How does the cooling and shaping unit ensure the precision and performance of the reinforced pipe?

In the complex process system of the wire-wound reinforced pipe extrusion production line, the cooling and shaping unit is the key link to ensure the final quality of the pipe, which directly determines the dimensional accuracy and physical properties of the pipe. From the moment the composite structure pipe completes the outer layer extrusion, the cooling and shaping unit begins to play a role. Its working quality not only affects the appearance and dimensional stability of the pipe, but also affects the bearing capacity and service life of the product in practical applications.

When the wire-wound reinforced pipe is coated with the outer layer of plastic, its temperature is in a high-temperature softening state. At this time, the pipe structure is fragile and plastic, and it is very easy to deform due to external force or uneven shrinkage. The core task of the cooling process is to quickly solidify the plastic matrix and stabilize the geometric shape of the pipe by accurately controlling the cooling rate. Common cooling methods include immersion cooling water tanks and spray cooling systems. The immersion cooling water tank allows the pipe to pass through the flowing coolant at a uniform speed to achieve large-area and uniform heat exchange; the spray cooling system uses a nozzle to spray the coolant onto the pipe surface in a mist form, and quickly reduces the pipe temperature with its efficient heat transfer efficiency. The two cooling methods have their own advantages. In actual production, they need to be selected or combined according to factors such as the specifications, materials, and production speed of the pipe to achieve the best cooling effect.

Temperature and time control during the cooling process are the core elements to ensure the quality of the pipe. If the cooling speed is too fast, the plastic surface will solidify quickly, and the internal heat cannot be dissipated in time, resulting in greater internal stress, causing cracking and deformation of the pipe during subsequent use; on the contrary, if the cooling speed is too slow, the pipe is prone to collapse or elliptical deformation due to its own weight or traction force. Therefore, the cooling system needs to be equipped with high-precision temperature sensors and intelligent control systems to monitor the temperature changes on the surface and inside of the pipe in real time, and automatically adjust the flow rate, temperature and pulling speed of the coolant according to the preset cooling curve to ensure that the cooling process is uniform and stable, and to control the internal stress to the lowest level.

After the cooling process is completed, although the pipe has been initially solidified, it still needs to be calibrated and fixed in shape by the shaping device. The shaping device is mainly composed of high-precision molds and traction systems. The design and manufacturing accuracy of the mold directly determine the key dimensional parameters such as the outer diameter and roundness of the pipe. The mold is usually made of wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant alloy steel, and is precisely processed and polished. The finish and dimensional tolerance of its inner wall are controlled within a very small range. When the pipe enters the mold, compressed air or vacuum is introduced into the mold to make the outer wall of the pipe fit closely with the inner wall of the mold, thereby ensuring the outer diameter dimensional accuracy and roundness of the pipe.

The traction system provides stable pulling force for the pipe to ensure that it moves at a uniform speed during the cooling and shaping process, avoiding dimensional deviations caused by speed fluctuations. The traction system is driven by a servo motor, and the traction speed and tension are accurately adjusted through a high-precision transmission device and a tension control system. The traction speed needs to match the extrusion speed and cooling speed. Excessive tension may cause the pipe to stretch and deform, while too little tension may cause the pipe to pile up and twist. At the same time, the traction system also has an automatic deviation correction function. It monitors the running trajectory of the pipe in real time through a photoelectric sensor. Once an offset is found, the position of the traction device is immediately adjusted to ensure that the pipe always runs smoothly in a straight line.

The efficient operation of the cooling and shaping unit is inseparable from the coordination between the subsystems. From the precise control of the temperature by the cooling system to the strict calibration of the size by the shaping device, each link is closely connected to jointly build a solid line of defense to ensure the quality of the pipe. In the wire winding reinforced pipe extrusion production line, it is the stable and precise operation of the cooling and shaping unit that can produce pipe products with high dimensional accuracy and excellent physical properties, meeting the stringent requirements of many industries such as petrochemicals, water supply and drainage, and gas transportation for pipe quality.