SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING THERMAL EXPANSION ISSUES IN A CORRUGATOR

摘要

Pipe corrugators having opposed series of pushed mold blocks forming a moving mold tunnel are subject to significant thermal expansion and are designed with a thermal expansion gap. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring changes in this expansion gap and preferably recognizing potential thermal issues before serious problems occur. A sensor is provided adjacent a mold block drive that preferably detects a time duration between sensing a trailing portion of a lead mold block and a leading edge of a following mold block separated from the lead mold block by the thermal expansion gap. This time duration in combination with a speed of the pushed mold blocks is used to calculate the size of the thermal expansion gap.

主权项

1. A pipe corrugator having a first series of pushed mold blocks that cooperate and abut with an opposed second series of pushed mold blocks to define a corrugated mold tunnel between abutting mold blocks of said first and second series of mold blocks;
said first and second series of mold blocks separating from each other at an exit of said mold tunnel and pushed along a return path to be brought into abutments with opposed mold blocks adjacent to an entry of said mold tunnel; each of said series of mold blocks include a variable speed mold block drive that engages a lead mold block that is pushed to said mold block drive and separates the lead mold block from an adjacent following returning mold block creating a thermal expansion gap between said lead and following mold blocks; and wherein each series of mold blocks includes a processing arrangement comprising a sensor for sensing the movement of a lead mold block engaged by said variable speed mold block drive from a following mold block about to be engaged by said variable speed mold block drive and separated from said lead mold block by said thermal expansion gap, means for sensing the speed of the pushed mold blocks and based on said sensed speed assessing the size of said thermal expansion gap and providing an operator output signal reflective of the measured thermal gap.