Assembly for Alignment

Abstract

An assembly (1) for aligning a first conduit (2) with a second conduit (3), the first conduit (2) having a first conduit end (5) with a first adjusting ring (8) having a notch (14) extending along an axis (4) and having ring material (15) extending circumferentially (9) around the notch, and the second conduit (3) having a second conduit end (6) with a second adjusting ring (10) having a notch (14) extending along an axis (4) and having ring material (15) extending circumferentially (9) around the notch. A ring of material (15) extends along the circumferential direction (9), the first adjusting ring (8) has a first abutment surface (12) and the second adjusting ring (10) has a second abutment surface (13), the first abutment surface (12) of the first adjusting ring (8) being arranged to face and contact the abutment surface (13) of the second adjusting ring (10), the first abutment surface (12) forming a spherical disc surface and the second abutment surface (13) forming a spherical disc surface that is formed complementarily to the surface of the first abutment surface (12).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly for aligning a first conduit with a second conduit, the first conduit having a first conduit end with a first adjusting ring having a notch extending along an axis and ring material extending circumferentially around the notch, the second conduit having a second conduit end with a second adjusting ring having a notch extending along an axis and ring material extending circumferentially around the notch, the first adjusting ring having a first abutment surface and the second adjusting ring having a second abutment surface, the first abutment surface of the first adjusting ring being arranged to face and contact the second abutment surface of the second adjusting ring.

[0002] The present invention further relates to a method for aligning a first conduit with a second conduit, comprising forming a first adjusting ring at a first conduit end of the first conduit and forming a second adjusting ring at a second conduit end of the second conduit, the first adjusting ring having a first abutment surface and the second adjusting ring having a second abutment surface, the first abutment surface of the first adjusting ring being positioned opposite and in contact with the second abutment surface of the second adjusting ring.

[0003] Pipes are generally fixed to one another by means of flanges. Flanges in the sense of the present invention are also called pipe flanges. If flanges are mentioned in the text, this means exclusively pipe flanges. Flanges are used for the sealed, releasable connection of pipe sections. What is important for the tightness is the contact pressure exerted by the flange screws on the circular sealing surface of the flange, if necessary on a seal arranged in between. These screws run through holes in the flanges or so-called flange plates. The flanges are usually welded to the pipe ends as components of the pipes. The connecting parts can also be provided with flanges.

[0004] During the manufacture of the pipelines and the installation of the connected machines, spatial offsets of the pipelines to be joined often occur, for example due to welding distortions.

[0005] Adjustment of such offsets traditionally requires complex reworking or adjustment operations on-site, usually under adverse conditions, especially without suitable machine tools. Transportation costs, labor costs and time delays are further partially unplanned drawbacks. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The object of the present invention is to simplify these tasks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve this problem, in order to be able to flexibly and simply adjust different types of offset phenomena between the pipes, the invention proposes an assembly of the type defined in the preamble with the complementary features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

[0008] Additionally, a method for aligning the two conduits is also proposed.

[0009] The invention makes it possible to adjust for shape deviations of the seal resulting from manufacturing tolerances with respect to the mutual arrangement of the sealing surfaces without additional machining on site, and the structure is very compact.

[0010] Typically, manufacturing tolerances of process piping lines or pipelines and resulting geometric deviations of seals with respect to the mutual arrangement of sealing surfaces can be adjusted during assembly without additional on-site machining, in which case adjusting seam welds or adjustment rings that are difficult to machine are no longer required.

[0011] A further advantage of the present invention is the force distribution of the sealing elements required for compressor use. The present invention always ensures a defined force connection of the lines to be connected, and thus a defined force introduction into the device (e.g. compressor). The advantage over seam welding is that there is no thermally induced distortion after welding.

[0012] In the present invention, one adjusting ring is placed at the end of the first conduit, whose contact surface is spherically shaped relative to the second adjusting ring of the second conduit. The geometric shape of these abutment surfaces is a spherical layer, and the term spherical disk is also used. A spherical layer, also called a spherical disk, is a part of a sphere cut by two parallel planes. This curved surface part is called a spherical zone.

[0013] This geometry of the abutment surfaces allows for adjustment of the angular offset between the two conduits, i.e., by using multiple adjustment rings, the first conduit can be tilted relative to the second conduit, thereby adjusting the angular offset.

