Abstract: The invention is a spray coating machine for applying a protective coating to a pipe or pipeline as the machine travels down the pipe. The invention has a two piece yoke which separates at the top and bottom to enable it to be fitted around the pipe. Each of the two pieces of the yoke serve as a track on which a spray gun moves, one spray gun flexibly mounted on each of the two pieces of the yoke. The two spray guns are aimed at the pipe and are moved up and down opposite each other by means of a gear belt driven mechanism. The spray guns are controlled so that they spray during only one direction of travel and are turned off as they travel in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A system for heating and coating a weld joint in a pipe comprising; a heating and coating ring for placement on the pipe over the center of the weld joint; the ring having an open position to permit the same to be placed over the pipe and a closed position wherein the ring surrounds the pipe; the ring having a powder dispenser mounted thereon for dispensing a powdered coating material therefrom onto the surface of the pipe; the ring also having a pair of induction heaters mounted thereon, each induction heater including an induction coil comprising a length of hollow copper tubing wound in an elliptical pattern a multiplicity of times, each coil being bowed correspondingly to the curvature of the pipe; the induction coils being disposed in a cylindrical surface adjacent to, and parallel with, the surface of the pipe when the ring is in the closed position; a motor for rotating the closed ring around the pipe; a source of electrical energy for applying an alternating electric potential to the induction coils t

Abstract: The invention is a spray machine for spraying liquid coating material onto the interior surface of a pipeline. The spray machine is provided with a movable frame which can be rolled on attached wheel assemblies through the pipeline and positioned with its spray gun pointing toward the interior pipe surface. The frame serves as a base to which the other parts of the spray machine attach. The spray gun and an attached hollow gun rotating shaft continuously rotate axially within the pipeline. When the spray gun is properly positioned, the spray gun is mechanically turned on and off by a cable attached to a gun actuating arm which is pivotally mounted on a bracket attached to the gun rotating shaft. The gun actuating arm is provided with a cam follower which travels in a rotating path against a movable cam plate assembly. The cam plate assembly is attached to and moved reardward by pistons of air actuated cylinders.

Abstract: A process for heating and coating a weld joint in a pipe comprising placing an open heating and coating ring on the pipe over the center of the weld joint; the heating and coating ring being an articulated yoke adapted to encircle the pipe when the ring is in the closed position and comprising an upper yoke section and two side yoke sections which pivot with respect to the upper yoke section, a pair of releasable locking devices mounted on the upper yoke section for engaging the side yoke sections when the latter are pivoted outwardly away from each other to an open position of the ring thereby locking the side yoke sections in the open position; the upper yoke section having a powder dispensing system mounted thereon for later dispensing a powdered coating material therefrom onto the surface of the pipe; each side yoke section having an induction heating assembly mounted thereon, each induction heater assembly including an induction coil comprising a length of hollow copper tubing wound in an elliptical patt

Abstract: A system for first heating a section of pipe and then wrapping a sheet of heat-shrinkable material around the pipe to cover the section, the heat-shrinkable material having an outer polyethylene side and an inner mastic side which goes against the pipe, the mastic side forming a mechanical bond to the pipe when heated and having a lower melt temperature than the shrink temperature of the material, comprising arranging a plurality of induction coil assemblies in spaced relation around the pipe section, the induction coil assemblies having relatively arcuate induction coils therein, mounting the coils on a rotation fixture to form an arcuate surface adjacent to and parallel with the surface of the pipe, locating a heater assembly on the rotatable fixture between a pair of induction coil assemblies, rotating the rotatable fixture around the pipe section to heat the pipe section to the melt temperature of the mastic, wrapping a sheet of heat-shrinkable material around the pipe to form a sleeve with overlapping en

Abstract: Apparatus for producing induction currents in a pipe to heat the same comprising an axially extending collar adapted to removably surround the pipe, the collar including at least two arcuate frames hingedly connected in end to end circumferential relationship and having a pair of free ends adapted to be opened for placing the frames around the pipe, a plurality of electrically conducting wires carried upon the frames across the axial width thereof and extending circumferentially between the free ends, a connector assembly mounted at each free end, each connector assembly having a plurality of connectors, each connector of each assembly being connected to an end of a wire and being connected electrically to a connector of the other assembly when the frames are in closed position around the pipe, the wires on one axial half of the collar being connected to each other to form two interlaced bifilar windings; the wires at the other axial end of the collar being interconnected to form two interlaced bifilar windin

Abstract: A system for spraying fluidized powder comprising at least one powder dispenser, a powder fluidization chamber containing a quantity of powder therein, a fluidization hose for introducing a stream of air into the chamber to fluidize the powder therein, at least one powder blower having an outlet from which a stream of air is allowed to pass, at least one powder control valve connected to the chamber and in communication with the fluidized powder therein, a rod for actuating each powder control valve wherein a quantity of fluidized powder is exhausted into an orifice in each powder control valve, a powder hose for introducing the fluidized powder from each powder control valve into the sides of each powder blower outlet, a conduit connecting each powder blower outlet with a portion of each powder dispenser for supplying a stream of fluidized powder, and a fluidization blower from which a stream of fluidizing air is allowed to pass into the fluidization hose.

