Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02488958 2004-12-03
1 PIPELINE ROTATION SYSTEM
2
3
4 FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
6 [0001] The present invention relates to apparatus and method for rotating
lengths of pipe in a
7 pipeline.
8
9 BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] It is well known to use a pipeline for transporting fluid. Pipelines
are used for
11 transporting fluids such as oil, natural gas, water, chemicals etc. along
not only immense
12 distances, but also relatively short distances. A complex array of pipes
are used to interconnect
13 different components of a processing plant. These pipes are often arrayed
in racks, one above
14 another, for an orderly and secure arrangement.
[0003] The racks used to support the pipes typically have a series of columns,
each with
16 horizontal of "I" beam supports placed at various heights. The pipes may be
supported on a roller
17 that permits axial movement of the pipes in response to extreme change in
weather. It is quite
18 common for the pipes to be tightly spaced and for them to be elevated above
the ground. This
19 offers difficult access to the pipeline for the purposes of maintenance,
installation on the
supporting beams, etc.
21 [0004] Some fluids transported through a pipeline are abrasive, and
repeated flow through
22 the piping causes wear along its bottom inner surface. A notable example
occurs in transporting
23 crude oil embedded with mineral matter commonly referred to as "oil sands".
The wear effected
24 to the pipe's interior typically affects only the portion of the pipe in
contact with the fluid and as
such the pipe will experience a non-uniform pattern of wear. The lengths of
pipe used are
26 generally quite expensive, therefore to prolong the life of the pipeline,
the individual lengths of
27 pipe are known to be rotated periodically in order to distribute the
internal wear evenly about the
28 inner surface of the pipe.
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1 [0005] Other fluid types which may not have abrasive qualities may also
require periodic
2 rotation. For instance, certain chemicals, and even water can affect the
pipe's material after
3 prolonged exposure to the fluid travelling therethrough. In any case,
whenever periodic rotation
4 of a pipeline is desired, the task involves time consuming and sometimes
dangerous effort to
rotate the individual lengths of pipe from which the pipeline is assembled.
This is typically
6 accomplished manually in a hostile and hazardous environment.
7 [0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to obviate or
mitigate the above
8 mentioned disadvantages.
9
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
11 [0007] In one aspect, the present invention provides a device for rotating
a cylindrical
12 member. The device has a base with a support member for normally supporting
the cylindrical
13 member and a frame mounted on the base. The frame is adapted to move
vertically relative to
14 the base using a lifting mechanism. A pair of rollers are supported upon
the frame and are
oriented along an axial direction of the cylindrical member. A cranking
mechanism pivotally
16 connected to the rollers and being adapted to rotate the rollers in unison
in one direction is used.
17 The cranking mechanism is moveable from a retracted position to a an
extended position wherein
18 this movement rotates the rollers. A brake is attached to at least one of
the rollers for inhibiting
19 back rotation of the cylindrical member during retraction of the cranking
mechanism. The lifting
mechanism vertically hoists the frame thereby lifting the cylindrical member
above the support
21 using the rollers to enable the cranking mechanism to rotate the rollers
during movement from its
22 retracted position to its extended position.
23
24 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example
only with
26 reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
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1 [0009] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of pipeline.
2 [0010] Figure 2 is sectional view along the line II-II of Figure 1.
3 [0011] Figure 3 is a top view of the pipe rotation device of Figure 2.
4 [0012] Figure 4 is a side view of the pipe rotation device of Figure 3.
[0013] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the pipe rotation device
shown in Figure
6 2.
7 [0014] Figure 6 is a schematic of a hydraulic control system for the pipe
rotation device.
8 [0015] Figure 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the pipe rotation
device.
9 [0016] Figure 8 is a flow chart showing the steps taken by the hydraulic
system for operating
the pipe rotation device.
11
12 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
13 [0017] Referring therefore to Figure 1, a portion of a rack 11 for
supporting a network of
14 pipes is shown. The rack 11 has a series of columns 13 supporting
protruding "I" beams 14.
