CN104395036A - Valve machining device and method for machining a valve - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve machining device (1) having a base plate (3), an articulated arm robot (5) disposed on the base plate (3), on the free end of which robot a tool receiver (12) is provided, and having at least one cutting tool (13-18) which can be received by the tool receiver (12), wherein the valve machining device (1) has a connecting device (19) which is arranged to attach the base plate (3) to a valve flange (25) of a valve (2) to be machined. The invention also relates to a method for cutting-machining of a valve using such a valve machining device (1).

Description

Valve processing apparatus and method for processing valves

technical field

The present invention relates to a valve processing device and a method for processing valves using such a valve processing device.

Background technique

Valves, such as those used in power plant technology or in the chemical industry, have various regions which have to be subjected to machining during manufacture or repair. To list only some examples, valve seats and sealing strips belong here. For cutting operations, conventional CNC machining centers are mainly used, which can be adapted to special requirements when machining valves.

If machining of the valve is required as part of maintenance work, the valve to be repaired is constructed in a first step by a corresponding facility. The valve is then transported to a valve machining plant where it is cut and machined. If a material coating is required for repair work, welding work, in particular welding work, is performed on the valve beforehand. This can be done either manually or in a corresponding welding device. After checking the machining results, the valve is then transported again to the installation site and installed. The facility is thus put into operation again.

Due to the fact that there is generally no valve manufacturing plant in the surroundings of the installation, the valves are often required to be transported, which undesirably leads to high downtimes of the corresponding installation and is therefore very expensive. In order to reduce this downtime, the valve processing plant can alternatively also be transported to the facility. However, since the corresponding machining centers are very large and heavy, transport as well as installation and dismantling are associated with high outlay, and thus high costs are also associated with this variant.

Contents of the invention

Starting from this prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide an alternative valve machining device and an alternative method for machining valves, by means of which in particular Simple and inexpensive maintenance work on valves.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention has completed a valve processing apparatus having: a base plate; an articulated robot provided on the base plate, and a tool accommodating portion is provided on a free end of the articulated robot and at least one cutting tool which can be accommodated by the tool receptacle, wherein the valve machining device has a connecting device which is designed for fastening the base plate to the valve flange of the valve to be machined. An important advantage of the valve processing device according to the invention is that the base plate can be fixed directly on the workpiece to be processed if the size and dead weight of the valve allow it. Correspondingly, bulky and heavy individual components can be dispensed with, such as bases, supports, etc., which leads to easy and cost-effective transport and installation and dismantling of the valve processing device. Therefore, machining of the valve in the surroundings of the installation in which it is used is problem-free. If, on the other hand, the valves to be processed are too small for a reliable mounting of the valve processing device, the valve processing device can alternatively also be fixed in the surroundings of the installation.

According to a design solution of the present invention, the connection device has a flange bracket connected to the base plate, the flange bracket includes a plurality of through holes, and the positions of the through holes are selected corresponding to the positions of the threaded holes of the valve flange . Via such a flange bracket, the valve processing device can be simply and conveniently screwed to the valve flange.

Preferably, at least one of the through-holes of the flange carrier is designed as a blind hole, so that the flange carrier can be connected to different valve flanges which differ with regard to the pitch circle diameter of the threaded holes.

According to a design solution of the present invention, the connecting device has at least one connecting rod device with adjustable length, and the free ends of the connecting rod device are respectively provided with hinged devices, wherein one hinged device is connected with the base plate and the other hinged device can be connected by thread The connection is fixed on the valve flange. A connecting rod arrangement of this type increases the fastening strength between the valve manufacturing device according to the invention and the valve to be processed in the installed state.

Preferably, at least one connecting rod arrangement for length adjustment has a cylinder with a removable piston. In this way, the length of the connecting rod arrangement can be infinitely adjusted as required.

Advantageously, a connecting device is provided on opposite sides of the base plate, whereby a very stable construction is achieved in the normal state of the valve manufacturing plant.

According to a solution of the present invention, a linear guide is provided on the base plate, and the articulated robot can move in a guided manner along the linear guide. Due to such a linear guide, the cutting tool accommodated in the tool receptacle can still be positioned flexibly.

Preferably, the articulated robot is a six-axis articulated robot which allows very flexible machining.

It is advantageous if the valve manufacturing device has at least one welding tool and/or measuring tool that can be accommodated in the tool receptacle. Accordingly, not only machining but also welding and/or measuring work can be carried out by means of the valve machining device according to the invention.

According to one refinement of the invention, the valve processing plant is provided with a tool change system which accommodates a plurality of cutting tools and/or welding tools and/or measuring tools. The articulated robot is thus able to access several tools, so that different processes can always be performed with the optimum tool.

