Adjustable Spring Rod Vibration Damper for Pipelines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pipeline systems in plant construction face vibration excitations due to dynamic loads, leading to material fatigue and safety risks, with existing vibration absorbers requiring energy, having fixed parameters, and being sensitive to environmental conditions, making them unsuitable for chemical plants.

Innovation Solution

A vibration absorber with an adjustable spring rod and eddy current dampers, allowing for frequency tuning without structural changes, and featuring a 2D damping system independent of environmental influences, ensuring self-sufficiency and safety in potentially explosive areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional vibration absorbers are used, then vibration reduction is achieved, but they require energy supply and have fixed parameters that cannot be adjusted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveself-sufficiencyVSAvoidfrequency adjustment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic adjustment mechanism for the spring rod length, allowing the vibration absorber to adapt its natural frequency to match different vibration frequencies in the pipeline system. The spring rod length can be modified to change the absorber frequency, enabling the system to remain effective under varying operational conditions without requiring external energy supply or control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameter of the spring rod length to adjust the absorber frequency. By modifying the length of the spring rod, the natural frequency of the vibration absorber can be tuned to match the vibration frequency of the pipeline, thereby optimizing vibration reduction performance without requiring energy input or complex control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If conventional vibration absorbers with mechanical components are used, then vibration damping is achieved, but wear occurs and maintenance is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear-free operationVSAvoidmaintenance requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical damping components with eddy current dampers that utilize electromagnetic induction. The eddy current damper consists of a conductor plate moving through a magnetic field, generating eddy currents that provide damping force without mechanical contact. This substitution eliminates wear between moving parts, ensuring wear-free operation and reducing maintenance requirements while maintaining effective vibration damping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If vibration absorbers with electrical components are used, then frequency control is improved, but sparking risk increases in explosive environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency controlVSAvoidsparking risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electrical control systems with a mechanical adjustment mechanism for frequency control. The spring rod length can be manually or mechanically adjusted to change the absorber frequency, eliminating the need for electrical motors, sensors, or control circuits that could generate sparks. This mechanical approach provides sufficient frequency control capability while ensuring safety in potentially explosive chemical plant environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the spring rod length is fixed, then structural simplicity is maintained, but frequency tuning requires structural changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency tuning capabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the spring rod into adjustable sections or incorporates a telescopic mechanism that allows the effective length to be changed without redesigning the entire structural framework. This segmentation enables frequency tuning by modifying the active length of the spring rod while maintaining the overall structural simplicity and avoiding complex structural changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The vibration absorber effectively reduces vibrations by adjusting frequencies and damping parameters, ensuring wear-free, energy-independent operation, and safety in chemical plants, preventing material fatigue and leaks.

Implementation Method 1

the damping device having at least one eddy current damper

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEddy current damping: Eddy Current Damping

Implementation Method 2

the spring rod has a spring length that can be changed relative to a clamping length

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2924314B1Vibration damper
Publication Date: 2017.11.01 WOLFEL BERATENDE INGENIEURE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2924314B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5

AI summary

A vibration damper (1) for reducing vibrations, particularly in pipelines, is described, comprising a base (2), a mounting device (3), a damping device (4), and a damping device (5) which includes a mass arrangement (6) and at least one spring rod (7) connected to the mass arrangement (6) and the base (2). The aim is to provide a self-contained vibration damper (1) with easily adjustable damping parameters. For this purpose, the spring rod (7) has a spring length that can be varied relative to a clamping length, thereby allowing the damping frequency of the vibration damper (1) to be adjusted.