Maintenance device and method for producing a maintenance access

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9022054-B2
Application number	US-200913131271-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2009
Priority date	Nov 26, 2008
Publication date	May 5, 2015
Grant date	May 5, 2015

Abstract

The invention relates to a maintenance device for maintaining an elongated and in particular tubular hollow body ( 2 ), which is designed to conduct a fluid, having a sealing device ( 4 ) comprising a function unit ( 12 ), said sealing device being provided for sealing a working area ( 9 ) with respect to surroundings of the hollow body ( 2 ) and being movable in a direction along a surface of the hollow body ( 2 ), wherein the sealing device ( 4 ) comprising the function unit ( 12 ) can be moved at least partially in the longitudinal direction (B) of the hollow body ( 2 ), relative to the surface ( 7 ) of same, while preserving a tight seal. In addition, a method for forming a maintenance access on an elongated and in particular tubular hollow body is claimed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Maintenance device for performing maintenance on an elongated, tubular hollow body ( 2 ) which is adapted to transport a fluid, the maintenance device having a sealing device ( 4 ) which has a function-performing unit ( 12 ), which is adapted to seal off a working region ( 9 ) from surroundings of the hollow body ( 2 ), and which is adapted to move along a surface of the hollow body ( 2 ), wherein the sealing device ( 4 ) having the function-performing unit ( 12 ) is adapted to move relative to the surface ( 7 ) of the hollow body ( 2 ), at least partly, in the longitudinal direction (B) of the hollow body ( 2 ) while a sealed connection is maintained, wherein the sealing device ( 4 ) is adapted to move in a second direction (A) which extends at right angles to the first direction (B) such that the at least one function-performing unit ( 12 ) can be moved relative to a surface of the hollow body ( 2 ) on which maintenance is to be performed in a two-dimensional pattern of movement across the working region ( 9 ), while a sealed connection is maintained between the hollow body ( 2 ) and the sealing device ( 4 ).

2. Maintenance device according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing device is provided with an adapter ( 3 ) which can be fitted to the hollow body ( 2 ) with a seal, which has a surface ( 7 ) facing away from the hollow body ( 2 ) and which partially forms the working region ( 9 ) which serves to provide access to the hollow body ( 2 ), a sealing part ( 11 ) of the sealing device being able to be moved along the adapter ( 3 ) while a sealed connection is maintained.

3. Maintenance device according to claim 2 , wherein the surface ( 7 ) of the adapter ( 3 ) is adapted to form a surface for sliding movement.

4. Maintenance device according to claim 2 , wherein the adapter ( 3 ) is in more than one part in a direction at right angles to a longitudinal extent of the hollow body ( 2 ) and/or in the direction of the longitudinal extent thereof.

5. Maintenance device according to claim 2 , wherein the working region ( 9 ) is formed at least partly by at least one aperture in the adapter ( 3 ).

6. Maintenance device according to claim 3 , wherein an extent of the adapter ( 3 ) in the longitudinal direction of the hollow body ( 3 ) extends beyond an extent of other parts ( 11 ) of the sealing device ( 4 ).

7. Maintenance device according to claim 1 , wherein a lower side of the sealing device ( 4 ) which is adjacent the hollow body ( 2 ) on which maintenance is to be performed forms a curved surface.

8. Maintenance device according to claim 7 , wherein the sealing device ( 4 ) has sliding members which are substantially in the form of part-tubes or tubes or hollow cylinders.

9. Maintenance device according to claim 1 , wherein the function-performing unit ( 12 ) comprises a cutting device which is adapted to make an opening in the hollow body ( 2 ) by milling or a stock-removing process.

10. Maintenance device according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing device ( 4 ) is in more than one part.

11. Maintenance device according to claim 10 , wherein individual parts ( 11 ) of the sealing device ( 4 ) are movable, independently of one another, over the outside of the hollow body ( 2 ) on which maintenance is to be performed at least in two directions (A, B) which are at right angles to one another.

12. Maintenance device according to claim 10 , wherein individual parts ( 11 ) of the sealing device ( 4 ) have at least two connecting faces which face towards one another.