1 S Each row of "I" beams 14 secured at a corresponding height will support an
individual length of
16 a portion of the pipeline network. A pipe rotation device 12 is fixed to
respective ones of the "I"
17 beams 14, and a portion of a pipeline 10 is supported upon the pipe
rotation devices 12. Each of
18 the pipe rotation devices 12 is connected to a hydraulic system 16. The
hydraulic system 16 in
19 Figure 1 is shown schematically only to illustrate its connectivity with
the pipe rotation devices
12. It will be appreciated that any number of pipe rotation devices 12 may be
situated along the
21 pipeline 10 and that preferably one will be used for each supporting "I"
beam 14 which are
22 spaced apart according to established engineering principles.
23 [0018] The pipe rotation device 12 generally depicted in Figure 1 is shown
in greater detail
24 in Figures 2-4. The pipe rotation device 12 has a base 24 secured to its
respective "I" beam 14.
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1 A central support 27 is located on the base 24 and includes side plates
27a,b and cross plates
2 27c,d connected in a rectangular arrangement. An axial roller 26 is
rotatably supported between
3 the side plates 27a,b by a shaft 25 extending therethrough and secured to
the side plates 27a,b.
4 The central support 27 surrounds the roller 26 while permitting rotation
thereof. The side plates
27a,b and cross plates 27c,d have a height that is less than that which the
upper surface of the
6 axial roller 26 is above the base 24.
7 [0019] A frame 22 is supported on the base 24. The frame 22 includes side
plates 22a,b and
8 cross plates 22c,d connected in a rectangular arrangement. The frame 22 also
includes a set of
9 lift shoes 28a-d secured at respective ends of the cross plates 22c,d.
Corresponding lift cylinders
30a-d are secured between the lift shoes 28a-d and the base 24 and include
pistons secured to the
11 underside of the lift shoes 28a-d and cylinders secured to the base 24. The
lift cylinders 30a-d
12 are connected to the hydraulic system 16 by a common lift line 42.
13 [0020] A pair of rollers 18, 20 are rotatably supported on the frame 22 by
a set of bearings
14 21. The bearings 21 are attached to the frame 22 at respective ends of the
cross plates 22c,d
above corresponding lift shoes 28a-d. The rollers 18, 20 are fixed to
respective shafts 17, 19 that
16 extend through the bearings 21 beyond the cross plates 22c,d and are
oriented to provide an axis
17 of rotation normal to that defined by shaft 25.
18 [0021] As best seen in the top view of Figure 3, a pair of ratchet drives
32, 34 are fixed to the
19 shafts 17, 19. The ratchet drives 32, 34 each have an overrun gear 54
secured to the respective
shaft 17, 19 and an arm 50 extending radially and substantially parallel to
each other. An
21 enlarged view of the ratchet drives 32, 34 is shown in Figure 5. The
overrun gear 54 includes a
22 hub 55 formed with a set of teeth 57. The teeth 57 are contoured to permit
a pin 56 to slide
23 thereover upon clockwise rotation of the arm 50. The pin 56 is slidably
mounted in a slot 60 in
24 the arm 50 and biased towards the overrun gear 54 by a spring 58.
Accordingly, the pin 56
engages the radial face of the teeth 57 to rotate the gear 54 with the arm in
one direction but
26 allows the pin 56 to ride over the teeth 57 upon relative movement in an
opposite direction.
27 [0022] A drive bar 36 formed by a pair of spaced plates is pivotally
connected to each of the
28 arms at pivot points 64 and includes a drive connection 37 vertically
offset from the pivot points
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1 64. An extendible hydraulic motor 38 is pivotally connected at its piston
end to the drive
2 connection 37 and its cylinder end is pivotally connected to a support 40
which is secured to the
3 underside of the base 24. The drive motor 38 is connected to the hydraulic
system 16 by a push
4 line 44 and a pull line 46.
(0023] A braking ratchet 35 is secured at the end of the shaft 17 opposite
that of the ratchet
6 32. The braking ratchet 35 is similar to the ratchet drives 32, 34 but
operates in a manner
7 opposite that of the ratchet drives 32, 34 such that the braking ratchet 3 S
prevents rotation while
8 the ratchet drives 32, 34 overrun and vice versa.
