Solids-conveying pipe assembly with wear measurement

Abstract

The present invention relates to a solids-conveying pipe assembly (1), comprising two pipe components (2, 3) which are coupled together at the end faces, wherein a signal line (8) is incorporated which provides information regarding the state of wear of the pipe components (2, 3), characterized in that a seal (7) is incorporated between the end faces (4, 5) of the pipe components (2, 3), or in that a spacer disk (12) is incorporated between the end faces (4, 5) of the pipe components (2, 3), wherein the signal line (8) is arranged in an at least partially circumferential configuration in the seal (7) or in the spacer disk (12), wherein the signal line (8) is at least partly set back outwardly, in the radial direction (R), behind the inner lateral surface (15) of at least one pipe component (2, 3).

Description

[0001] Solids conveying pipe arrangement with wear measurement

[0002] The present invention relates to a solids conveying pipe arrangement according to the features in the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] During the fluidic conveyance of solids, particularly concrete, the inner surfaces of the pipelines are subject to severe wear due to the abrasive effect of the solids. Wear resistance can be increased by using two-layer pipelines, with one jacket pipe made of weldable steel and a more wear-resistant inner pipe. The ends of such solids conveying components are particularly subject to increased wear. In the transition area, turbulence occurs in the flow adjacent to the jacket surface, resulting in increased abrasive wear. Subsequently, pipe bundles containing wear rings are placed on the solids conveying component.

[0004] However, wear still occurs fundamentally from the inside outwards across the surface of the pipe collar transitions and in the pipe body itself.

[0005] To detect progressive wear until a critical wear condition is reached, various state-of-the-art solutions exist. These sometimes require complex technology and / or only allow for specific conclusions about the wear that has occurred in the pipe. DE 198 21 637 A1, DE 10 2005 051 767 A1, and DE 10 2012 108 617 A1 disclose various options for implementing wear indicators in the pipe body and / or the pipe collar of a solids conveying component. These primarily involve mechanical wear indicators.

[0006] If in doubt, the piping system must always be at least partially dismantled in order to inspect and assess the progressive wear.

[0007] WO 00 / 70326 A1 and AU 2010 100 667 A1 disclose wear measurement in a conveyor pipe using a circumferential wire. In this case, the electrical conductor is cast into an internal plastic tube.

[0008] Furthermore, EP 3421859 B1 discloses a solids conveyor component with a wear indicator in which a signal line is integrated into a two-layer pipe bundle.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to demonstrate a possibility for measuring wear on solids conveying pipes, while simultaneously minimizing the associated structural design and, if necessary, providing a retrofit solution. The aforementioned object is achieved according to the invention with a solids conveying pipe arrangement having the features of claim 1.

[0010] Advantageous design variants are the subject of the dependent claims. The solids conveying arrangement according to the invention comprises two pipe components that are coupled to each other at the end faces. A signal line is integrated or incorporated, which provides information about the state of wear, i.e., the ongoing state of wear on the inner surface of the pipe component.

[0011] According to the invention, the solids conveying pipe arrangement is characterized in that the pipe components indirectly abut one another at their ends in the axial direction, with the signal line being incorporated, wherein the signal line is set back radially outwards behind the inner surface of at least one pipe component, in particular completely behind the inner surface of at least one pipe component. The two end faces of the pipe components adjacent in the axial direction therefore do not abut one another directly, but rather with the seal or spacer disc described below incorporated. A pipe component within the meaning of the invention is a pipe section. However, a pipe component can also be, for example, a pipe bend or a pipe bundle.

[0012] If abrasive wear occurs on the inner surface of the solids conveying pipe arrangement, the signal line, which is offset radially outwards, is reached as the abrasion continues. Various scenarios can occur depending on the design of the signal line. For example, the signal line can emit a signal upon contact with the solids being conveyed, meaning that a wear limit has been reached. The signal line can also be continuously severed, for example during an electrical resistance measurement, and provide a percentage indication of the advanced wear. The signal line can also be designed as an optical signal conductor within the meaning of the invention. A wear signal is thus triggered upon impact with the signal line or when the signal line is severed.

[0013] According to the invention, the integration of the signal line differs from the prior art in that the signal line is not integrated or cast into a pipe component, but rather into a seal or spacer disc arranged between the pipe components, thus forming a carrier disc. This makes it possible to retrofit existing solids conveying pipe assemblies, for example, on a concrete pump or similar, with a wear indicator according to the invention.

[0014] For example, when replacing individual conveyor pipe components, a carrier disc or seal can be incorporated so that a wear indicator can be subsequently installed in an existing solids conveyor pipe arrangement.

[0015] The carrier disc, for example, is a spacer disc. This can be made of a plastic material. The carrier disc can also be a disc-like seal made of a rubber-like or elastomeric sealing material. For example, NBR or EPDM can be used here.

[0016] The individual pipe components are preferably surrounded by an externally circumferential seal, wherein the seal extends at least partially in the axial direction and engages over the individual pipe components. To connect two pipe components on the outside, a clamp is then preferably attached which engages around the seal and also the seal. The seal can have a web that projects inwards in the radial direction. The web is then the spacer disk or carrier disk. The web is either formed in one piece and made of the same material as the seal itself. However, the web can also be formed as a separate spacer disk. This makes it possible to freely select the position, particularly with regard to the radial direction of the seal or in the spacer disk. The signal line is then cast into or integrated into the seal or spacer disk.This makes it possible, particularly when retrofitting is possible, to determine the radial positioning of the signal line relatively easily during the manufacture of the seal or spacer disk. This avoids the need for structural measures in the pipe component itself. Furthermore, it is possible to freely select and define the position of the signal line for different applications, i.e. the conveyance of different solids, so that, for example, different pipe components can be subjected to different levels of wear until a critical level of wear is reached. In an alternative design variant, it is also possible for the pipe components to have a flange on their end. The flange projects radially outwards. The pipe components are then screwed together using the flanges, particularly in the axial direction. A seal or spacer disk can then also be installed here.A spacer disc can be used, whereby the signal line is again integrated into the seal.

[0017] Preferably, the signal line itself is made of an electrically conductive material, in particular a wire, for example, made of copper or another metallic electrically conductive alloy. The signal line itself can be further encased in an electrically insulated sheath. Preferably, the signal line is also directly integrated into the seal or spacer disc, which are made of a non-electrically conductive material, i.e., an electrically insulating material. Complex insulation measures can thus also be eliminated.

[0018] Especially in explosion-proof conveyor systems, for example, those using pneumatics or similar, the signal line is preferably an optical cable. No electrical energy is applied via the optical cable, thus enabling explosion-free wear measurement.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, several signal lines, in particular two, three, four, five, or six signal lines, are integrated between the pipe components at radial spacings. If the respective inner signal line is destroyed by abrasive wear, the signal line closest in the radial direction forms a further monitoring stage. All signal lines emit a signal when a critical wear condition is reached. This allows the progressive wear of the pipe components to be precisely monitored.

[0020] In a further preferred embodiment, more than three pipe components are coupled to one another. The coupling refers to a series coupling. Thus, at least two coupling points are present, with a signal line being arranged according to the invention at each coupling point. This allows various wear states in the axial direction of the solids conveying pipe arrangement to be detected. In particular, individual pipe components that have reached a wear state can thus be detected locally. In case of doubt, it is therefore not necessary to replace the entire solids conveying pipe string on a concrete pump, but only individual pipe components. The pipe components themselves can be pipes, but also angles or fittings, for example pipe bends.

[0021] Particularly preferably, multi-layer pipes, in particular two-layer pipes, can also be coupled to the signal line according to the invention.

[0022] At least one, preferably two cable ends then protrude radially outwards. Here it is possible to provide the signal line with a connecting cable, for example a wired connecting cable. It would also be possible to set up two contact points for an external measuring device, which could, for example, temporarily apply a current to the contact points and thus carry out a temporary, discontinuous wear measurement. With a cable connection, for example, continuous wear measurement can also be carried out, for example in a control center system for production monitoring or on a mobile concrete pump for continuous monitoring during operation. However, a unit can also be provided that transmits signals wirelessly to a machine control system or similar. The signal could, for example, be a GSM signal, a WLAN signal, a Bluetooth signal, or similar.It is also possible to provide a unit that emits an acoustic and / or optical signal when the wear condition is reached.

[0023] It is also possible to use an NFC tag so that the wear level reached can be read using an NFC reader, such as a mobile phone, via the NFC tag.

[0024] Further advantages, features, properties and aspects of the present invention are the subject of the following description.

[0025] Preferred design variants are shown in schematic figures.

[0026] These show: Figure 1 a cross-sectional view through a solids conveying pipe arrangement according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

[0027] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view according to a second embodiment with a spacer disc,

[0028] Figure 3 shows a third variant with pipe bundles,

[0029] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the radially encircling signal line, at least in sections, and

[0030] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing two radially encircling signal lines, at least in sections.

[0031] In the figures, the same reference symbols are used for identical or similar components, even if a repeated description is omitted for reasons of simplification.

[0032] Figure 1 shows a solids conveying pipe arrangement according to the invention, in which two pipe components 2, 3 are coupled to one another. The pipe components 2, 3 themselves are designed in two layers with an inner layer 2.1, 3.1 and an outer layer 2.2, 3.2. The end faces 4 of the pipe components 2, 3 do not lie directly against one another. A web 6 projecting inwards in the radial direction is incorporated here. The web 6 is formed in one piece and from the same material with an externally arranged seal 7. Integrated into the web 6 is a signal line 8 which, as shown in Figure 4, is designed to extend radially in sections. The seal 7 engages over the ends 9 of the pipe components 2, 3 on the outside in the axial direction. In turn, the seal 7 and the ends 9 are encompassed by a pipe clamp 10 on the outside, which connects the pipe components 2, 3 to one another in the axial direction.By replacing the seal 7, an existing solids conveying pipe assembly 1 can be retrofitted with the signal line 8 according to the invention. A connecting line 11 of the signal line 8 then protrudes radially outward and can lead to an evaluation unit (not shown in detail), for example, wirelessly or wired. The evaluation unit can also be integrated directly into the pipe clamp 10 and then output a signal about the wear status via wireless transmission or an NFC tag.

