AXIAL ALIGNMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAINTAINING CONCENTRICITY BETWEEN A SLOTTED TUBULAR AND A SEAMER HEAD

摘要

An apparatus for keeping a slotted tubular liner in axial alignment with a seamer head through which it is passing adjusts the spatial position of the seamer head in response to inputs from liner centerline sensors. The seamer head is mounted on a seamer head carrier that is vertically movable relative to a seamer head frame, which in turn is horizontally movable relative to a base structure. A programmable logic controller is programmed to continually poll the liner centerline sensors to determine the position of the seamer head relative to the liner, and to instruct vertical and horizontal axis positioners to move the seamer head as necessary to make the seamer head's rotational axis substantially coincident with the centerline of the liner as the liner passes through the seamer head.

主权项

1. An apparatus for aligning the rotational axis of a seamer head with the centerline of a tubular member disposed within a spindle bore of the seamer head parallel to said rotational axis, said apparatus comprising:
(a) positioning means, for adjusting the spatial position of the seamer head in a direction transverse to said rotational axis; (b) centerline sensor means, for sensing the spatial position of the tubular member's centerline where the tubular member passes through the spindle bore; and (c) control means, said control means being adapted:
c.1 to receive centerline position data from the centerline sensor means;c.2 to determine the spatial position of the tubular member's centerline based on received centerline position data;c.3 to compare the spatial position of the tubular member's centerline relative to the seamer head's rotational axis; andc.4 to actuate the positioning means as necessary to move the seamer head in a direction transverse to the seamer head's rotational axis so as to bring the rotational axis into substantial concentricity with the tubular member's centerline at the location of the seamer head.