AU2012216495B2 - Pipe Building Apparatus And Process - Google Patents
Pipe Building Apparatus And Process Download PDFInfo
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- AU2012216495B2 AU2012216495B2 AU2012216495A AU2012216495A AU2012216495B2 AU 2012216495 B2 AU2012216495 B2 AU 2012216495B2 AU 2012216495 A AU2012216495 A AU 2012216495A AU 2012216495 A AU2012216495 A AU 2012216495A AU 2012216495 B2 AU2012216495 B2 AU 2012216495B2
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Abstract
The present invention concerns an apparatus and method for forming pipe at a construction site. The apparatus includes an applicator for applying material about a former; and movement means for moving the applicator relative to the former while applying material to form the pipe. (C0 (00 (N CYa) U-) 00 (
Description
1 PIPE BUILDING APPARATUS AND PROCESS TECHNICAL FIELD 5 The present invention concerns an apparatus and process for forming pipe at a construction site, in particular although not exclusively wound pipe. BACKGROUND D The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. Wound pipe also known as filament wound pipes are pipes that are fabricated through 5 a process called filament winding. The process involves winding material over a male mould, mandrel or former (here after referred to as a former). The material is usually filamentous, commonly carbon, glass or aramid fibre and is covered with synthetic resin as they are wound. The material may be impregnated with the resin before winding ('wet winding'), pre-impregnated ('dry winding') or post-impregnated. Once the o former is completely covered to the desired thickness, the material is cured to solidify the material. Once the material has cured the former is removed leaving a portion of wound pipe. Wound pipes offer many advantages over conventional pipes including: corrosion 25 resistance; light weight; strength; higher operating temperatures; and electrical and thermal insulation. Due to these advantages they have many applications. In particular they are used in the transmission of oil, gas, chemicals and industrial wastes. 30 Typically, wound pipe is made in factories by continuous filament winding machines to desired lengths and then transported to construction sites where the discrete lengths of wound pipe are fitted together to a desired length. Some of the disadvantages of this process are: - the pipes are bulky to transport from a factory to a construction site; 2 - the pipes require fitting together at the construction site, which is both a labour intensive and costly process involving transporting the pipes, unloading the pipes, placing the pipes into the desired location and then joining the pipes together; and 5 - the numerous joints where the discrete lengths of pipe are joined together lead to a weakening in the overall structural integrity of the pipe. Thus, it is an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide an alternative pipe building apparatus and process for forming pipes. 0 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus when used for forming pipe at a construction site, said apparatus including: 5 a former; winding means for winding material about the former; and movement means for moving the winding means along a length of the former while winding material about the former to form the pipe and for moving the winding means and the former relative to formed pipe for forming a continuous length of pipe. 0 Preferably, the movement means may include a vehicle. In an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus can be operated at a specific location where the wound pipe is to be laid to produce continuous wound pipe of the 25 desired length and orientation. The apparatus may be of any suitable size, shape and construction and formed from any suitable material or materials. Typically the apparatus will be constructed from materials adapted to withstand the strains and stresses associated with being operated 30 at a construction site.
3 The material wound about the former may be of any suitable form adapted for winding about a former for forming a wound pipe. Typically, the material may be fibrous material. Preferably, a fibrous material that solidifies once impregnated with a thermosetting composition. Typically, the material may be glass fibre, carbon fibre, 5 aramid fibre, or boron fibre. The material while being wound about the former may be wound at any suitable angle relative to the former ('wrap angle'). The winding means may be configured to adjust the wrap angle to vary the properties of the subsequently formed wound pipe. For D instance, a high wrap angle may selected to provide greater crush strength whereas a low wrap angle (known as closed or helical) may be selected to provide greater tensile strength. Typically, the material may be helically wound about the former at a wrap angle between 450 and 90' relative to the former. 5 Typically, the material will be covered with a thermosetting composition prior to being wound about the former. The thermosetting composition may be any composition suitably adapted to polymerize or 'cure' and thus solidify the material one it has been wound around the former. Typically, the thermosetting composition will be a synthetic resin. Preferably, the thermosetting composition will be a polyepoxide or epoxy resin, o orthopthalic acid based resin, isopthalic acid based resin, dicyclopentadiene resin, epoxy vinyl ester resin or any other like resin. The winding means may include rollers and a roller support, said roller support adapted to support the rollers and orbit the rollers about the former. The roller support !5 may be of any suitable size, shape and construction adapted to support any suitable number of rollers. Typically, the roller support will support a plurality of rollers. The roller support, typically, may be a frame that is mechanically driven to rotate about the former. Preferably, the roller support may include two opposed cone-like structures that are fitted around the former and adapted to orbit the former. The apex end of 3O each cone-like structures may face each other with the rollers extending between the cone-like structures. Each cone-like structure being suitably shaped and configured to guide material to the former as it rotates about the former.
