Floatable Pipe Assembly with Protective Jacket for Flange Collisions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing buoyant pipe assemblies are prone to damage during transport due to collisions, particularly at flange areas, which can compromise the tightness of connected plastic pipes.
Innovation Solution
A buoyant pipe assembly with a flange protection system featuring an outer protective jacket that surrounds the flange areas, including a loose flange and welding collar, providing protection against damage and incorporating a fastening mechanism with clamping nuts and optional internal protective bodies for enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If buoyant pipe assemblies are pulled through water without flange protection, then transport is simpler and faster, but the flange areas collide and damage each other during transport
Solution Approach 1:
A protective jacket is introduced as an intermediary element between the flange areas of adjacent pipes. This jacket acts as a mediator that absorbs collision forces and prevents direct contact between flange surfaces, thereby protecting the flange areas from damage while maintaining the overall simplicity of the pipe assembly structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective jacket is pre-installed on the flange areas before transport begins. This beforehand cushioning measure ensures that the flange surfaces are already protected against potential collisions during water transport, preventing damage before it can occur rather than requiring repair after damage happens.
2Reliability
If flange areas are protected with protective jackets, then damage during transport is prevented, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protective jacket is designed as a flexible shell that can be easily manufactured and installed. This flexible shell approach simplifies the manufacturing process compared to rigid protective structures, as it can be produced using standard fabrication methods and installed without complex assembly procedures, thereby reducing the impact on ease of manufacture while providing effective flange protection.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a floatable pipe combination (1) comprising: a plastic pipe (3) having a rear longitudinal end (4), on which a rear flange region (7) is formed, and a front longitudinal end (2), on which a front flange region (6) is formed; a closing cover (12) arranged on the rear longitudinal end (4); a closing cover (10) arranged on the front longitudinal end (2), wherein a pulling device (11) is arranged on the closing cover (10.) A flange protector (8) having an outer protective jacket (9) is arranged at least on the front longitudinal end (2), wherein the outer protective jacket (9) is designed to project radially with respect to the outer diameter (5) of the plastic pipe (3).