[0033] Figure 2 shows an alternative design variant of the solids conveying pipe arrangement 1 according to the invention. Here, the web 6 is not formed integrally and from the same material as the seal 7 itself. The web 6 is designed as a spacer disk 12. The signal line 8 is cast into the spacer disk 12 itself and is designed to extend at least radially around it. To ensure that the spacer disk 12 is correctly positioned, it has an undercut 13 in which it engages at least partially over the pipe component 2, 3 shown on the right of the image plane, radially on the outside and in the axial direction. The spacer disk 12 is thus correctly positioned, which in turn enables correct positioning of the signal line 8 in the radial direction.

[0034] Figure 3 shows an alternative design variant. Here, the ends 9 of the pipe components 2, 3 are each formed with a flange 14. Threaded bolts (not shown in detail) pass through the flanges 14, so that the pipe components 2, 3 are moved toward each other in the axial direction. A sealing disc in the form of a seal 7 is integrated between the pipe components 2, 3. The signal line 8 is, in turn, integrated circumferentially in sections within the seal 7 itself.

[0035] Figure 4 shows a longitudinal sectional view. It depicts the signal line 8, which extends radially, at least in sections. It is cast into a position within the web 6 of the seal 7 or the spacer disc 12, relative to the radial direction. Relative to an inner surface 15 of the pipe component 2, 3, the signal line 8 is offset outwardly relative to the image plane. Thus, the inner surface 15 of the pipe component 2, 3 wears first, followed by a portion of the spacer disc 12 or the web 6, until the abrasive wear reaches the signal line 8. At this point, at the latest, a critical wear condition is reached, and a signal is output.

[0036] Figure 5 shows a longitudinal section of an alternative embodiment of the

[0037] Invention. Here, two signal lines 8 are shown, each encircling the pipe components 2, 3 in sections. The inner signal line 8 is arranged analogously to Figure 4. The outer signal line 8 is radially spaced from the inner signal line 8 and is inserted between the pipe components 2, 3. If the inner signal line 8 is destroyed by abrasive wear, the outer signal line 8 forms a further control stage. The outer signal line 8 also emits a signal when a critical wear condition is reached. This allows the progressive wear of the pipe components 2, 3 to be precisely monitored.

[0038] Reference symbol:

[0039] 1 - Solids conveying pipe arrangement

[0040] 2 - Pipe component

[0041] 3 - Pipe component

[0042] 2.1 - outer layer to 2

[0043] 2.2 - inner layer to 2

[0044] 3.1 - outer layer to 3

[0045] 3.2 - inner layer to 3

[0046] 4 - Front side to 2

[0047] 5 - Front side to 3

[0048] 6 - Bridge

[0049] 7 - Seal

[0050] 8 - Signal line

[0051] 9 - End to 2 or 3

[0052] 10 - Pipe clamp

[0053] 11 - Connection cable to 8

[0054] 12 - Spacer disc

[0055] 13 - Undercut

[0056] 14 - Flange

[0057] 15 - Inner surface to 2 or 3

[0058] A - Axial direction

[0059] R - radial direction

Claims

A solids conveying pipe arrangement (1) comprising two pipe components (2, 3) which are coupled to one another at their ends, wherein a signal line (8) is incorporated which provides information about the state of wear of the pipe components (2, 3), characterized in that a seal (7) is incorporated between the ends (4, 5) of the pipe components (2, 3) or that a spacer disc (12) is incorporated between the ends (4, 5) of the pipe components (2, 3), wherein a signal line (8) is arranged at least partially circumferentially in the seal (7) or the spacer disc (12), wherein the signal line (8) is at least partially set back outwards behind the inner circumferential surface (15) of at least one pipe component (2, 3) in the radial direction (R). A solids conveying pipe arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal (8) is cast into the spacer disc (12) or the seal (7).Solids conveying pipe arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pipe components (2, 3) are at least partially overlapped on their outer circumferential surfaces by a seal (7) in the axial direction (A). Solids conveying pipe arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal (7) has a web (6) projecting inwardly in the radial direction (R), wherein the web (6) is arranged between the end faces (4, 5) of the pipe components (2, 3). Solids conveying pipe arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pipe components (2, 3) have a flange (14) at their ends, wherein the pipe components (2, 3) are coupled to one another by incorporating a flat seal with the flanges (14). Solids conveying pipe arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pipe components (2, 3) are formed in two layers. Solids conveying pipe arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal line (8) is an electrically conductive body, wherein the body is preferably enclosed on all sides by the seal (7) or the material of the spacer disk (12). Solids conveying pipe arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal line (8) is an optical conductor. Solids conveying pipe arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that more than three pipe components (2, 3) are coupled to one another, wherein a signal line (8) is arranged at each of the at least two coupling points.Solids conveying pipe arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two signal lines (8) are incorporated between the pipe components (2, 3) at a distance from one another in the radial direction.

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