4 The roller support may be driven about the former by any suitable mechanical means. Typically, the roller support may be mechanically driven about the former by a rack and pinion drive system. Alternatively, at least one additional roller not supported by the roller support may drive the orbit of the roller support. The additional roller may be 5 driven by any suitable mechanical means. The rollers may be of any size, shape and construction suitably adapted to wind material about the former and to guide the material being pulled from a material reservoir. At least one roller may function as the material reservoir ('feed roller'). 0 The rollers may be arranged in the roller support in any arrangement suitably adapted to orbit the former and guide the material pulled from the material reservoir or a feed roller as the roller support rotates and the rollers orbit the former. The rollers, including the feed rollers, may be arranged within the roller support at any suitable angle relative 5 to the former. Typically, the angle of rollers may be adjustable to allow the wrap angle to be adjusted and thereby ultimately alter the density and thickness of the wound pipe produced. Preferably, the angle of the rollers may be adjusted whilst winding about the former. o Preferably the rollers will be constructed from materials that are inert or that will not react with the material being wound about the former. Typically, the rollers will be formed from stainless steel. 25 Typically, each feed roller may be associated with at least one compression roller such that as the rollers orbit the former material is pulled from the feed rollers and guided by the compression roller before winding about the former. Any number of feed rollers associated with at least one compression roller may be arranged about the roller support. Preferably, multiple feed rollers are arranged about the roller support. 30 The apparatus may further include impregnating means for impregnating the material with the thermosetting composition prior to the material being wound about the former ('wet winding'). The impregnating means may be of any size, shape and construction suitably adapted to impregnate the material prior to winding the 'wet' material about the 5 former. The impregnating means may be a reservoir containing the thermosetting composition, the reservoir sized, shaped and arranged relative to the rollers such that the material as it is pulled from the material reservoir or a feed roller is at least partially immersed in the reservoir prior to being wound about the former. 5 Alternatively, the rollers, in particular the compression rollers, may further include the impregnating means for impregnating the material with the thermosetting composition. Typically, the compression rollers including the impregnating means will be hollow and suitably adapted to apply the thermosetting composition evenly to the material as it is D handled by the rollers. Preferably, the compression rollers will be perforated hollow rollers adapted to evenly secrete the thermosetting composition to the material as it is pulled passed and wound by the rollers about the former. The thermosetting composition may be supplied to the perforated hollow rollers by any 5 suitable means. Typically, the thermosetting composition will be pumped into each perforated hollow roller such that the thermosetting composition is slightly pressurised within each perforated hollow roller thereby ensuring the thermosetting composition is evenly applied to the material handled by the perforated hollow roller. Typically, the thermosetting composition will be pumped to each perforated hollow roller via a feed 0 pipe that is arranged around the outside peripheral edge of at least one of the cone like structures supporting the perforated hollow rollers. The feed pipe in turn may be supplied with thermosetting composition in turn from a suitably shaped and arranged reservoir located on the apparatus. Preferably, the reservoir will be located in a position on the apparatus where it will not be rotated or interfere with the winding ?5 means. The apparatus may further include a former. The former may be of any suitable length, diameter, shape and construction. Typically, the former may have a length of between 10 to 20 metres. The former may have any shaped cross-section suitably 30 adapted to produce a wound pipe of similar shape. Typically, the former may have a circular cross-section or elliptical cross-section. The diameter of the former may be of any value suitably adapted to allow the winding means to rotate about it. Ultimately, the diameter of the former will determine the diameter of the formed wound pipe and the diameter of the former is governed by the size of the rest of the apparatus.