In order to achieve the object mentioned at the outset, the invention also provides a method for machining a valve with a valve machining device having at least one cutting tool, in particular a valve machining device of the type according to the invention, wherein the method There are the steps of: installing a valve processing device on a valve flange of a valve to be processed; machining the valve; and removing the valve processing device. In other words, the method according to the invention is characterized in that, in contrast to known methods, the workpiece to be machined is not cut on the valve machining device, but the valve machining device is fastened to the workpiece to be machined.

According to one refinement of the method according to the invention, during installation of the valve manufacturing device, the connecting device of the valve manufacturing device is fastened to the valve flange by means of a screw connection. Accordingly, installation can be performed simply and conveniently.

Preferably, welding processing and/or measuring processing are performed using valve processing equipment in addition to cutting processing. It is therefore not necessary to use separate welding equipment and/or measuring devices.

It is advantageous if the method according to the invention is carried out at the point of use of the valve to be processed, ie in the surroundings of the installation in which the valve is used. Unnecessarily long downtimes of the installation can be avoided in this way.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the method according to the invention is a maintenance method.

Preferably, the valve to be processed is a large valve, ie a valve with large dimensions and a correspondingly high dead weight, which can easily accommodate the valve processing device without additional cutting devices.

Description of drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention are explained with reference to the enclosed drawing on the basis of the following description of an embodiment of a valve manufacturing device according to the invention. in:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a valve processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a single front view of the flange bracket of the valve manufacturing device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an exemplary valve which can be processed by the valve processing device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the valve manufacturing device shown in FIG. 1 in the state in which the valve manufacturing device is fixed on the valve shown in FIG. 3 , wherein the multi-joint type of the valve manufacturing device The robot is in the first position;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the articulated robot of the valve processing equipment in the second position;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the articulated robot in a third position; and

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the articulated robot in a fourth position.

Detailed ways

The drawing shows a valve processing device 1 according to one embodiment of the invention and an exemplary valve 2 which can be processed by the valve processing device 1 .

The valve processing apparatus 1 includes a base plate 3 on which a linear guide 4 is provided along which an articulated robot 5 can move back and forth in a guided manner by means of an unshown drive. The articulated robot 5 is a six-axis articulated robot whose arm elements are pivotable about the axes 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 and 11 . A tool receptacle 12 is provided at the free end of the articulated robot 5 , which is designed to accommodate various tools 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 and 18 . The tools 13 to 18 are currently cutting tools in the form of drilling tools, milling tools, grinding tools, counterboring tools, tapping tools, etc., by means of which various cutting operations can be performed. In addition, however, the valve manufacturing plant 1 can also be equipped with measuring devices and/or welding tools as required, even if this is not shown in detail here. Accordingly, measurement, inspection and welding work can thus also be carried out by means of the valve processing plant.

The valve manufacturing device 1 is furthermore provided with a connecting device 19 having a flange bracket 20 and two connecting rod devices 21 of identical design.

The flange bracket 20 is arranged on the front end of the base plate 3 and extends perpendicularly thereto. The flange bracket comprises two through-holes 22 and 23 which are formed as elongated holes and are arranged at a distance from one another. The positions of the through holes 22 and 23 are selected corresponding to the positions of the threaded holes 24 of the valve flange 25 of the valve 2 to be processed, so that the flange carrier 20 and the valve flange 25 can be screwed together, as will be explained in more detail below . Due to the fact that the through-holes 22 and 23 are formed as elongated holes, through which, as shown in FIG. This makes it possible to fix the valve manufacturing device 1 on the valve flange 25 with different threaded hole pitch circle diameters. The threaded hole pitch circle diameters D1 to D6 can correspond, for example, to diameters of 550 mm, 600 mm, 720 mm, 730 mm, 860 mm and 900 mm. In the region of its upper free end, the flange bracket 20 has a circular arc-shaped cutout 26 arranged centrally between the two through-holes 22 and 23 , which ensures free access to the valve. 2 surface to be processed.

Each connecting rod arrangement 21 is adjustable in length via a cylinder 27 with a removable piston. An articulation 28 , 29 is provided at the free ends of the connecting rod arrangement 21 , wherein the articulation 28 can be screwed to the base plate 3 and the articulation 29 can be screwed to the valve flange 25 . For this purpose, the articulation devices 28 and 29 are each provided with through-openings 30 for receiving fastening screws.

A tool change system 31 is arranged on the end of the base plate 3 opposite the flange carrier 20 , which accommodates the tools 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 and 18 .