[0014] According to the invention, a third adjusting ring is arranged between the second adjusting ring and the second pipe end of the second pipe, the third adjusting ring having a notch extending along the axis and around which the ring material extends in the circumferential direction, wherein the second adjusting ring and the third adjusting ring are formed so as to be displaceable relative to each other.

[0015] As a result, the spacing between the pipes in the longitudinal direction of the pipes can be adjusted and optimized: the spacing between the first pipe end and the second pipe end can thereby be increased or decreased.

[0016] Advantageous developments are set forth in the dependent claims.

[0017] In a first advantageous development, the first adjustment ring is formed integrally with the first line, so that the first line end can be designed in such a way that the spherical abutment surface is directly attached to the first line.

[0018] In an alternative advantageous embodiment, the first adjustment ring is formed as a separate adjustment ring that can be connected to the first line, such that this adjustment ring formed with a spherical abutment surface can be joined to the first line in a suitable manner, for example by a welding process.

[0019] In a further advantageous development, a first seal is arranged in the circumferential direction between the first and the second adjusting ring.

[0020] In a further advantageous development, the second adjusting ring has a thread and the third adjusting ring also has a thread, the second adjusting ring and the third adjusting ring being connected to one another via this thread.

[0021] A thread is a profiled indentation that runs continuously helically (i.e. as a spiral) in the inner or outer wall of a cylinder. This continuous indentation is called the thread on a bolt or in a nut. It is a modification of an inclined surface that converts a circumferential force into a larger longitudinal force, for example in screw presses, wine presses, and vehicle jacks. An externally threaded component (bolt) and an internally threaded component (nut) always form a mating pair.

[0022] By slightly rotating the first conduit or the first or second adjustment ring relative to the second conduit or the third adjustment ring, the spacing between the first and second conduits can be changed.

[0023] In one advantageous development, the thread of this screw extends 360° in the circumferential direction.

[0024] In a further advantageous development, the thread is of helical design.

[0025] The above-mentioned characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the manner in which they are accomplished, will be more clearly and easily explained by the following description of several embodiments, taken in conjunction with the drawings.

[0026] Components that are the same or have the same function are identified by the same reference signs.

[0027] In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, which do not show the embodiments to scale and, where useful for the purposes of explanation, are represented in schematic and / or slightly distorted form. For supplementary teachings that can be directly identified in the drawings, reference is made to the relevant prior art. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] Schematic of the first and second conduits in optimal alignment [Diagram 2] Schematic diagram of a first conduit having an angular offset relative to a second conduit. [Diagram 3] Schematic diagram of a first conduit having a longitudinal offset relative to a second conduit. [Figure 4] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a first conduit and a second conduit along with a number of adjustment rings. [Diagram 5] Schematic side view of multiple adjustment rings [Figure 6] Schematic plan view of multiple adjustment rings. [Figure 7] Schematic cross-sectional view of multiple adjustment rings. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of multiple adjustment rings having an angular offset; [Figure 9] Schematic side views of individual adjustment rings DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a simple schematic diagram of an assembly 1 having a first pipe 2 and a second pipe 3, which extend along a common axis 4. During operation, a flow medium flows through the first and second pipes 2, 3. In FIG. 1, an ideal position of the first and second pipes 2, 3 is symbolically shown, in which the two pipes 2, 3 are arranged parallel to the axis 4. The two pipes 2, 3 are connected to each other during operation, and preferably flanges are used to connect both pipes to each other.

[0030] The first pipeline 2 has a first pipeline end portion 5 at one end, and the second pipeline 3 has a second pipeline end portion 6 opposite the first pipeline end portion 5 .

[0031] 2 shows the first pipe 2 inclined at an angle a to the second pipe 3. Such an arrangement inevitably occurs, for example, when assembling the pipes 2, 3, since distortions or manufacturing tolerances are often not optimally implemented. The second pipe 3 runs along another axis 7 which is inclined at an angle a to the axis 4.

[0032] 3 symbolically shows the first conduit 2 spaced apart from the second conduit 3 by a distance d along an axis 4. This spacing is inevitable, for example, when assembling the conduits 2, 3, since distortions or manufacturing tolerances are often not optimally implemented. In this case, the second conduit 3 extends along another axis 7, which is arranged parallel to the axis 4.

