Pipe Assembly Machine for Pipe Elbow And Pipe Flange

A. Usage of Pipe Assembly Machine:

1. Work Station: In the process step of Pipe Assembly and Welding Line, with the completion of pipe beveling, the next step will be 2 types of assembly on:

1) Pipe flange assembly and tack welding;

2) Pipe elbow assembly and tack welding;

2. Involved Machines: The corresponding 2 types of machines are for this purpose, which we will introduce here as below. The counterpart of 2 types of machines in H Beam product is H Beam Assembly Machine;

3. Technical Features: Unlike the previous step of pipe beveling and subsequent step of pipe welding, which are automatic, here at this station, the pipe elbow/ flange assembly operation is usually with manual job, which is based on features of pipe dimension and technology.

B. Pipe Flange Assembly Machine:

1. Usage: As its name suggests, this welding machine accomplishes task of pipe flange fitting up and tack welding. It is the second step in the process of pipeline production:

Wuxi JACK equipment on pipe and flange assembly: (Fig.1)

2. Structure of Pipe Flange Assembly and Tack Welding Machine:

1) Movable Trolley: The entire set of equipment is based on rails. Which means, all units of the machine are movable, adapting on different lengths of pipe, giving more flexibility in its positioning;

2) Such design is considered based on feature of workpiece pipe --- Variable length and different diameters and thickness;

3) Workpiece Support: 2 sets of moving carts are used as workpiece pipe supporting units. Of which its distance and location can be adjusted according to length and weight of pipe and flange. These moving carts have rollers on its top;

4) Flange Fixture: At terminal of the rails is a set of movable working table, which in essence is a set of fixture for fixing flange. At its internal side, there installed a piece of vertical plate, which faces toward the workpiece flange, with arrays of fitting holes, catering for various shifts of flange diameters;

5) This vertical plate has three directions of freedom:

a) The vertical plate can move up and down, forward and backward, leftward and rightward, aiming at alignment with axis of pipe flange couples to be fitted in the Pipe Flange Assembly Machine;

b) The manipulation process is made by means of the group of buttons, which are in red and green staggered color, at the lateral side of the worktable;

3. Operation Mode of Pipe Flange Assembly and Tack Welding Machine:

1) Precondition: To begin on pipe flange fitting up and tack welding operation, first make sure arrangement of the supporting racks is applicable for size of workpiece pipe and flange;

2) Then load workpiece pipe onto its supporting racks;

3) Insert 2 pieces of locating rods into fitting holes of the vertical plate, based on size of the flange;

4) Pipe Flange Alignment: Move the movable worktable toward workpiece pipe, and make adjustment on precise position of the vertical plate, making sure precise alignment of pipe and flange;

5) Fit up pipe and flange precisely, put the 2 parts correctly together;

6) Perform the second task: Manual tack welding on the connection of pipe and flange. Due to joint together between flange and vertical plate, tack welding can only be performed in manual mode, without pipe and flange revolve. This is different from other automatic welding machines;

4. Technical Parameters of Pipe Flange Assembly Machine:

C.  Pipe Elbow Assembly Machine:

1.  Work Station: Following pipe flange assembly, next step is pipe elbow assembly and tack welding;

1)  Wuxi JACK equipment on pipe and elbow assembly: (Fig.2)

2) Assembled pipe elbow from Wuxi JACK machine: (Fig.3)

2. Main Units of Pipe Elbow Assembly and Tack Welding Machine:

1) Structure: This welding equipment has horizontal lying structure: Workpiece pipe is laid on 2 sets of moving travel carts, as workpiece holding unit during work;

2) Characteristic:

a) From attached photo we can see that, that this equipment can be made into one machine together with the previous machine on pipe flange assembly:

b) One end of the machine is for pipe fit and tack welding with flange,

c) The opposing end is for pipe assembly with elbow;

d) Such kind of design makes sure compact structure and dimension of Pipe Assembly Machine, for both pipe flange and pipe elbow;

3) Elbow Worktable: At the terminal of rails for pipe elbow fitting up is another set of moving work table for elbow. On the surface of the worktable is a pallet for holding the elbow. Opening size of the pallet should be considered on the largest bending width of elbow for tack welding;

4) There are several holes and slots in the pallet, which is for inserting locating pins and rods for positioning and securing the elbow in the process of tack welding;

3. Working Steps in Pipe Elbow Assembly Machine:

1) Precondition: Workpiece pipe is already laid on this machine, with the completion of pipe flange assembly and tack welding operation in the previous step;

2) Put the elbow onto its pallet, and start on the moving worktable toward pipe;

3) Make adjustment on elbow position, making sure its perfect alignment with pipe, and secure it with fixing pins;

4) Carry out manual tack welding on pipe elbow;

5) Pipe Elbow Stationary: Due to the restriction from machine structure, same as pipe flange tack welding, the pipe elbow assembly and tack welding operation here can only be fulfilled, with both pipe and elbow in standstill condition;

4. Technical Parameters of Pipe Elbow Assembly and Tack Welding Machine: