Underground Auxiliary Line Insertion Along Pipelines Without Soil Compaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for laying pipelines close to the surface, such as underground cables or lines, face challenges in achieving deep installation depths without significant soil compaction and surface disruption, particularly when introducing additional devices like ventilation lines, as they require larger devices that complicate the process and affect the soil structure.

Innovation Solution

A device with a housing and displacement element that allows for a completely underground laying method, featuring a guide and memory system to feed additional devices directly into the pipeline path, using a tubular element like a drilling device or pull head with adjustable connections for drill and protective pipes, and a displacement element like a sword or plow to create temporary openings without surface connection, ensuring minimal disruption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a blade and vehicle are used to install pipeline close to surface, then installation is achieved, but surface damage and soil compaction occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation feasibilityVSAvoidsurface damage and soil compaction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful interaction between the vehicle/blade and the soil surface by transitioning to a completely underground installation method. The pipeline is installed through boreholes created by drilling devices, eliminating the need for surface vehicles and blades, thus preventing surface damage and soil compaction while maintaining installation feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces boreholes as an intermediary medium for pipeline installation. Instead of directly placing pipelines on the surface or through open trenches, the pipelines are guided through underground boreholes from starting points to destination points, allowing installation without surface disruption while achieving the same connectivity function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Length of stationary object

If greater installation depths are achieved with larger machines, then coverage above pipeline is improved, but soil compaction increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation depth and coverageVSAvoidsoil compaction
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical system of large surface vehicles and blades with a drilling-based system. Drilling devices create boreholes through the soil without the need for heavy machinery operating on the surface, enabling deep installations while avoiding the soil compaction caused by large machines. The drilling process minimizes disturbance to the surrounding soil structure.

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

3Ease of manufacture

If additional devices are installed using open construction method, then installation is achieved, but surface disruption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadditional device installationVSAvoidsurface disruption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the installation of additional devices with the pipeline installation process itself. The additional devices are fed through the same boreholes and guiding structures used for pipeline installation, eliminating the need for separate surface operations. This combined approach achieves additional device installation without increasing surface disruption beyond what is already required for pipeline installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4099525B1Method and device for inserting an additional device into the ground
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 HERRENKNECHT AG
  • EP4099525B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4099525B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for inserting an auxiliary device (200) into the ground (101) substantially parallel to a pipeline (120) outside the pipeline during the insertion of the pipeline (120) into the ground (101) using a completely underground laying method from a starting point to a destination point along a predetermined laying line, comprising a housing (13) located in the ground (101) during the insertion of the pipeline (120), a displacement element (15) for sectionally displacing the ground (101) to provide a temporary opening in the ground (101) for inserting the auxiliary device (200), the displacement element (15) being arranged on the housing (13), the displacement element (15) having a guide (20) for guiding and dispensing the auxiliary device (200), and a storage container (23) on which the auxiliary device (200) can be arranged.wherein the additional device (200) can be fed from the housing (13) to the guide (20),