13. Maintenance device according to claim 1 , comprising a drive arrangement which enables the sealing device ( 4 ) to move in two dimensions.

14. Maintenance device according to claim 1 , comprising at least one magnetic gripping device ( 17 ).

15. Maintenance device according to claim 1 , comprising a frame ( 19 ) to stabilise the hollow body ( 2 ), which frame ( 19 ) extends along the sealing device ( 4 ).

16. Maintenance device according to claim 1 , comprising sensors for detecting a position of the sealing device ( 4 ).

17. Maintenance device according to claim 2 , for a hollow body ( 2 ) in the form of a pipeline, wherein the adapter ( 3 ) and a rest of the sealing device ( 4 ) are in the form of members, in the form of part-tubes or tubes or cylinders, which cover an area.

18. Maintenance device according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing device ( 4 ) has a replaceable seal ( 29 ).

19. Maintenance device according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing device ( 4 ) has a gate valve ( 28 ) which enables at least one part of the function-performing unit ( 12 ) to be changed.

20. Maintenance device according to claim 1 , comprising an outer enclosure ( 32 ).

21. Method of forming a maintenance access on an elongated, tubular hollow body ( 2 ) which is adapted to transport a fluid, by using a maintenance device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , a sealing device ( 4 ) which has an adapter ( 3 ) being matched in shape to the exterior of the hollow body ( 2 ) and being mounted thereon with a seal, the sealing device ( 4 ) configured and mounted such that a working region ( 9 ) for making an opening in the hollow body ( 2 ) is formed, which working region ( 9 ) is sealed off by the sealing device ( 4 ) from surroundings of the hollow body ( 2 ), the sealing device ( 4 ), which is provided with a function-performing unit ( 12 ), being able to be moved along the hollow body ( 2 ) in one direction, wherein, to make an opening, a function-performing unit ( 12 ) which comprises a cutting tool acting on a wall of the hollow body ( 2 ) is moved, at least partly, in the longitudinal direction (B) of the hollow body ( 2 ) by a movement of the sealing device ( 4 ) relative to a surface of the hollow body ( 2 ) and cuts into a wall of the hollow body ( 2 ), the sealing device ( 4 ) at the same time continuing to seal off the working region ( 9 ) from the surroundings.

22. Method according to claim 21 , wherein the sealing device ( 4 ) is moved in two dimensions (A, B) relative to the surface of the hollow body ( 2 ).

23. Method according to claim 21 , wherein parts ( 11 ) of the sealing device ( 4 ) are displaced over the adapter ( 3 ).

24. Method according to claim 21 , wherein the cutting tool for making an opening in the hollow body ( 12 ) can be moved by means of the sealing device ( 4 ) both in the longitudinal direction of the hollow body ( 12 ) and also at right angles to this direction.

25. Method according to claim 21 , wherein the movement of the cutting tool is performed, in succession, first in one direction (A) and then in a direction (B) at right angles to the first direction (B).

26. Method according to claim 21 , wherein, by displacing at least one sliding tube or part-tube of the sealing device ( 4 ) along the adapter ( 3 ), the working region ( 9 ) is exposed, looking from a side of the sliding tube or part-tube remote from the adapter ( 3 ).

27. Method according to claim 26 , wherein the opening becomes accessible as a result of individual parts ( 11 ) of the sealing device ( 4 ) being moved apart from one another.

Assignees

• Rosen Hermann
• Rosen Swiss Ag

Inventors

• Rosen Hermann

Classifications

• B23D59/006

  for removing or collecting chips · CPC title

• F16L41/06

  making use of attaching means embracing the pipe · CPC title

• B23C3/00

  Milling particular work; Special milling operations; Machines therefor (milling gear-teeth B23F, {heat assisted machining B23P25/00}) · CPC title

• F16L55/168

  from outside the pipe (specially adapted for bends, branch units, branching pipes, or the like F16L55/179) · CPC title

• B23D45/12 Primary

  with a circular saw blade for cutting tubes · CPC title