Pipe Coating Carriage on Guiding Ring for Faster Weld Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coating apparatuses for oil and gas pipelines are cumbersome, require heavy equipment, and inefficient, as they need a dedicated lifting system and solvent flushing before each coating, limiting the number of welds that can be coated in a day and increasing operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, motorized carriage mounted on a guiding ring that travels around the pipe, equipped with a delivery head and supply reservoir, allowing for efficient application of coating material without the need for solvent flushing between welds, and enabling multiple welds to be coated quickly with reduced personnel and equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heavy support frame and rotary frame are used for coating, then the coating can be applied to the pipe, but the apparatus becomes difficult to mount and requires a dedicated lifting system
Solution Approach 1:
The coating apparatus is divided into separate functional modules: a lightweight carriage that moves along the pipe, a removable guiding ring for positioning, and a delivery head for coating application. This segmentation eliminates the need for a heavy support frame and complex lifting system, as each component is independently manageable and can be easily installed and removed.
2Reliability
If prior art coating apparatuses are used, then coating can be applied, but the number of welds that can be coated in a day is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage continuously moves along the pipe length, applying coating without interruption. The system maintains continuous operation by keeping the delivery head positioned against the pipe surface throughout the entire coating process, eliminating the need to stop and reposition heavy equipment between welds, thereby significantly increasing the number of welds coated per day.
3Manufacturing precision
If solvent flushing is performed before each coating, then coating quality is maintained, but the quantity of solvent needed increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful step of solvent flushing is extracted and eliminated from the coating process. The system achieves coating quality without requiring solvent flushing between welds or between different coating operations, thereby reducing solvent consumption and operational interruptions while maintaining coating standards.
4Reliability
If a heavy apparatus is used for coating, then coating can be applied, but the number of personnel and equipment required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static, heavy support frame to a dynamic, lightweight carriage that moves along the pipe. This dynamic design allows the coating apparatus to be easily positioned and repositioned by a small number of personnel without requiring heavy lifting equipment, while still delivering reliable coating application.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly increases the number of welds that can be coated daily, reduces operational costs, and minimizes the need for solvent flushing, allowing for efficient 360° coating of pipeline welds with reduced equipment and personnel requirements.
Implementation Method 1
the drive means comprises a motor
Implementation Method 2
at least one delivery head mounted on the carriage for applying a coating to an article
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for coating pipes includes a spraying device rotatable around a pipe. The coating apparatus includes a guiding ring mounted around the pipe and a carriage to be mounted on the guiding ring, the carriage being motor driven, the motor being enclosed into the carriage and the carriage including an adjustable device to be detachably mounted on the guiding ring.