Rotating Cutting Head for Pipe End Wire Embedding

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for welding plastic pipes require multiple weld seams, which can lead to leaks and are inefficient for processing longer pipes with non-rotational symmetry, as they necessitate rotating the workpiece and may result in uncontrolled cutting head movement during reverse direction changes.

Innovation Solution

A processing device with a 360° rotatable cutting head and drive motor allows for precise alignment and movement along the pipe end, enabling secure embedding of a welding wire without workpiece rotation, accommodating various diameters and geometries, and ensuring continuous tracking during machining.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sockets are used to connect pipe ends, then welding can be performed, but multiple weld seams are required which increase the risk of leaks and reduce reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetightness of pipe connectionVSAvoidnumber of weld seams
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the welding wire from the traditional socket welding process and directly embeds it into the pipe end itself. The wire is plowed into the pipe end wall and enclosed by plastic material, eliminating the need for separate sockets and multiple weld seams while maintaining connection integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The welding wire is nested within the pipe end structure by plowing it into the wall and enclosing it with plowed plastic material. This creates an integrated connection where the wire is embedded inside the pipe end rather than requiring external sockets

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the workpiece is rotated during processing, then grooves can be machined in sleeves, but longer pipes with non-rotational symmetry cannot be processed efficiently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capability for different pipe typesVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of rotating the pipe end during processing, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the pipe end stationary and rotating the cutting head. This allows efficient processing of longer pipes with non-rotational symmetry while maintaining the ability to machine grooves accurately

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting head is designed with rotational capability and adjustable positioning, allowing it to dynamically adapt to different pipe diameters and geometries. The cutting head can rotate 360° and be positioned at various angles to process different sections of the pipe end without requiring the pipe itself to rotate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If the cutting head reverses direction during machining, then coverage can be improved, but uncontrolled movement may occur causing alignment errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment accuracy of welding wireVSAvoidmachining coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting head incorporates sensors and control systems that provide feedback during machining operations. This allows the system to detect the pipe end geometry, maintain precise alignment, and control the cutting head's movement and reversal accurately, preventing uncontrolled movement while ensuring complete coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces purely mechanical cutting head positioning with a controlled system that uses sensors, actuators, and control algorithms. This substitution allows for precise control during direction reversals, maintaining alignment accuracy while improving machining coverage through automated positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3243642B1Processing device for pipe ends
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 STANG GMBH
  • EP3243642B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3243642B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3243642B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a processing device (1) for a pipe end (5), in particular for plowing in a welding wire (11), comprising a cutting head (3) which is movable in a Cartesian coordinate system via a control unit (31). In order to enable efficient, fully automatic processing of the pipe ends, the cutting head is provided with a wire plowing cutter (8) which is movable along the inner or outer wall of a stationary pipe end, wherein the wire plowing cutter penetrates radially into the plastic material of the pipe end to an adjustable depth in a single operation, plows the plastic material, presses in a supplied welding wire, and closes the groove with the plowed plastic material again via a pressure element, wherein the cutting head is mounted on a cutting head holder (9) rotatable through 360°, which provides a radial orientation perpendicular to the inner or outer wall.This ensures that the welding wire is securely anchored to the inside or outside of the pipe end.