Abstract: An internal pipe coating apparatus for coating the interior surfaces of uncoated weld joints in an otherwise internally coated pipeline comprising a frame movable longitudinally along the interior of the pipeline, the frame having a shaft at its forward end and disposed generally along the longitudinal center line of the pipeline, a coating assembly comprising a pair of horizontally spaced arms mounted for rotation on the shaft and extending radially outward on opposite sides thereof, a pair of spaced parallel links having their inner ends pivotally connected to the outer ends of the arms and having their outer ends pivotally connected to a pair of triangularly shaped mounting plates, each mounting plate being in the shape of an obtuse isosceles triangle having a single obtuse angle and a pair of smaller acute angles, each mounting plate being pivotally connected to its associated link at the apex of the obtuse angle, a wheel mounted on each mounting plate at the location of each acute angle thereof, a hollow

Abstract: Apparatus for spraying a powder circumferentially around a pipe joint on a pipe comprising a yoke engagable with the pipe, one or more powder dispensers mounted on the yoke and disposed over the pipe joint, means for driving the yoke circumferentially about the pipe, each powder dispenser having an inner housing provided with an opening positioned adjacent the surface of the pipe for supplying a quantity of air-powder suspension to the surface of the pipe over the pipe joint, each powder dispensing device also having an outer housing surrounding the inner housing and being provided with an opening positioned adjacent the pipe and surrounding the opening of the inner housing, the inner and outer housings of each powder dispenser defining a space therebetween. A powder suspension device is provided having a hollow container adapted to contain a quantity of powder therein and a means for introducing air under pressure adjacent the bottom of the container to place the powder in suspension in the container.

Abstract: An internal pipe coating apparatus for coating the interior surface of uncoated weld joints in an otherwise internally coated pipeline comprising a frame having wheels at the forward and rear ends thereof, the forward end being oriented or directed towards the uncoated weld joint to be coated, and a drive motor for driving one pair of wheels to move the coating apparatus towards and beyond the uncoated weld joint. A feeler mechanism is located at the rear end of the apparatus. Means are provided to elevate the feeler mechanism into contacting position against the internal surface of the pipe when the drive motor is actuated to move the apparatus in a forward direction. The feeler mechanism comprises a pair of electrically conductive arms adapted to bear against the internal surface of the pipe and to create a completed circuit through the pipe when the feeler arms engage the bare surface of the uncoated weld joint to stop the drive motor.

Abstract: A system for spraying powder circumferentially around a pipe comprising a yoke engagable with the pipe for more than 180.degree. of the pipe. The yoke has a powder dispenser mounted thereon and means are provided for driving the yoke circumferentially about the pipe. The system also includes a powder suspension device and a blower-suction device providing a stream of air under pressure to the powder suspension device for creating an air-powder suspension therein. The powder dispenser has an inner housing and an outer housing both having openings adjacent the surface of the pipe and arcuately shaped to conform with the curvature of the pipe. The outer housing forms a space around the periphery of the inner housing. A first conduit connects the powder suspension device to the inner housing of the powder dispenser to provide a spray or stream of air-powder suspension to the surface of the pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for circumnavigating a dispenser about a pipe includes a frame carrying a pair of endless belts locateable on the pipe and carrying the dispenser. The belt carrying frame is hinged to a semi-circular frame, together to encircle the pipe. A locking assembly interconnects the belt carrying and semi-circular frames to secure the frames to the pipe, and a motor on the dispenser carrying frame rotates the endless belts to propel the frames and dispenser around the pipe.

Abstract: A device for abrasive-blast cleaning of the end of a pipe prior to welding, comprised of a disc engagable with the pipe end to be blast-cleaned and held in position by adjustable bolts and rams, a positioning spider used to position the disc with respect to the end of the pipe, a blasting head affixed to the positioning spider and movable circumferentially over the end of the pipe, means for supplying abrasive material under pressure to the blasting head and drive means for rotating the positioning spider and blasting head.