6 Therefore, to produce wound pipe with a large diameter a suitably sized apparatus will need to be used to wind material about a former with a suitably large diameter to produce the wound pipe. 5 Preferably, the former will have an adjustable circumference allowing wound pipes of different diameters to be formed on the same former. The former may be formed from or have a surface coating of any material suitably adapted to not react with the material being wound about it. Preferably, the former D may be formed from stainless steel. The former may be collapsible to assist in the dissociation of the wound pipe, once cured, from the former. The former may be collapsed by deflating an internal bladder. The bladder deflation resulting in a decrease in the girth of the former thereby allowing 5 the cured wound pipe to be disassociated from the former. Preferably, the internal bladder is a silicone bladder. Alternatively, the former may be collapsed by the inward movement of a radial segment of the former. The inward movement of the radial segment of the former 0 allowing the girth of the former to decrease and thereby allowing the cured wound pipe to be disassociated from the former. The apparatus may further include curing means for curing the material once wound about the former. The curing means may be of any size, shape and configuration and 25 arranged relative to the winding means and movement means of the apparatus to suitably cure the material once wound about the former. Preferably, the curing means may be located behind the winding means such that freshly wound material is passed through the curing means as the movement means moves the winding means relative to the former while winding. 30 The curing means may cure the material with microwave, infrared or ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation. Preferably, the curing means cures the material with microwave or infrared electromagnetic radiation.
7 The movement means for moving the winding means relative to the former may of any size, shape and construction suitably adapted to propel the apparatus. Preferably, the movement means may include caterpillar tracks or wheels located at a base of the apparatus for propulsion of the apparatus along a surface. Typically, the movement 5 means may be driven by an electric motor. Preferably, the electric motor may be solar powered. Continuous lengths of wound pipe longer than the length of the former may be formed by moving the winding means and the former with the moving means relative to the 0 formed wound pipe. Typically, once the winding means has wound material along the length of the former and the wound pipe has been cured, the former may collapse thereby dissociating from the wound pipe and the collapsed former may then be moved with the apparatus by the movement means relative to the cured wound pipe. The former may then expand again and the winding means may then again wind 5 material along the length of the former thereby forming a continuous length of wound pipe. Depending on the desired density and thickness of the wound pipe, the apparatus may be configured to make numerous passes over the length of the former. Once the 0 winding means has wound material along the length the former, the angle of the rollers may be suitably adjusted relative to the former and the movement means may then move the winding means relative to the former in the reverse direction while winding material about the former to make a second pass over the former. The above process may be repeated any number of times to form a length of wound pipe of desired 25 thickness and density. Alternatively, rather than making numerous passes over the entire length of the former, the apparatus may be configured to make numerous passes over a portion of the former at a time. 30 The apparatus may further include navigational means for orientating and aligning the apparatus to a desired path. The navigational means may be any means suitably adapted to orientate and align the apparatus. Preferably, the navigational means may be a global positioning satellite ('GPS') system. The GPS system may be located at any suitable position on the apparatus. Typically, the GPS system may be located 8 toward the front of the apparatus. Preferably, the GPS system may be located at the front cross-sectional face of the former. The apparatus may further include an enclosure suitably adapted to at least partially 5 enclose the apparatus. The enclosure may be of any size, shape and configuration and may be formed from any suitable material or materials. The enclosure may, preferably, be adapted to provide a substantially dust free and moisture free enclosure for the apparatus. Preferably, the enclosure is translucent or transparent allowing the visualisation of the winding means within. The enclosure may allow the apparatus to 0 be used on construction sites independent of weather conditions. Typically, the enclosure may be adapted to allow the winding means and movement means of the apparatus to operate freely. Preferably, the enclosure only partially encloses the apparatus allowing the ends of the former not currently engaged with the winding means and earlier formed wound pipe to extend through the enclosure. 5 According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for forming pipe at a construction site, said method including the steps of: (a) winding material with winding means about a former; (b) moving the winding means along a length of the former while winding the 0 material about the former to form the pipe; (c) moving the winding means and the former relative to the pipe formed; and (d) repeating steps (a) to (c) until a desired length of the pipe is reached. Preferably, the movement means includes a vehicle. 25 In an embodiment of the present invention, the method can be performed at a construction site using an apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention.
