US4514443A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coating internal surfaces of curved conduits
Assignee: AI ENGINEERING Corp Ltd
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Filing: 1982-12-30
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Granted: 1985-04-30
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Expires: 2002-12-30
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for coating an internal wall of a curved conduit (50) with a layer of protective material, characterized in that it comprises a guide means (46, 46a), a longitudinally flexible member (44) which is transversely substantially rigid associated with the guide means, means for mounting a coating means (62) adjacent a first end of the flexible member for incremental rotation with the flexible member, a drive means (28) for driving the flexible member relative to a curved conduit (50) to be coated, so that the coating means can enter the curved conduit in use and so that the coating means can deposit a strip of protective material longitudinally of the conduit, and means (32, 34, 36) acting on the flexible member for automatically stepping the flexible member and consequently the coating means by a rotational increment after the coating means has completed a traverse of the conduit and for automatically reversing the drive means so that the apparatus deposits a strip of protective material adjacent the first laid strip.
Inventors
- 👤 Gene Kostecki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:27
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/04; B23K9/044; B23K9/046; B05; B05C; B05C7/00; B05C7/06; B05C7/08; C; C23; C23C; C23C4/00; C23C4/12; C23C4/14; C23C4/16; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S118/00; Y10S118/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of coating an internal wall of a curved conduit which comprises the steps of inserting a guide means in the conduit which guide means extends substantially axially of the conduit, said guide means having a longitudinally flexible member in association with it so as to cause the flexible member to be longitudinally guided by the guide means, connecting a coating member to one end of said flexible member, providing drive means for moving said flexible member and then said coating means relative to and longitudinally of said conduit, causing the coating means to deposit a layer of protective material in a strip extending longitudinally of said conduit and then rotationally incrementally stepping the flexible member and the coating means to an adjacent position and reversing the drive means so as to cause the coating means to deposit a further strip of protective material adjacent the first coated strip.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of coating an internal wall of a curved conduit which comprises the steps of inserting a guide means in the conduit which guide means extends substantially axially of the conduit, said guide means having a longitudinally flexible member in association with it so as to cause the flexible member to be longitudinally guided by the guide means, connecting a coating member to one end of said flexible member, providing drive means for moving said flexible member and then said coating means relative to and longitudinally of said conduit, causing the coating means to deposit a layer of protective material in a strip extending longitudinally of said conduit and then rotationally incrementally stepping the flexible member and the coating means to an adjacent position and reversing the drive means so as to cause the coating means to deposit a further strip of protective material adjacent the first coated strip.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for use with a coating means to coat an internal wall of a curved conduit with a layer of protective material, comprising: means including a longitudinally flexible member which is transversely substantially rigid and guide means for said flexible member; means for mounting the coating means adjacent a first end of the flexible member, for incremental rotation with the flexible member; a drive means for driving the flexible member relative to the curved conduit to be coated, so that the coating means can enter the curved conduit and so that the coating means can deposit a strip of protective material longitudinally of the curved conduit; and stepping means coupled to the flexible member for automatically stepping the flexible member and the coating means by a rotational increment after the coating means has completed a traverse of the conduit.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for use with a coating means to coat an internal wall of a curved conduit with a layer of protective material, comprising: means including a longitudinally flexible member which is transversely substantially rigid and guide means for said flexible member; means for mounting the coating means adjacent a first end of the flexible member, for incremental rotation with the flexible member; a drive means for driving the flexible member relative to the curved conduit to be coated, so that the coating means can enter the curved conduit and so that the coating means can deposit a strip of protective material longitudinally of the curved conduit; and stepping means coupled to the flexible member for automatically stepping the flexible member and the coating means by a rotational increment after the coating means has completed a traverse of the conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 further including means for automatically reversing the drive means so that the apparatus deposits a strip of protective material adjacent each prior protective strip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the flexible member comprises a tube longitudinally about the guide means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said flexible member comprises a cable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said guide means includes a curved portion arranged in use to be located axially of a corresponding curve in the conduit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said drive means comprises: a pinion, a rack arranged to engage drivingly with the pinion, the said driving engagement causing the flexible member to move relative to the guide means to cause the coating means to enter the conduit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said drive means further comprises a wheel affixed to the drive means and a rail running parallel to said guide means wherein the wheel is in engagement with the rail.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 further including switches adjacent each end of the rack for limiting the degree of traverse of the flexible member on each pass and for causing appropriate signals to be sent to the stepping means and the drive means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 further including a crown wheel coupled to said pinion whereby to drivingly engage the pinion and crown rotatably mounted on the guide shaft and fixedly attached to the flexible tube such that when the stepping motor steps through a rotational increment the stepping movement is imported to the coating means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 further including a rigid welding arm and wherein the flexible member is mounted inside the rigid guide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the flexible member is connected at one end to the stepping means to rotate incrementally the flexible cable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the rigid welding guide is arcuate in shape.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 12 further including a driving shaft and a radial arm and wherein guide means is connected to the drive means by means of the radial arm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising an arcuate pivotally mounted cradle arranged to have mounted thereon a curved conduit to be internally coated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising at least two saddles arranged to support a curved conduit, said saddles being laterally adjustable.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a guide arm and a guide rail following substantially the arcuate shape of the cradle which guide rail is attached to the guide arm arranged to pivot in conjunction with the radial arm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said guide rail includes ends laterally adjustable relative to the cradle to allow for differing shapes in conduits to be coated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the switches are contacted upon displacement by the driving means whereby when the coating means reaches the end of a transverse, said switches send signals for causing the stepping means to rotate the flexible cable by a rotational increment and for reversing the drive means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said coating means comprises a welding head.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-04-29 | 1988-10-29 | 1989-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-04-29 | 1992-10-29 | 1993-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-04-29 | 1996-10-29 | 1997-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |