TPT September 2011

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S eptember 2011 97 ›
Technology Update
INCREASINGLY, large diameter pipelines
are being requested in plastic. Accordingly,
Sica has introduced new haul-offs and
planetary saws for processing polyethylene
pipes of diameter up to 2,000mm. The
structural configuration of these machines
is designed to meet the particular operating
requirements for those types of lines: the
range of pipe sizes to be produced; start-of-
extrusion systems; line production capacity;
machine installation logistics; energy source
availability; quality control of produced item;
and safety procedures.
The P 2000/14 Plus haul-off has fourteen
caterpillars; the upper eleven pivot (Sica
patented system), while the lower three are
positionable electromechanically. All the
caterpillars are anchored via connecting
rods to the machine frame, so that reaction
forces are transferred to both sides of the
frame, with clear advantages in terms of
structural efficiency and therefore better
mechanical performance. The caterpillars
have contact length of up to 2,200mm
and width up to 116mm. With DN1200 to
DN2000 pipes, a maximum pulling force
of approximately 400,000N is generated
using fourteen caterpillars. Whereas,
with DN630 to DN1000 pipes, the pulling
force is approximately 170,000N using six
caterpillars. The working speed range is
from 0.002m/min to 0.9m/min.
The caterpillars are interlocked in a
double master-speed control loop. That
is, the machine is equipped with two
transducers that monitor continuously the
pulling of the pipe, guaranteeing complete
operational safety even if one of the
transducers malfunctions.
Power is transmitted to the caterpillar
chains by parallel shaft speed reducers,
so there are no axial reaction forces
penalising mechanical efficiency, which
typically occurs with right angle, shaft
speed reducers.
The TRK/C/Sy 2000 is a planetary
saw with a tool that cuts without removing
material; so it is swarfless and generates no
dust. The saw is suitable for polyethylene
pipes with wall thickness up to 130mm.
The maximum external pipe diameter that
can be cut is 2,000mm; the minimum
external diameter is 450mm. To best
adapt to the pipe surface, the machine is
equipped with universal clamps, with each
clamp arm having multiple rubber and
pivoting gripping elements. The frame of
the planetary saw is made of cold rolled
steel sections affording superior stiffness
and resistance to stresses. To facilitate
safe maintenance procedures, in semi-
automatic mode the movement phases are
performed using two-hands type controls.
The machine control system, using PLC
logic, includes a graphical touch-screen for
quickly and intuitively controlling the entire
haul-off and cutting process. For diameter
changes, machine configuration is altered
directly from the control panel without
manual intervention, by simply selecting
the recipe corresponding to the process
parameters for the new pipe.
Sica – Italy
Website:
Cutting system for 2,000mm HDPE pipes