HORIZONTAL DELIVERING THREADED PIPE CONNECTING MACHINE
This invention relates to development in automatic machines for connecting and handling threaded pipes. It is capable of connecting and delivering connected pipes horizontally forming desired linear piping structures as per piping plan.
The present invention relates to a machine specifically used for making threaded pipe connections and delivering the connected pipes horizontally, threaded pipes are connected using threaded connectors or elements as per piping plan. This mainly used for fire prevention system, water supply system, gas supply system.
The present invention Horizontal delivering threaded pipe connecting machine describes a system which comprises of pipe storing unit which stores the pipes horizontally acts as input, pipe holding jaw, rotating connecting unit and roller assembly constitutes the processing unit which connects the threaded pipes. The connected pipe structures are delivered horizontally. The embedded system constitutes the feed back mechanism which controls the whole system.
As per previous arts of assembling a length y string of pipes and delivering them horizontally, a long series of pipes are screwed and connected usually by means of power tonges manually. Conventional power tonges are having jaws with serrated faces; they bite into surface of pipes. These tonges were cam operated and tonges torque was roughly proportional to closing forces. But these arrangements were unsuitable for tubing whose surfaces are specially designed with special material and cannot sustain high pressure of biting by tonge, i.e. required by these conventional tonges to hold and rotate the pipe for connecting them.
New approaches taken were to provide jaws actuated by hydraulic pressure so that jaw pressure acting on pipe can be accurately controlled. Hydraulic based jaws of power tonges as in prior arts for example US patent 3796418, 3921473 etc. None of these provided independently controlling jaw forces and thus another improvement came and was explained in US patent 4712284 with another objective of not to bite on the surface of pipe and able to provide sufficient torque to the pipe. Though this system has proven to be quite successful, it never the less is difficult to use with the small tonges. It was not successful in case where

multiple size of pipe has to be connected as it suffered from complex hydraulic procedures. So the objective of present invention is to simplify and automate the process of holding and connecting pipes with suitable pressure and torque.
On the other hand various technique have developed for connecting threaded pipe in form of pipe strings used in fire prevention system and water supply system. Connecting and breaking of these pipe strings (connections) was a laborious job for quite long. The work became even more tedious and complex when pipes of different diameters and length have to be connected according to the piping plan. There are no of quick assembly systems present in market which reduces time to connect and also labour cost by providing mechanical engagement devices. There are also tools available for making and breaking pipe joints along with pipe disconnecting apparatus. Although these systems are very simple and quicker but most of them suffer from problems like miss-alignment, and mostly have heavy expensive specialized tools which works for specific size of pipe. The time required for changing system to suit a different diameter pipe is considerable. Along with this the present systems available are not fully automated, causing lack of precision in forming complex and lengthy piping structures. They also require some kind of human involvement. Thus the basic objective of the present is to describe a complete automated, reliable and time saving system which does not suffer from problems of aforesaid system; programmable to handle efficiently lengthy piping structures as per piping plan.
The basic objective of this completely automated system is to overcome the problems of above said system and deliver the connected pipes horizontally without any human interaction. Present invention comprises of a circular platform mounted on top by rack guide and coupled on a base motor at bottom, base motor is also capable of moving in vertical direction. Rack guide housed and supported by two equidistant supports from centre of platform, at one end is connected to a block containing jaw. Jaw is capable of holding pipe of any cross-section without biting there surface. Pipe storing units are situated vertically one above the other. Pipe storing unit acts as place for storing pipes and pipe connectors of different diameters, length. They provide a ready supply of pipes and connectors. Pipes in these storing units are stored horizontally and kept at safe distance inside from the opening. The pipes are held at designated place by pipe stoppers. Jaw block moves in and out through the provided passages in the storing unit and grab the pipe. This in and out movement of jaw block is achieved by guide and pinion arrangement. Jaw block can move from one pipe storing unit to another unit by controlled vertical motion of the platform. The platform is also capable of angular motion.

