Patent ID: 8695198
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: B23K,B23Q,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for positioning an end portion of a first pipe relative to an end portion of a second pipe, the end portion of the first pipe being provided with a first substantially annular surface close to an inside surface of the first pipe and a first chamfer adjacent to the first annular surface, the end portion of the second pipe being provided with a second substantially annular surface close to an inside surface of the second pipe and a second chamfer adjacent to the second annular surface, said first annular surface and said second annular surface defining a joint plane, the method using a plurality of clamping actuators regularly distributed around the first pipe and the second pipe, the method comprising: A. prepositioning the first annular surface and the second annular surface facing each other; B. clamping each of the first pipe and the second pipe using the clamping actuators; C. evaluating a radial offset between the first annular surface and the second annular surface; D. controlling the plurality of clamping actuators to shift the second pipe relative to the first pipe parallel to said joint plane according to the radial offset between the first annular surface and the second annular surface so as to provide for a maximum facing area for the first annular surface and the second annular surface while maintaining the first pipe and the second pipe clamped.