9 [0024] Although not explicitly shown in the figures, the frame 22 is adapted
to permit
vertical movement relative to the base 24 to engage the rollers 18, 20 with
the pipeline 10 to lift
11 the pipeline 10 off the axial roller 26. Under normal operation of the
pipeline 10, the pipeline 10
12 is supported by the axial roller 26 to permit axial movement of the
pipeline 10 due to changing
13 temperatures. Figure 2 illustrates the result of such relative movement of
the frame 22, wherein
14 the pipeline 10 is supported by the pipe rotation device 12 above the axial
roller 26.
[0025] The device 12 is operated by hydraulic fluid supported by the hydraulic
system 16
16 shown in Figure 6. To enable synchronized operation of each pipe rotation
device 12 supporting
17 a portion the pipe 10, a central hydraulic system 16 is used with the
devices connected in
18 parallel. Figure 6 shows an arbitrary "N" number of pipe rotation devices
12 to illustrate that
19 any suitable number may be controlled by the hydraulic system 16. A single
lift line 42 is
connected to all of the lift cylinders 30a-d, a single push line 44 is
connected to all drive motors
21 38 and similarly, a single pull line 46 is connected to all drive motors
38.
22 [0026] Fluid is stored in a tank 68 which includes a set of heaters for
preheating the fluid and
23 a circulation pump (both not shown), and a working pump 70 supplies fluid
to a pair of valves
24 80, 82. The valve 80 controls extension and retraction of the lift
cylinders 30a-d and has a
neutral position in which flow is locked in the line 42, a lift position in
which the pump 70 is
26 connected to the line 42 and a lower position to connect the line 42 to the
tank and PTO. The
27 valve 82 controls extension and retraction of the hydraulic motor 38 and
has a drive position in
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1 which the pump 70 is connected to the push line 44 and a retract position in
which the pump 70
2 is connected to the pull line 46.
3 [0027) The pipe rotation device 12 preferably uses an iterative process 700
for rotating the
4 pipe 10. Figure 7 shows a step-by-step example of how the pipe rotation
device 12 may operate.
The following steps describe the relative movement and operation of the pipe
rotation device 12
6 components only. A detailed description of the hydraulic control will be
presented separately.
7 [0028] In normal operation, the frame 22 is fully lowered with the lift
cylinders 30a-d fully
8 collapsed. In this position, the pipeline 10 is supported on the roller 26
to permit normal
9 expansion and contraction.
[0029] To enable the pipeline 10 to be rotated, it will be drained of fluid
and disconnected
11 702. Each axial run of pipe is disconnected from its preceding and
succeeding counterparts by
12 disengaging the respective end flanges. Each portion of the pipeline 10 is
therefore supported
13 upon the axial rollers 26 of each supporting pipe rotation device 12 and is
free to experience
14 radial and axial movement when disconnected.
1 S [0030] For rotation to begin, the pipeline 10 is lifted off the axial
rollers 26 (step 704). At
16 each pipe rotation device 12, the lift cylinders 30a-d extend in unison
thereby pushing their
17 respective lift shoes 28a-d and consequently the frame 22 in an upward
direction until the rollers
18 18, 20 contact the pipeline 10. The lift cylinders 30a-d proceed by
overcoming the weight of the
19 pipeline 30 and raising the pipeline 30 off the axial roller 26 thereby
supporting the pipeline 30
above the axial roller 26. The lift cylinders 30a-d continue to raise the
pipeline 30 until all of the
21 lift cylinders 30a-d of all the pipe rotation devices 12 are fully extended
706. At this point the
22 frame 22 is held in its upper position as shown in Figure 2.
23 [0031] To rotate the pipeline 10, each of the extendible drive motors 38 is
then extended 708.
24 As the drive motor 38 extends, the drive bar 36 will translate horizontally
and rotate the ratchet
bodies 50 about their respective shafts 17, 19. The ratchet drives 32, 34
rotate the rollers 18, 20
26 in unison which consequently rotates the pipeline 10.
