Method and device for annealing tubes

Abstract

The invention relates to tubes which are coil-shaped, and a plurality of coils which are annealed together and then coated with a protective gas. Each coil is connected to an individually controllable protective gas supply line and to an individual protective gas exit line. A seal includes a mother plug ( 1 ), whose through-openings ( 6 ) are connected to the coils and an adapted father plug ( 2 ), whose through-openings ( 10 ) are connected to separate protective gas lines. A plurality of tube supports ( 7 ) are arranged in a displaceable manner inside the through-openings ( 6 ) of the mother plug ( 1 ) and are tightened in a sealed manner inside the through-openings ( 10 ) of the father plug ( 2 ) by an actuating element ( 9 ).

1 . Method for annealing pipes which have been wound into coils, a plurality of coils being annealed together and purged during annealing with protective gas, 
 characterised in that    each coil is connected to a separately controllable protective gas inlet and a separate protective gas outlet:    
     
     
         2 . Device to connect a plurality of coils of wound pipes to a facility for supplying and/or removing protective gas, with 
 a female plug ( 1 ) assigned to the coils with a plug-in opening ( 3 ) and a plurality of passages ( 6 ) which can each be connected to an appertaining coil,    a male plug ( 2 ) assigned to the facility for supplying and/or removing protective gas, said male plug ( 2 ) fitting in the plug-in opening ( 3 ) of the female plug ( 1 ) and exhibiting a plurality of passages ( 10 ) which can each be connected to an appertaining separate protective gas line,    a plurality of pipe connection pieces ( 7 ) which can each be moved axially in an appertaining passage of the one plug and can be inserted in an appertaining passage of the other plug to form a seal, and    an actuating element ( 9 ) assigned to the male plug ( 2 ) for moving the pipe connection pieces ( 7 ) when the male plug is inserted in the female plug ( 1 ).    
     
     
         3 . Device according to  claim 2 , characterised In that the passages ( 10 ) into which the pipe connection pieces ( 7 ) can be Inserted to form a seal exhibit a conically tapered entry zone against which the appertaining pipe connection piece ( 7 ) can be restrained.  
     
     
         4 . Device according to  claim 2  or  3  characterised in that the actuating element ( 9 ) exhibits a head ( 8 ) with a continuously tapering circumference which can be moved axially in a recess ( 14 ) of the male plug ( 2 ), said recess exhibiting a complementary continuously tapering circumference, wherein the head ( 8 ) exhibits a plurality of passages ( 12 ) to accommodate the pipe connection pieces ( 7 ) and is provided with side openings ( 16 ) which lead from the passages ( 12 ) to the appertaining circumferential surface and which each contain a movable restraining element which protrudes from the circumferential surface, preferably In the form of a ball ( 17 ).  
     
     
         5 . Device according to  claim 4 , characterised in that the head ( 8 ) of the actuating element ( 10 ) exhibits an actuating rod ( 11 ) which Is passed centrally through the male plug ( 2 ).  
     
     
         6 . Device according to  claim 4  or  5 , characterised in that the circumference of the head ( 8 ) and the circumference of the recess ( 14 ) are continuously tapered away from the female plug ( 1 ).  
     
     
         7 . Device according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the passages ( 12 ) of the head ( 8 ) widen conically at their entry ends towards the female plug ( 1 ).  
     
     
         8 . Device according to any one of claims  4  through  7 , characterised in that the head ( 8 ) of the actuating element ( 9 ) and the recess ( 14 ) of the male plug ( 2 ) exhibit truncated circumferential surfaces ( 13 ,  15  respectively) and are connected with each other so they cannot turn.  
     
     
         9 . Device according to any one of claims  2  through  8 , characterised In that the plug-in opening ( 3 ) of the. female plug ( 1 ) exhibits a circumference continuously widening towards the male plug ( 2 ) and that the male plug ( 2 ) is provided with a plug-in end which exhibits a complementary, continuously widening circumference.  
     
     
         10 . Device according to  claim 9  characterised in that the plug-in opening ( 3 ) of the female plug ( 1 ) and the plug-in end of the male plug exhibit truncated circumferential surfaces ( 4 ,  5  respectively) and are provided with features for fixing the reciprocal plug-in orientation.