9 In an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the initial step (a) may initially include impregnating the material with a thermosetting composition prior to winding the material about the former. 5 In a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, step (b) may include curing the material once wound about the former. The material may be cured by microwave, infrared, or ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation. Preferably, step (c) may include collapsing the former to move the former relative to 0 the wound pipe. The former may be collapsed by the deflation of an internal bladder. Alternatively, the former may be collapsed by the inward movement of a radial segment of the former. The material may be wound about the former at any suitable angle relative to the 5 former ('wrap angle'). The winding means may be configured to adjust the wrap angle. Preferably, the wrap angle may be adjusted while the winding means is winding. Typically, the material is helically wound about the former at a wrap angle between 450 and 900 relative to the former. O BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be ?5 regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary Of The Invention in an way. The detailed description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a pipe forming apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 30 Figure 2 is a top plan view of a winding frame and a portion of the former of the apparatus of figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of a collapsible former of the apparatus of figure 1; 10 Figure 4 is variation of the former of figure 3 in a collapsed state; Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of a pipe forming apparatus in accordance with 5 another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is an end view of a pipe forming apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 0 Figure 7 is a forward perspective view of a pipe forming apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is an end view of the apparatus of figure 7; 5 Figure 9 is a rear perspective view of rollers, pipe and resin pipe of a pipe forming apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 illustrates the pipe forming apparatus as shown in figure 1 being used to build a bridge; 0 Figure 11 is an end view of a round wound pipe produced from the use shown in figure 10; and Figure 12 is an elliptical variation of the wound pipe produced from the use shown in ?5 figure 11. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an apparatus 1 as 30 shown in figures 1 to 10. The apparatus 1 includes a winding frame 2 (i.e. winding means). The apparatus 1 also includes caterpillar tracks 4 (i.e. movement means). The winding frame 2 winds fibre 3 (i.e. material) about a former 6 and the tracks 4 move the winding frame 2 relative to the former 6 to produce wound pipe 8. The apparatus 1 can be operated at any specific location where wound pipe 8 is to be laid 11 or positioned to produce continuous wound pipe 8 of the desired length and orientation. Referring to figure 1, the winding frame 2 of the apparatus 1 supports rollers 12 and 5 rotates about the former 6. The rollers 12 are arranged in the winding frame 2 at an adjustable angle relative to the former 6. The angle of the rollers 12 relative to the former 6 being adjustable even while the rollers 12 rotate about the former 6. The rotation of the winding frame 2 about the former 6 causes the rollers 12 to orbit the former 6. 0 The rollers include feed rollers 13 and tensioning rollers 14. The feed rollers contain the fibre 3 to be wound about the former 6. The tensioning rollers 14 impregnate the fibre 3 with resin (i.e. thermosetting composition) prior to the fibre 3 being wound about the former 6. The rotation of the winding frame 2 pulls the fibre 3 from the feed rollers 5 13 over the tensioning rollers 14 such that 'wet' fibre is wound about the former 6. The tensioning rollers 14 are supplied with resin from a resin bath 10 located beneath the winding frame 2. The resin bath 10 is connected to the tensioning rollers 14 via a resin pipe 15. 0 The winding frame 2 is formed from two opposed cone-like structures 11 between which the rollers 12 extend. The tracks 4 located at the base of the apparatus propel the apparatus along a 25 surface. The tracks 4 move the winding frame 2 relative to the former 6 while allowing the winding frame 2 to continuously wind fibre 3 along the former 6. A microwave or infrared emitting unit 17 (i.e. curing means) trails the moving winding frame 2. The microwave or infrared emitting unit 17 cures the freshly wound fibre 2 30 hardening the fibre 2 to form wound pipe 8. A GPS system 16 (i.e. navigating means) is located at the front end of the apparatus 1. The GPS system allows the apparatus 1 to be orientated and aligned along a desired path.