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1 [0032] When the ratchets 32, 34 rotate counter-clockwise, the spring 58
biases the pin 56 to
2 engage one of the teeth 57 of the overrun gear 54 permitting the ratchets
32, 34 to rotate the
3 rollers 18, 20. While the ratchets 32, 34 are cranking the rollers 18, 20,
the braking ratchet 35 is
4 operating opposite that of the ratchets 32, 34 and therefore its pin 56 is
sliding over the teeth 57
of the overrun gear 54. The braking ratchet 35 overruns to permit rotation of
the pipeline 10
6 while the drive motor 38 is extending.
7 [0033] When the desired cylinder extension is complete, which in this
example will be a
8 complete extension, the hydraulic control will cause the drive motor 38 to
retract 712. As the
9 drive motor 38 retracts, the drive bar 36 is translated back towards its
initial position before
rotation commenced, which rotates the arms 50 through the same path in which
they travelled
11 during extension of the drive motor 38 with the pin 56 overrunning the
teeth 57. The pin 56 of
12 the braking ratchet 35 will engage a tooth 57 of the overrun gear 54 and
oppose the rotation of
13 the rollers 18, 20 which may otherwise rotate back to their original
positions simultaneously
14 with the ratchets 32, 34. The rollers 18, 20 are therefare held in place.
[0034] Depending on the desired circumferential rotation of the pipeline 10,
the pipe rotation
16 device 12 will either perform another extension or finish the rotation
operation 714. If no further
17 rotation is desired 716 the lift cylinders 30a-d will be retracted 718
causing the frame 22 to lower
18 and the pipeline 10 to be seated upon the axial roller 27 as before 720. If
further rotation is
19 desired, a further extension commences (steps 708, 710, 712, 714). This
process occurs an
applicable number of times required to achieve the desired rotation of the
pipeline 10.
21 [0035] Variations in the length of the arms 50 and the length of extension
of the drive motor
22 38 affect the angle in which the pipeline 10 is rotated during each
cylinder extension. For
23 instance, the longer the extension of the drive motor 38, the greater the
angle of rotation and vice
24 versa. The greater the length of the arm 50, the further the extension
required to rotate the arm
50 an equal amount. The extension of the drive motor 38 may cease at any
appropriate point 710
26 based on the desired accuracy of the angle of rotation. For example, if
each full extension
27 imparts a circumferential rotation of 2 inches to the pipeline 10, and a
rotation of 5 inches is
28 desired, two full extensions and a half extension would be necessary to
accurately rotate the pipe
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1 5 inches. It will be appreciated that all measurements used are situation
dependent and may be
2 chosen based on size requirements and/or the angle of rotation desired for
each cylinder
3 extension.
4 [0036] The procedure outlined making reference to Figure 7 describes the
relative
movements of the components of the pipe rotation device 10. Although these
movements can be
6 performed using any suitable drive system, it is preferable to utilize the
hydraulic system 16
7 exemplified herein. An exemplary procedure 800 for controlling the pipe
rotation device 12
8 using the hydraulic system 16 is shown in Figure 8. The steps outlined
therein suggest a suitable
9 set of operations which can be manually performed or programmed for
automatic operation
using a hydraulic controller.
11 [0037] To simplify the explanation of the hydraulic control, it will be
assumed that the
12 control logic includes a lift control for operating the valve 80, and a
rotation control for operating
13 the valve 82. The lift control operates the valve 80 between its three
positions, namely the lift
14 position for extension of the lift cylinders 30a-d, the lower position for
retraction of the lift
cylinders 30a-d and the neutral position for holding the hydraulic pressure in
the lift line 42 at a
16 desired value. The rotation control will likewise operate the valve 82 in
three positions, namely
17 the drive position for extending the drive motor 38, the retract position
for retracting the drive
18 motor 38 and a neutral position for holding the hydraulic pressure in the
push line 44 or pull line
19 46 at a desired value if necessary.
