Coating apparatus and method of coating joint

Abstract

A coating apparatus for coating a perimeter surface of a pipeline. A frame selectively mounts a sprayer on the pipeline. The sprayer can spray fluid along a flow path in a spraying mode and preparation mode. In the preparation mode, a fluid diverter moves into the flow path to divert the fluid delivered from the sprayer away from the pipeline. In the spraying mode, the fluid diverter moves out of the flow path to permit the sprayer to coat the perimeter surface of the pipeline with a curable liquid. A vacuum system can draw a vacuum through the diverter to remove the fluid the sprayer sprays in the preparation mode. The flow path can be located in a spray shroud. The diverter can fluidly couple the vacuum system to the shroud interior in the spraying mode to remove overspray.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of forming a polymeric coating on each of a plurality of perimeter joint surfaces of a pipeline, the method comprising:
 performing a coating operation for each of the plurality of perimeter joint surfaces using a coating apparatus comprising a sprayer configured to spray curable polymeric material and a process sensor configured to detect a spray process condition while the sprayer sprays the curable polymeric material, each coating operation comprising:
 using the sprayer to spray curable polymeric material onto the respective perimeter joint surface; 
 detecting the spray process condition with the process sensor while using the sprayer to spray the curable polymeric material; and 
 generating spray process data based on the detected spray process condition for the respective perimeter joint surface; 
   storing in a database the spray process data for each of the perimeter joint surfaces; and   associating in the database the spray process data for each of the perimeter joint surfaces with joint identity data which identifies the respective perimeter joint surface.   
     
     
         21 . A method as set forth in  claim 20  further comprising storing the joint identity data in the database for each of the plurality of perimeter joint surfaces when the joint coating apparatus sprays the respective perimeter joint surface with the curable liquid. 
     
     
         22 . A method as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the joint identity data for each of the plurality of perimeter joint surfaces comprises at least one of global positioning system coordinates, an applicator identifier, and an application time for the respective perimeter joint surface. 
     
     
         23 . A method as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the spray process condition comprises at least one of a process temperature, a process pressure, a process ratio, a pumped volume, and a valve position. 
     
     
         24 . A method as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the step of using the sprayer during each coating operation comprises using the sprayer for a length of time. 
     
     
         25 . A method as set forth in  claim 24  wherein the step of detecting the spray process condition comprises detecting the spray process condition at a plurality of intervals during the length of time. 
     
     
         26 . A method as set forth in  claim 25  wherein the step of generating the spray process data comprises generating the spray process data based on the detected spray process condition at each of the plurality of intervals. 
     
     
         27 . A system for forming a polymeric coating on each of a plurality of perimeter joint surfaces of a pipeline, the system comprising:
 a coating apparatus comprising a sprayer configured to spray curable polymeric material and a process sensor configured to detect a spray process condition while the sprayer sprays the curable polymeric material, the coating apparatus being configured to perform a respective coating operation for each of the plurality of perimeter joint surfaces in which the sprayer sprays the curable polymeric material onto the respective perimeter joint surface and the sensor detects the spray process condition while the sprayer sprays the curable polymeric material and generates spray process data;   a memory operatively connected to the sensor to receive the spray process data and including a database configured to store the spray process data for each of the perimeter joint surfaces; and   a processor executing instructions to associate in the database the spray process data for each of the perimeter joint surfaces with joint identity data which identifies the respective perimeter joint surface.   
     
     
         28 . A system as set forth in  claim 27  wherein the database is configured to store the joint identity data for each of the plurality of perimeter joint surfaces when the joint coating apparatus sprays the respective perimeter joint surface with the curable liquid. 
     
     
         29 . A system as set forth in  claim 27  wherein the joint identity data for each of the plurality of perimeter joint surfaces comprises at least one of global positioning system coordinates, an applicator identifier, and an application time for the respective perimeter joint surface. 
     
     
         30 . A system as set forth in  claim 27  wherein the process sensor comprises one of a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure of the curable polymeric material as the sprayer sprays the curable polymeric material during each coating operation and a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the curable polymeric material as the sprayer sprays the curable polymeric material during each coating operation. 
     
     
         31 . A system as set forth in  claim 30  wherein the coating apparatus further comprises another process sensor, the other process sensor comprising the other of the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         32 . A method as set forth in  claim 27  wherein the spray process condition comprises at least one of a process temperature, a process pressure, a process ratio, a pumped volume, and a valve position.