12 As shown in figure 2, multiple fibres 3 are simultaneously wound about the portion of the former 6 between the winding frame 2 from at least two separate sides of the former 6. The fibres 3 are helically wound about the former 6 at an angle between 450 5 to 90* relative to the former 6. The thickness of the produced wound pipe 8 is determined by the number of layers of fibre 3 wound about the former 6. The number of layers of fibre 3 wound about the former 6 is determined by the winding angle and the number of passes the winding frame 2 makes over a portion of the former 6. O Referring to figures 3 and 4, once fibre 3 has been wound about the length of the former 6 to the desired thickness and the fibre 3 has been cured, the former 6 is separated from the freshly formed wound pipe 8 by collapsing the former 6. Referring to figure 7, the former 6 collapses inward by the inward movement of a portion 7 of the former 6. This causes the circumference of the former 6 to decrease (shown in dotted 5 lines) and separate from the pipe 8. Once collapsed, the former 6 can at least be partially moved forward of the pipe 8 in order to produce a continuous length of pipe 8, or the former 6 can be moved clear of the pipe 8. Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the apparatus 1, wherein the apparatus 1 is partially 0 enclosed within a dust-proof and rain-proof enclosure 18. The enclosure 18 encloses the winding frame 2, the microwave or infrared emitting unit 17 and the portion of the former 6 that the winding frame 2 is winding fibre 3 around. The tracks 4 are not enclosed so that the enclosure 18 and winding frame 2 can be moved relative to the former 6. ?5 Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the apparatus 1 in which the winding frame 2 supports a feed roller 13 and three tensioning rollers 14 located around a peripheral edge of the winding frame 2. The winding frame 2 rotates around the former 6 causing the feed roller 13 and three tensioning rollers 14 to orbit the former 6. As the feed 30 roller 13 and three tensioning rollers 14 orbit, fibre 3 is pulled from the feed roller 13 and passed between the adjacently located tensioning rollers 14. The tensioning rollers 14 impregnate the fibre 3 with resin supplied by the resin pipe 15 prior to winding the fibre 3 around the former 6.
13 The winding frame 2 is supported by a set of wheels 4 that are able to move the winding frame 2 and rollers 12 relative to the former 6. In use, the apparatus 1 is positioned at the site where the wound pipe 8 is desired. 5 The apparatus 1 is orientated or aligned along the desired path with the former 6 positioned relative to the apparatus 1 such that the majority of its length extends forward of the apparatus 1. The angle of the rollers 12 relative to the former 6 are adjusted to a suitable angle to produce wound pipe 8 of a desired thickness and density. Initially, fibre 3 is pulled from the feed rollers 13 around and passed the 0 tensioning rollers 14 and is attached to the former 6. Once the fibre 3 is attached to the former 6, the winding frame 2 proceeds to rotate about the former 6. The rotation of the winding frame 2 pulls fibre 3 from the feed roller 13 passed the tensioning rollers 14 where the fibre 3 is impregnated with resin. The 'wet' fibre 6 is then wound about the former 6. Once the winding frame 2 is rotating the angle of the rollers 12 relative to 5 the former 6 can be further adjusted. The 'wet' fibre 3 is wound about the former 6 to a desired thickness and until the length of the former 6 is covered. The winding frame 2 of the apparatus 1 is then moved forward by the tracks 4 relative to the former 6. As the winding frame 2 moves forward it continues to rotate and wind 0 fibre 3 about the former 6. As the 'wet' wound fibre 3 passes the rotating winding frame 2 of the apparatus 1, the microwave or infrared emitting unit 17 dries and solidifies the 'wet' fibre 3 forming wound pipe 8. Depending on the desired density and thickness of the wound pipe 8, once the 25 apparatus 1 has wound 'wet' fibre 3 along the length of the former 6, the apparatus 1 can be configured, by suitably adjusting the angle of the rollers 12 relative to the former 6 and moving the apparatus 1 in the reverse direction relative to the former 6, to make a second pass along the length of the former 6. The above process can be repeated to make any number of passes along the length of the former 6 until the 30 desired density and thickness is achieved. Alternatively, rather than making multiple passes along the entire length of the former 6, the apparatus can be configured by the above process to make multiple passes along a portion of the former 6 at a time.
