Importance

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Abstract

A system is provided for assuring the straightness of pipes or tubes produced by a continuous seam-welded process. Following sizing, the newly formed continuous tube passes through a straightening unit and a preliminary alignment checker. The alignment checker observes the actual spatial position of the advancing tube, and the straightening unit is adjusted in response to deviations of the observed position from the predetermined desired path to deform the tube so that it conforms to the desired path. The advancing continuous tube is then severed into individual tube sections of desired length, and some or all of the sections are inspected for straightness. In inspecting for straightness the individual sections are rotated about their longitudinal axes to place the seam-weld in a predetermined position for correlating the angular attitude of the section with that of the advancing continuous tube. Deflection of the midregion of the individual tube relative to the ends is observed along orthogonal axes, and the straightening unit is adjusted in response to the magnitude and direction of observed deviation of the tube from straightness. The straightener appropriately deforms the advancing continuous tube to minimize curvature in subsequent individual sections. Inspected sections falling outside acceptable standards for straightness may be provided with an identifying indicia.

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First Claim