FIG. 3 shows by way of example different surfaces of the valve 2 which can be machined with the valve machining device 1 . This includes a flange surface 32 , a cover contact surface 33 , a seal contact surface 34 , a swirl breaker surface 35 and a valve seat surface 36 .

4 and 7 show the valve manufacturing device 1 in a conventional installed state, in which it is fixed on the valve flange 25 of the valve 2 by means of a screw connection, wherein the screw Connections are not shown in the drawings for descriptive purposes. For mounting the valve processing device 3 , the flange bracket 20 is placed on the valve flange 25 such that the respective threaded hole 24 is accessible through one of the through-holes 22 , 23 , whereby the flange bracket 20 is screwed to the valve flange 25 . The through-holes 30 of the articulation devices 28, 29 are then overlapped with the other threaded holes 24 of the valve flange 25 by adjusting the length of the connecting rod device 21 by operating the corresponding cylinder 27, thereby inserting the corresponding Set screws. The valve manufacturing device 1 is now held firmly on the valve 2 .

In a further step, machining can then be carried out. FIG. 5 exemplarily shows the articulated robot 5 in the state where the articulated robot processes the seal contact surface 33, and FIG. Articulated Robot 5. The articulated robot 5 can exchange the tool held in its tool receptacle 12 , as shown in FIG. 7 , as required.

In addition to cutting processing, other processing such as measurement processing, inspection processing, or welding processing can also be performed with the articulated robot 5 . For this purpose, the tool changing system 31 only has to be equipped with corresponding tools.

An important advantage of the valve manufacturing device 1 is that it has very small dimensions and a low dead weight, so that it can be transported easily and conveniently. In addition, the valve processing device 1 can be used flexibly.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited to the disclosed examples and other variants can be derived therefrom by a person skilled in the art without departing from the protection of the invention. scope.

Claims (16)

1. A valve processing device (1), has: a base plate (3); an articulated robot (5) arranged on the base plate (3), and a tool is arranged on the free end of the articulated robot a housing (12); and at least one cutting tool (13-18) capable of being accommodated by said tool housing (12), Wherein the valve processing device (1) has a connecting device (19) designed to fix the base plate (3) on the valve flange (25) of the valve (2) to be processed. 2. Valve processing plant (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that, The connection device (19) has a flange bracket (20) connected to the base plate (3), and the flange bracket has a plurality of through holes (22, 23), the positions of the through holes are according to the The position of the threaded hole (24) of the valve flange (25) is selected. 3. Valve processing plant (1 ) according to claim 2, It is characterized in that, At least one of the through holes (22, 23) of the flange bracket (20) is formed as an elongated hole. 4. The valve manufacturing plant (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that, The connecting device (19) has at least one connecting rod device (21) whose length can be adjusted, and the free ends of the connecting rod device are respectively provided with hinged devices (28, 29), One of the hinged devices (28) is connected to the base plate (3) and the other hinged device (29) can be fixed on the valve flange (25) by screw connection. 5. Valve processing plant (1) according to claim 4, It is characterized in that, At least one of the connecting rod devices ( 21 ) has a cylinder ( 27 ) with a removable piston for length adjustment. 6. The valve processing device (1 ) according to claim 4 or 5, It is characterized in that, A connecting rod arrangement (21) is provided on opposite sides of the base plate (3). 7. The valve manufacturing plant (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that, A linear guide part (4) is provided on the base plate (3), and the articulated robot can move in a guided manner along the linear guide part. 8. The valve manufacturing plant (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that, The articulated robot (5) is a six-axis articulated robot. 9. The valve manufacturing plant (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that, The valve manufacturing device has at least one welding tool and/or measuring tool that can be accommodated in the tool receptacle (12). 10. Valve manufacturing plant (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that, The valve machining plant is provided with a tool changing system (31) accommodating a plurality of cutting tools (13-18) and/or welding tools and/or measuring tools. 11. A method for machining valves with a valve machining plant (1) having at least one cutting tool (13-18), in particular a valve machining plant (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method with the following steps: Installing the valve processing equipment (1) on the valve flange (25) of the valve (2) to be processed; Machining said valve (2); and The valve processing device (1) is removed. 12. The method of claim 11, Wherein, when installing the valve processing device (1), the connecting device (19) of the valve processing device (1) is fixed on the valve flange (25) by screw connection. 13. A method according to claim 11 or 12, In addition to the cutting process, welding and/or measuring processes are carried out with the valve processing device ( 1 ). 14. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, The method is carried out at the point of use of the valve (2) to be machined. 15. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, The method described therein is a repair method. 16. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, Wherein said valve (2) to be processed is a large valve.