In the'present invention pipe assembling is done at fixed reference point, along-a fixed reference axis. This fixed horizontal axis is used to align the pipe horizontally connecting them. Assembly of roller is fitted at relatively at a lower plane. There may be two or more pairs of rollers depending on the usage. These pairs of rollers are capable of holding and sliding any diameters pipe as per piping plan. The central axis of these roller pairs are pre-aligned with reference axis. The connecting unit is provided at relatively lower level than rotating platform, aligned with assembly of rollers. The connecting unit is capable of angular and horizontal moment. The axis of connecting unit is aligned with those of roller assembly i.e. reference axis. The connecting unit is capable of holding any pipe used in piping plan; it is capable of angular as well as horizontal motion along the reference axis. The synchronous motion of roller assembly, connecting unit and stopper is used for assembling and delivering connected pipes horizontally. This system is controlled by embedded system which comprises of a microcontroller unit along with driver circuits which controls the motion of different parts and brings in desired synchronization. Embedded system along with driver circuits helps in achieving precise rotation of motors.
Brief description of the drawings:
Fig 1. Elevation view of the complete system consisting of rotating platform, pipe holding jaw, pipe storing unit, rotating connecting unit and roller assembly embodying the invention.
Fig 2. Top view of the complete system.
Fig 3. Elevation view of the roller assembly.
Fig 4. Elevation view of the connecting unit.
Fig 5. Top view of pipe storing unit.
Fig 6. Elevation view of pipe storing unit.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments:
The present invention Horizontal delivering threaded pipe connecting machine describes a system which comprises of pipe storing unit which stores the pipes horizontally acts as input, pipe holding jaw, rotating connection maker and roller assembly constitutes the processing unit which connects the threaded pipes. The connected pipe structures are delivering horizontally. The embedded system constitutes the feed back mechanism which controls the whole system.
With reference to detailed description of the described drawings the overall system is indicated in its entry figure 1, by reference character 1, which includes rotating platform 1 which is fitted on top of the rack guide 2 which is supported by two housings 3 at either side of the centre of platform 1 along its horizontal axis. The rotating platform 1 is mounted on top of a base motor 5. The base motor has a rack and gear arrangement 51 for vertical movement. A motor 52 moves the gear which gives vertical motion to the base motor 5. The base motor 5 is supported by rollers 54 on both sides, which helps in smooth vertical motion. There is a rack guide pinion 11, connected with rack guide motor 10, provided to slide the rack guide 2 in housing 3. Rack guide 2 is fixed with a pipe holding jaw 4 which consists of a fixed 7 and movable jaw 6, movable jaw moves in towards and away direction w.r.t fixed jaw 7 by a small jaw pinion 8 coupled with jaw motor 9. The jaws 6,7 has specially designed rollers 50 attached to them and powered by a motor 53.
As shown in Fig-1 the vertical motion is given to the base motor 5 using the rack and gear arrangement 51 powered by motor 52, once the vertical motion of base motor 5 is complete such that the pipe holding jaw 4 is in the perfect match with the passage 14 in the pipe storing unit 13. As shown in fig-2 the rack guide motor 10 rotates the guide pinion 11 so that the rack guide 2 along with complete pipe holding jaw 4 slides in and out through the passages 14, provided in the pipe storing units 13. Numbers of pipes are stored in these pipe storing units 13 in horizontal direction. These pipes p are constantly being pushed by springs 16 fixed at back portion of the pipe storing unit 13, as a result these pipes p are always kept ready at a fixed point inside the passage 14 which is provided with stoppers 15 fitted on the side walls of the pipe storing unit 13. Pipe holding jaw 4 moves in the passage 14 and reaches the point where pipe p is stopped by stopper 15. Then the jaw motor 9 rotates the jaw pinion 8 so that the movable jaw 6 from its open position starts closing in and grabs the pipe p from point of supply. Then pipe holding jaw 4 slides out by rack guide 2, pinion 11 and motor 10 so that it just clears of the opening of pipe storing unit 13. Now the platform 1 is slided down using the rack and gear arrangement 51 of base motor 5, the motor'52 rotates such that the base motor in vertically downwards direction such that it is in the same plane as connecting assembly 18,22. Now the base motor 5 starts rotating the platform 1 through an angle which brings the central axis of pipe p to get aligned with reference connecting axis 17.