[0038] To enable the lift cylinders 30a-d to raise the frame 22 and hoist the
pipeline 10 on
21 the rollers 18, 20, the valve 80 is shifted into the lift position 802 and
the pressure in the lift line
22 42 is monitored while lifting occurs 804. During lifting, the pressure in
the lift line 42 will rise
23 slowly. When the lift cylinders 30a-d are fully extended, the lift line 42
will experience a sharp
24 increase in pressure (pressure spike). The lift control will shift the
valve 80 into neutral upon
sensing this pressure spike 806 so that the pressure in the lift line 42 is
held at the pressure
26 reached through the pressure spike, the lift cylinders 30a-d are fully
extended, and the pipeline
27 10 supported above the axial rollers 27.
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1 (0039] The pressure in the lift line 42 will be maintained during the
rotation phase. To begin
2 rotation, the rotation control shifts the valve 82 to the drive position
808. This pressurizes the
3 push line 44 causing the drive motor pistons to begin extending. The
pressure will rise slowly
4 until all the ratchet drives 32, 34 are engaged and the pressure is
maintained relatively consistent
during the rotation. Similar to the lift operation, the pressure is monitored
810 and when the .
6 drive motors 38 are fully extended, a pressure spike occurs in the push line
44. Upon sensing
7 this pressure spike, the rotation control shifts the valve 82 to neutral
812.
8 [0040] With the drive motors 38 fully extended, they must be retracted to
repeat the rotation
9 process or to finish the rotation process. The rotation control shifts the
valve 82 to the retract
position 814, and the pull line 46 will experience a relatively low pressure
during retraction.
11 Again the pressure is monitored 816 and the rotation control shifts the
valve 82 into neutral when
12 a pressure spike in the pull line 46 occurs 818. Upon completion of steps
808 to 818, a complete
13 rotation has been accomplished by the pipe rotation system 12 and the
pipeline 10 has been
14 rotated accordingly.
[0041] The operator of the control logic will determine whether the pipeline
has been rotated
16 the desired distance 820. If the pipeline requires further rotation, steps
808 to 818 are repeated.
17 It will be noted that if a partial rotation is desired (i.e. less than that
imparted by a complete
18 extension), while the pressure is being monitored in step 810, the pipeline
10 may also need to be
19 monitored so that the valve 82 can be shifted into neutral to hold the
pressure and cease
extension of the drive motors 38. The rotation of the pipeline 10 can be
monitored through the
21 use of sensors (not shown) or manually using markings on the pipe or a
human operator but shall
22 not be limited to such procedures
23 [0042] If no further rotation is necessary, the lift control shifts the
valve 80 into the lower
24 position 822 thereby releasing the pressure holding the lift cylinders 30a-
d in their extended
positions and allowing the pipeline 10 to be seated upon the axial rollers 26.
A period of time is
26 generally allowed to elapse to ensure that the lift cylinders 30a-d have
fully retracted 824 and
27 that the pipeline 10 is uniformly seated and the frame 22 at rest. The lift
control shifts the valve
28 80 into neutral at this point.
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1 [0043] For operation in cold temperature, the tank 68 preferably includes a
set of heaters and
2 a circulation pump. The heaters and circulation pump are used for preheating
the distribution
3 lines. It will be appreciated that the hydraulic system 16 may also
incorporate other situation-
4 dependent sub-systems to ensure consistent operation of the hydraulic system
16 and to
S minimize maintenance costs.
6 [0044] Therefore the pipe rotation device 12 described herein is a compact
mechanism that
7 can be incorporated into existing support structures commonly used for
supporting pipelines 10.
8 (i.e. "I" beams 14 protruding from pillars 13 in a rack 11) The use of a
central hydraulic system
9 16 allows multiple pipe rotation devices 12 to work in unison thereby
enabling rotation of a
length of pipeline in an quick and efficient manner.
11 [0045] It will be appreciated that the pipe rotation device 12 is suitable
for rotating any
12 cylindrical object which requires rotation and shall not be limited to use
with pipelines 10 and
13 industrial applications as described above by example. It will also be
appreciated that the
14 hydraulic system 16 described herein is given for illustration purposes
only and that other
1 S hydraulic systems or equivalent control systems are applicable to the
operation of the above
16 described pipe rotation device 12.
17 [0046] Although the invention has been described with reference to certain
specific
18 embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those
skilled in the art without
19 departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the
claims appended hereto.
The entire disclosures of all references recited above are incorporated herein
by reference.
21
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