[0033] In practice, there is generally a combination of the situation according to Fig. 2 and the situation according to Fig. 3. In other words, after assembly, the two pipes have an offset of angle a and distance d. According to the invention, an assembly is proposed, which allows two pipes 2, 3 to be connected to each other even with an offset of angle a and distance d. This is achieved by the assembly symbolically shown in Fig. 4.

[0034] Accordingly, the assembly 1 comprises a first conduit 2 having a first conduit end 5 with a first adjustment ring 8 having a notch (not shown in FIG. 4 ) extending along the axis 4 around which ring material extends in a circumferential direction 9.

[0035] The assembly 1 also includes a second conduit 3 having a second conduit end 6 with a second adjusting ring 10 having a notch (not shown in FIG. 4 ) extending along the axis 4 and around which the ring material extends in a circumferential direction 9.

[0036] The assembly 1 according to FIG. 4 further comprises a third adjustment ring 11, which will be explained in more detail below.

[0037] The offset of the angle a and the distance d between the first pipe 2 and the second pipe 3 can be adjusted by the adjustment rings 8, 10, and 11, which will be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 9.

[0038] 5 shows a side view of three adjusting rings 8, 10, 11. The first adjusting ring 8 has a first abutment surface 12 and the second adjusting ring 10 has a second abutment surface 13, the first abutment surface 12 of the first adjusting ring 8 being arranged to face and contact the second abutment surface 13 of the second adjusting ring 10.

[0039] 6 shows a view from above of the three adjusting rings 8, 10, 11. The adjusting rings 8, 10, 11 have a notch 14 extending along the axis 4, around which the ring material 15 extends in the circumferential direction 9.

[0040] Figures 7 and 8 show cross-sections through the three adjustment rings 8, 10, 11. Figure 7 shows the situation where the first conduit 2 has no angular offset (angle a=0) with respect to the second conduit 3. Figure 8 shows the situation where the first conduit 2 has an angular offset with respect to the second conduit 3 (angle a=approximately 3°).

[0041] The surface geometry of the first abutment face 12 of the first adjusting ring 8 is here a spherical disk. A spherical disk is a part of a sphere. In Fig. 7 the shape of the sphere is indicated by an auxiliary line 16, which represents a part of a sphere with a radius r.

[0042] The second abutment surface 13 has a surface of a spherical disk formed complementary to the surface of the first abutment surface 12. As a result, the first adjusting ring 8 can rotate relative to the second adjusting ring 10 around a radius r, while the two abutment surfaces 12, 13 remain in contact.

[0043] 8 shows the second adjusting ring 10 rotated slightly relative to the first adjusting ring 8. The abutment surfaces 12, 13 are in contact due to this geometry.

[0044] In the first embodiment, the first adjusting ring 8 is formed integrally with the first conduit 2. In an alternative embodiment, the first adjusting ring 8 is formed as a separate adjusting ring 2 that can be connected to the first conduit 2.

[0045] In order to improve the sealing effect between the first adjusting ring 2 and the second adjusting ring 3, a seal is arranged between the first adjusting ring 2 and the second adjusting ring 3 in the circumferential direction.

[0046] A third adjusting ring 11 is arranged for adjusting the offset in the direction of the axis 4. The third adjusting ring 11 is arranged between the second adjusting ring 10 and the second pipe end 6 of the second pipe 3, the third adjusting ring 11 having a recess 14 extending along the axis 4, around which the ring material 15 extends in the circumferential direction 9, the second adjusting ring 10 and the third adjusting ring 11 being formed so as to be displaceable relative to one another. This is achieved by the second adjusting ring 10 having a thread 17, the third adjusting ring 11 having a thread 17, the second adjusting ring 10 and the third adjusting ring 11 being joined to one another via the thread 17. By rotating the second adjusting ring 10 relative to the third adjusting ring 11, the distance between the second adjusting ring 10 and the third adjusting ring 11 is thus changed.

[0047] In the first embodiment, the third adjusting ring 11 is formed integrally with the second conduit 3. In an alternative embodiment, the third adjusting ring 11 is formed as a separate adjusting ring 11 that can be connected to the second conduit 3.

[0048] In one embodiment, the threads of screw 17 extend 360° circumferentially.

