21.The second rocker element 6 is formed from two parallel, interconnected side supports 25. The side supports 25 are connected to each other centrally between the rollers 24 via a stabilizing element 26. The side supports form the two pivot arms of the second rocker element. The second axle 21 and the roller axles 30 pass through both side supports 25. The two second rocker elements are each arranged on the inside of the support structure towards the center of the rotating device, while the arms of the first rocker element each point towards the outside of the rotating device as load arms. The side supports 25 of the second rocker element are each arranged between an outer and an inner side support 12 of the first rocker device.

[0026] Figure 3Figure 1 shows a side view of a support device 3 according to the invention. The first rocker element 5 is pivoted to the right, so that the boom 9 on the first main pivot arm 8 points upwards. The short main pivot arm 11 is pivoted downwards. The second rocker element 6 is aligned centrally. In this embodiment, the two pivot arms 22 and 23 of the second rocker element are designed to be mirror-symmetrical.

[0027] Figure 4Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a rotary device 1 according to the invention with a tube 100 resting on it. The rotary device 1 has two support devices 3. The support devices 3 have a base 4 which is mounted on a base body 2 (not shown). The support devices 3 are each pivoted towards the tube, i.e., towards the central axis of the base body 2, on the main pivot axis, which runs through the first axis 7. The tube 100 rests exclusively on the six rollers 10 and 24 of the rotary device. The rollers 10 and 24 form the only contact points for the tube 100, so that when a tube 100 is placed on the rotary device, only the rollers bear against the surface of the tube.

[0028] Each roller has a roller axis and a rotation axis passing through the roller axis. The rotation axes of the rollers are parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal axis of a tube mounted on the rotating device. The direction of rotation of the tube is indicated by arrow D.

[0029] The invention is not limited to one of the embodiments described above, but can be modified in many ways. Reference numeral list

[0030] Rotary device 1 basic body 2 Support device 3 base 4 first rocker element 5 second rocker element 6 first axis 7 first main swivel arm 8 boom 9 role 10 second main swivel arm 11 Side carrier 12 stabilizing element 13 base 14 Top side of base body 15 second axis 21 Swivel arm 22 Swivel arm 23 role 24 Side carrier 25 stabilizing element 26 Roller axle 30 Roller axle 31 Pipe 100 Direction of rotation of pipe D

Claims

1. Turning device (1) for turning pipes with a large diameter about their longitudinal axis, comprising - a base body (2), - two supporting devices (3) that are arranged on the base body (2), wherein each supporting device (3) comprises a pedestal (4) and at least one rocker element that is pivotably mounted in a receptacle of the pedestal and - the pedestal (4) is connected to the base body (2), characterized in that - each supporting device (3) comprises a first rocker element (5) and a second rocker element (6), - the first rocker element (5) comprises a first axle (7) and is pivotably mounted on the first axle (7) in the receptacle of the pedestal, wherein a main pivot axis runs through the first axle (7), - the first rocker element (5) comprises two main pivot arms (8, 11) that extend out from the first axle (7) and are arranged at a fixed angle to one another, - a first main pivot arm (8) of the first rocker element comprises a side arm (9) and, at the outer end of the side arm (9), a roller axle (31) is arranged on which a roller (10) is rotatably mounted on the side arm, - a second main pivot arm (11) of the first rocker element comprises at an end a receptacle for a second axle (21), - a second rocker element (6) is pivotably mounted on the second axle (21), wherein a secondary pivot axis runs through the second axle (21), - the second rocker element (6) comprises two pivot arms (22, 23) which extend out from the second axle and are arranged at a fixed angle to one another, - on each pivot arm (22, 23) of the second rocker element, one roller axle (30) each is arranged and a roller (24) is rotatably mounted on the pivot arm on each roller axle (30), - the main pivot axis and the secondary pivot axis run parallel to one another, - each roller (10, 24) has a roller axle (30, 31) and a rotation axis running through the roller axle, and the rotation axes of the rollers (10, 24) run parallel to one another and parallel to the longitudinal axis of a pipe (100) supported on the turning device, and - the rollers (10, 24) form contact points for a pipe (100), so that when a pipe (100) is being positioned on the turning device (1), only the rollers (10, 24) bear against the pipe surface.

2. Turning device (1) according to patent claim 1, characterized in that the pivot arms (22, 23) of the second rocker element (6) are embodied to be in mirror symmetry to one another.

3. Turning device (1) according to patent claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rocker element (5, 6) comprises at least two parallel side members (12, 25) that are connected to one another and the roller (10, 24) is arranged between the side members (12, 25).

4. Turning device (1) according to one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that the pedestal (4) is connected to the base body (2) in a fixed manner.

5. Turning device (1) according to one of patent claims 1 through 3, characterized in that the pedestal (4) is mounted, is preferably adjustably mounted, on the base body using connecting elements and the base body preferably comprises grid-shaped openings, slot shaped openings, or a mounting rail to receive the connecting elements.

6. Turning device (1) according to one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that the supporting devices (3) are positioned on the base body (2) in mirror symmetry in relation to a center axis (C) of the base body, wherein the side arm (9) of the first rocker element (5) is respectively arranged towards the outer side of the base body and the second rocker elements (6) are respectively arranged on the side facing the center axis.

7. Turning device (1) according to one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that the roller axles (30) are arranged at the outermost vertical of the side arm and of the second rocker element and the rollers (10, 24) protrude past the side arm and the second rocker element so that the rollers (10, 24) form the outermost contact point in the direction of the pipe.

8. System comprising at least 2 turning devices according to one of patent claims 1 through 7 and a pipe having a pipe diameter of at least 8 m.