14 Once the apparatus 1 has wound 'wet' fibre 3 along the length of the former 6, the former 6 collapses allowing the former 6 to be separated from the wound pipe 8. The former 6 may then be moved completely clear of the wound pipe 8 if a discrete length 5 of wound pipe 8 is desired. Alternatively, the former 6 may be moved almost completely clear and reformed leaving a small overlap between the former 6 and the formed wound pipe 8, if a continuous length of wound pipe 8 is desired. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can 0 be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention. Referring to figures 7 and 8, a variation of the apparatus 1 is shown. In this variation the winding frame 2 is fixed on either side of a rotating former 6. The former 6 is rotated by a rotating winding frame 20 located at either end of the portion of the 5 rotating former 6 upon which fibre 3 is being wound. The winding frame 2 supports two sets of rollers 12 located on opposite sides of the former 6. Referring to figure 8, each set of rollers 12 includes a feed roller 13 and four tensioning rollers 14. The rotation of the former 6 pulls the fibre 3 from the feed rollers 13 around the first of tensioning rollers 14 located in a resin bath 10. The 'wet' fibre 3 is then orientated by 0 the remaining three tensioning rollers 14 before being wound about the rotating former 6. Referring to figure 9, an alternative variation of the invention is shown in which the fibre 3 is applied around the internal surface of a pipe 8 to, for example, produce a heavy 25 duty liner to resist abrasion or corrosion, or a clean surface for drinking water. The fibre 3 is pulled from a central feed roller 13 over and passed an orbiting ring of tensioning rollers 14, which impregnate the fibre 3 with the resin supplied via a resin pipe 15 before the tensioning rollers 14 press the fibre against the internal surface of the pipe 8. The outside surface of the pipe 8 is heated to cure the internally wrapped 30 fibre 3. Referring to figures 10 to 12, it is envisaged that the apparatus 1 as shown in figures 1 to 6 may be used in bridge construction. Referring to figure 10, the apparatus 1 may move over a disposable framework 22 between a gap where a proposed bridged is 15 intended to span thereby forming a continuous length of wound pipe. The continuous length of wound pipe may be of a suitable thickness to provide the necessary support strength to form the core of the proposed bridge. As shown in figures 11 and 12, the cross-sectional shape of the wound pipe 8 may be varied to accommodate for a wider 5 or a narrower bridge surface 24. In another alternative embodiment, it is envisaged that the apparatus 1 as shown in figures 1 to 6 may also be used in the formation of a vertical framework for buildings, particularly high-rise buildings. 0 In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural of methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.
Claims (20)
1. An apparatus when used for forming pipe at a construction site, said apparatus including: a former; winding means for winding material about the former; and movement means for moving the winding means along a length of the former while winding material about the former to form the pipe and for moving the winding means and the former relative to formed pipe for forming a continuous length of pipe.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement means includes a vehicle.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the material is a fibrous material that solidifies once impregnated with a thermosetting composition.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the material is glass fibre, carbon fibre, aramid fibre or boron fibre and the thermosetting composition is a synthetic resin adapted to polymerize the material once it has been wound about the former.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 or claim 4, further including impregnating means for impregnating the material with the thermosetting composition prior to the material being wound about the former.
6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the winding means includes rollers and a roller support, said roller support adapted to support the rollers and orbit the rollers about the former.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the rollers are adapted to wind the material about the former and to guide the material being pulled from a material reservoir.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein at least one roller not supported by the roller support is adapted to drive the orbit of the roller support.
9. The apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the rollers further include the impregnating means for impregnating the material with the thermosetting composition.
10. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 9, further including curing means for curing the material once wound about the former. 17
11. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 10, further including navigational means for orientating and aligning the apparatus to a desired path.
12. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the former is collapsible.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the former is collapsed by the inward movement of a radial segment of the former.
14. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the movement means includes caterpillar tracks or wheels located at a base of the apparatus for propelling the apparatus along the surface.
15. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 14, further including an enclosure adapted to at least partially enclose the apparatus.
16. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the material is helically wound about the former at a wrap angle between 450 and 900 relative to the former.
17. A method for forming pipe at a construction site, said method including the steps of: (a) winding material with winding means about a former; (b) moving the winding means along a length of the former while winding the material about the former to form the pipe; (c) moving the winding means and the former relative to the pipe formed; and (d) repeating steps (a) to (c) until a desired length of the pipe is reached.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein step (a) initially includes impregnating the material with a thermosetting composition prior to winding the material about the former.
19. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein step (b) includes curing the material once wound about the former.
20. The method of any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein step (c) includes collapsing the former to move the former relative to the pipe. Date: 11 December 2015
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2012216495A AU2012216495B2 (en) | 2011-08-29 | 2012-08-29 | Pipe Building Apparatus And Process |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2011903460 | 2011-08-29 | ||
| AU2011903460A AU2011903460A0 (en) | 2011-08-29 | Pipe Building Apparatus And Process | |
| AU2012216495A AU2012216495B2 (en) | 2011-08-29 | 2012-08-29 | Pipe Building Apparatus And Process |
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| Publication Number | Publication Date |
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| AU2012216495A1 AU2012216495A1 (en) | 2013-03-21 |
| AU2012216495B2 true AU2012216495B2 (en) | 2016-01-14 |
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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| AU2012216495A Active AU2012216495B2 (en) | 2011-08-29 | 2012-08-29 | Pipe Building Apparatus And Process |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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| US20180186102A1 (en) * | 2015-06-30 | 2018-07-05 | Wnr Systems Pte. Ltd. | A pipe forming assembly and method of use |
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| GB1114381A (en) * | 1964-05-22 | 1968-05-22 | Charles Franklin Latter | Improvements in automatic machines |
| US3520749A (en) * | 1967-01-31 | 1970-07-14 | Chem Stress Ind Inc | Method of making filament wound reinforced concrete pipe |
| US3616061A (en) * | 1970-02-05 | 1971-10-26 | Ciba Geigy Corp | Apparatus for making curved wound articles |
| US3700519A (en) * | 1969-05-13 | 1972-10-24 | Ciba Geigy Corp | Methods of forming a fiber reinforced pipe on an inflatable mandrel |
| US4558971A (en) * | 1984-03-06 | 1985-12-17 | David Constant V | Continuous pipeline fabrication method |
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- 2012-08-29 AU AU2012216495A patent/AU2012216495B2/en active Active
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3128216A (en) * | 1959-04-20 | 1964-04-07 | Smith Corp A O | Method and apparatus for making fiber reinforced plastic pipe |
| US3328224A (en) * | 1963-06-04 | 1967-06-27 | North American Aviation Inc | Apparatus for making plastic pipe |
| GB1114381A (en) * | 1964-05-22 | 1968-05-22 | Charles Franklin Latter | Improvements in automatic machines |
| US3520749A (en) * | 1967-01-31 | 1970-07-14 | Chem Stress Ind Inc | Method of making filament wound reinforced concrete pipe |
| US3700519A (en) * | 1969-05-13 | 1972-10-24 | Ciba Geigy Corp | Methods of forming a fiber reinforced pipe on an inflatable mandrel |
| US3616061A (en) * | 1970-02-05 | 1971-10-26 | Ciba Geigy Corp | Apparatus for making curved wound articles |
| US4558971A (en) * | 1984-03-06 | 1985-12-17 | David Constant V | Continuous pipeline fabrication method |
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| AU2012216495A1 (en) | 2013-03-21 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC1 | Assignment before grant (sect. 113) |
Owner name: WNR SYSTEMS PTE. LTD. Free format text: FORMER APPLICANT(S): BARRETT, WAYNE |
|
| FGA | Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent) | ||
| HB | Alteration of name in register |
Owner name: NEXGEN PIPES PTE. LTD Free format text: FORMER NAME(S): WNR SYSTEMS PTE. LTD. |