[0049] FIG. 8 also shows a variant in which an axial fixing device is integrated, which serves to join the second adjusting ring 10 and the third adjusting ring 11 to one another after alignment. This axial fixing is effected by an overhang 21 on the third adjusting ring 11, which is designed to abut against the second adjusting ring 10, in which case a displacement perpendicular to the axis 4 is prevented. A pin 20 is arranged in this overhang 21, which is formed in such a way that it exerts a continuous force from the overhang 21 onto the second adjusting ring 10. This can be effected, for example, via a screw.

[0050] As can be seen from FIG. 9, the threads are formed in a helical shape.

[0051] When assembling the first conduit 2 with the second conduit 3, the angular and spacing offsets are adjusted by the adjustment rings 8, 10, 11. After this step, the adjustment rings 8, 10, 11 are joined to each other by a material bond, which can be done by welding.

Claims

1. An assembly (1) for aligning a first conduit (2) with a second conduit (3), comprising: the first conduit (2) has a first conduit end (5) with a first adjustment ring (8), the first adjustment ring (8) having a notch (14) extending along the axis (4) and a ring material (15) extending around the notch (14) in a circumferential direction (9); the second conduit (3) has a second conduit end (6) with a second adjustment ring (10), the second adjustment ring (10) having a notch (14) extending along the axis (4) and a ring material (15) extending around the notch (14) in a circumferential direction (9), the first adjustment ring (8) has a first abutment surface (12) and the second adjustment ring (10) has a second abutment surface (13); The first abutment surface (12) of the first adjustment ring (8) is arranged to face and contact the abutment surface (13) of the second adjustment ring (10). In the assembly (1), the first abutment surface (12) forms a surface of a spherical disk; said second abutment surface (13) forms a spherical disk surface complementary to said surface of said first abutment surface (12); a third adjusting ring (11) is disposed between the second adjusting ring (10) and the second pipe end (6) of the second pipe (3), the third adjusting ring (11) having a notch (14) extending along the axis (4) and a ring material (15) extending around the notch (14) in a circumferential direction (9); The second adjustment ring (10) and the third adjustment ring (11) are formed so as to be displaceable relative to each other. Assembly comprising:

2. Assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein said first adjusting ring (8) is integrally formed with said first conduit (2).

3. 2. The assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first adjusting ring (8) is formed as a separate adjusting ring (8) which can be connected to the first line (2).

3. The assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a first seal is arranged between the first adjusting ring (8) and the second adjusting ring (10) along the circumferential direction (9).

4. Assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein said third adjusting ring (11) is integrally formed with said second conduit (3).

5. 2. The assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the third adjusting ring (11) is formed as a separate adjusting ring (11) which can be connected to the second line (3).

6. The second adjustment ring (10) has one screw (17), The third adjustment ring (11) has one screw (17), The second adjustment ring (10) and the third adjustment ring (11) are joined to each other via the screw (17). Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. 7. An assembly (1) according to claim 6, wherein the threads of the screw (17) extend 360° in the circumferential direction.

8. 8. An assembly (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the thread is formed helically.

9. A method for aligning a first conduit (2) with a second conduit (3), comprising: A first adjustment ring (8) of the first conduit (2) is formed at the first conduit end (5), A second adjustment ring (10) of the second conduit (3) is formed at the second conduit end (6); The first adjustment ring (8) has a first abutment surface (12); the second adjustment ring (10) has a second abutment surface (13); The first abutment surface (12) of the first adjustment ring (8) is arranged to face and contact the second abutment surface (13) of the second adjustment ring (10); the first abutment surface (12) forms a surface of a spherical disk; the second abutment surface (13) forms a surface of a spherical disk complementary to the surface of the first abutment surface (12), and the angular offset of the first conduit (2) relative to the second conduit (3) is adjusted by a displacement of the first adjustment ring (8) along the surface of the spherical disk relative to the second adjustment ring (10), the second conduit (3) is formed with a third adjustment ring (11), the second adjustment ring (10) and the third adjustment ring (11) are arranged in contact with each other; The second adjustment ring (10) and the third adjustment ring (11) are formed so as to be displaceable relative to each other. A method for aligning.

10. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein a seal is arranged between the first adjusting ring (8) and the second adjusting ring (10) in the circumferential direction (9).

11. 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein by rotating, the first adjusting ring (8) is connected to the second adjusting ring (10) by a material bond.

12. 12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the third adjusting ring (11) and the second adjusting ring (10) are joined to each other by means of screws (17).

13. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the threads of the screw (17) extend 360° in the circumferential direction.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the thread is helically formed.

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