Bore machining method and apparatus

Abstract

A method of machining the internal bore of a hollow pipe comprises honing material from inner surface of the bore the pipe. A honing apparatus for use in the method comprises a machining tool comprising a honing head adapted for insertion into the end of a pipe to remove material from the inner surface of the pipe by abrasion.

1 . A method of machining the internal bore of a hollow pipe, the method comprising:
 honing material from the inner surface of the bore of the pipe.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising the step of inserting a machining tool comprising a honing head into the end of the pipe to hone material from the inner surface of the pipe. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  comprising the step of adjusting the effective diameter of the honing head to control the amount of material removed from the inner surface of the pipe. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of adjusting the position of the machining before insertion into the end of the pipe. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the original centreline and adjusted centreline are determined using a laser and calculation software. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the centre of the pipe is calculated via a laser metrology system. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the position of the machining tool is adjusted such that the centre of the machining tool matches the calculated centre of the pipe. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the honing head is mounted concentrically within the pipe being machined. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the honing head is mounted eccentrically within the pipe. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A honing apparatus for use in the method of  claim 1 , the apparatus comprising:
 a machining tool comprising a honing head adapted for insertion into the end of a pipe to remove material from the inner surface of the pipe by abrasion.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein one or more abrasive stones are mounted on the honing head. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the stones are mounted on the end of arms which are adjustably mounted on the honing head. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the arms are telescopically or pivotally mounted on the honing head such that the outer diameter of the honing head can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the arms relative to the body of the honing head. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the stones are rotatably mounted to the arms. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the stones of the honing head comprise bars mounted on the outer surface of the honing head. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the length of the stones is adjustable in order to adjust the amount of material removed from the inner surface of the pipe during a honing operation. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus comprises a housing within which the machining tool is mounted and from which it can be withdrawn for use. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the machining tool comprises an actuator means for advancing the machining tool within and subsequently out of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a position adjustable cradle upon which the housing is mounted such that the housing can be repositioned horizontally and/or vertically with respect to the end of a pipe to be machined. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a laser metrology system for scanning the end of a pipe to calculate the centre of the pipe. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of joining two tubular members in a pipeline, wherein the method includes the step of honing material from the internal bore on each of the tubular member according to  claim 1  to eliminate internal offsets between the tubular members to be joined. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled)