Corrugated Cardboard Pipeline Support Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing support structures for heavy pipeline segments are cumbersome due to their weight, requiring significant manual handling for transportation and storage, and often result in unnecessary mechanical and manual handling during pipeline installation and burial processes.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight support unit made of corrugated cardboard beams with a recessed, curved cross-sectional configuration, enclosed by planar and curved panels also of corrugated cardboard, secured with biodegradable adhesives and coatings, allowing for easy assembly and disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional wooden beams are used to support heavy pipeline segments, then the support structure provides sufficient strength and stability, but the weight of the support structure increases significantly, making manual transportation and handling burdensome
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure uses a composite design combining corrugated cardboard beams with an enclosure framework. The corrugated cardboard provides structural strength while remaining lightweight, and the enclosure adds rigidity and protection. This composite approach achieves sufficient support strength for heavy pipeline segments while dramatically reducing the weight compared to traditional solid wooden beams.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wooden beams are transported manually from storage facilities to pipeline trench sites, then flexibility in logistics is maintained, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the considerable weight and burden on workers
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is designed as a disposable unit made from corrugated cardboard and biodegradable materials. Instead of transporting heavy wooden beams back and forth, these lightweight support structures can be easily carried to the site, used once, and then discarded or left in the trench. This eliminates the need for return transportation and significantly reduces the physical burden on workers during handling.
3Productivity
If support beams are returned to distant storage sites after pipeline burial, then resource utilization is optimized, but the loss of time and additional mechanical handling increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is designed as a single-use disposable unit. After supporting the pipeline segment during welding and burial operations, the support structure remains in the trench and decomposes naturally. This eliminates the time-consuming process of collecting, transporting, and storing reusable beams, while the standardized design ensures efficient resource utilization during the construction phase.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of recovering and returning support beams to storage facilities, the invention discards the support structure in place within the pipeline trench. The biodegradable materials naturally decompose over time, eliminating the need for recovery operations and associated time losses, while the initial design allows for efficient production and deployment.
4Stability of the object's composition
If heavy wooden beams are used for support, then structural stability is ensured, but the device complexity increases due to the need for mechanical machines to haul and position them
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure uses a composite design combining corrugated cardboard beams with an enclosure framework. The corrugated cardboard provides structural strength while remaining lightweight, and the enclosure adds rigidity and protection. This composite approach achieves sufficient structural stability for heavy pipeline segments while dramatically reducing the weight compared to traditional solid wooden beams.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is divided into modular components: corrugated cardboard beams, an enclosure framework, and connection elements. This segmentation allows the structure to be assembled on-site without heavy mechanical equipment, as each component is lightweight and can be manually positioned and connected to form a stable support system.
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
Enables efficient, manual transportation and handling of heavy pipeline segments, reducing environmental impact through biodegradability and minimizing rehandling and mechanical handling, while providing a sturdy support for welding operations.
Implementation Method 1
the plies of such beams are secured together and the enclosure encompassing the pair of spaced beams is secured to said beams by a biodegradable adhesive
Implementation Method 2
the enclosure is provided with a biodegradable coating
Data Source
AI summary
A lightweight manually transportable unit, effective in supporting a heavyweight tubular member including a spaced pair of beams each formed of a set of plies of corrugated cardboard and having a recess with a curved cross-sectional configuration, aligned with the recess of the other of such beams, and an enclosure formed of planar and curved panel formed of corrugated cardboard encompassing such spaced beams, wherein the plies of such beams and the enclosure encompassing such beams are secured together by a biodegradable adhesive.