As the pipe p gets aligned with reference axis 17 the rollers 50 on the jaw 6,7 starts rotating with help of motor 53 and slides the pipe p into the curvature of specially designed rollers 22, part of roller assembly. Which are rotated by roller motors 21 shown in figure 3. These rollers are spring loaded to adjust with the diameter of the pipe. As the pipe p starts sliding in between the rollers it is gripped effectively with help of roller curvature, adjusting material and spring. Now the pipe holding jaw 4 slides the pipe p completely and is free from it, it goes back to pipe storing unit 13 to brings back pipe connecting element with same process as described above to reference axis 17. Rollers 22 start sliding pipe p in backward direction so that it makes contact with pipe connecting element. As shown in fig-1 connecting unit starts coming forward from a mechanism (not actually shown in figure) and sits on back end of connecting element. As shown in fig-4 appropriate groove size 20 fits on the rear side of the connecting element. At this time connecting unit 18 starts rotating and pipe holding jaw starts loosing the grip little and roller motor 21 start sliding pipe p back horizontally.
Pipe connecting element gripped perfectly inside the groove 20 starts rotating about the reference axis 17 and with this relative movement of pipe p and element connects the thread provided on the pipe p and element and as a result threaded joint is achieved. After the joint is made it is checked for perfection and alignment and if there is an error in connection it is roll backed, until the perfect joint is achieved. Now this connected section will be considered as single pipe p. Pipe holding jaw 4 will again go back to pipe holding unit 13 storing a different diameter pipe p' and bring back pipe p' to reference axis 17 by above described process. Now again pipe p' will be held on one end by connecting unit 18 and will be rotated as in case of connecting element and again the relative motion between pipe p' and p will result in threaded connection. Now this whole assembly will be slided forward horizontally and other section will be connected similarly.

We Claim,
1. Horizontal Delivering Threaded Pipe Connecting Machine Comprising -
A circular platform coupled at centre with motor at bottom and motor being capable of moving in horizontal direction along with circular platform;
Circular platform is mounted by rack guide placed along the horizontal axis, at least two bearing housing supporting the said rack guide on either side of the said centre of the said platform along horizontal axis;
Jaw piece is fixed with said rack guide at one end;
A number of pipe storing unit storing different diameter of pipes and connector in horizontal position, said pipe storing unit are placed such that opening of each unit remain equidistant from said centre of said platform, one above the other on one side of platform;
Roller assembly placed at fixed height from reference section, the said roller assembly is tensioned by spring;
Connecting unit rotates in vertical plane along the horizontal axis of said roller assembly, connecting unit is capable of moving in horizontal axis coinciding with central axis of roller assembly;
2. Horizontal Delivering Threaded Pipe Connecting Machine as claimed in claim 1 comprising of each said pipe storing unit with passage sufficient to accommodate said jaw for its free in and out movement, and provide ready supply of pipes at supply point.
3. Horizontal Delivering Threaded Pipe Connecting Machine as claimed in claim 1&2 comprising a fixed supply point in each said pipe storing unit, a spring is provided at last end of said pipe storing unit pushing the pipes. Numbers of stoppers are fixed on said pipe storing unit to hold pipes at a supply point.
4. Horizontal Delivering Threaded Pipe Connecting Machine as claimed in claim 1 comprising said jaw where in the fixed and movable jaw are covered with soft gripping and adjustable material, and said jaw is capable of holding all pipes & connectors by moving movable jaw with jaw motor.
5. Horizontal Delivering Threaded Pipe Connecting Machine as claimed in claim 1 comprising said roller assembly, where each roller of said roller assembly is coupled with motor, and said roller

assembly is given specially designed curvatures around the periphery and lined with soft adjustable material.
6. Horizontal Delivering Threaded Pipe Connecting Machine as claimed in claim 1 comprising of
said connecting unit where the said connecting unit has number of different diameter
concentric groves on surface facing roller assembly. These said groves are of appropriate width
to accommodate any diameter pipe & connector and also these grooves are lined with good
frictional material.
7. Horizontal Delivering Threaded Pipe Connecting Machine, as herein described with reference to
accompanying drawings.