Clamping Device for Gas Turbine Conduits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional clamping devices for conduits in gas turbine systems experience fretting wear due to longitudinal or radial movements, leading to debris generation and increased maintenance and production costs, and are not flexible enough to absorb vibrations.

Innovation Solution

A clamping device comprising a sheet metal with wedge-washers and fastening members, designed to wrap around the conduit and absorb vibrations, eliminating the need for a bush and reducing material usage, with a flexible design that minimizes fretting wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional rigid clamping devices are used to hold conduit to frame, then the conduit is securely clamped, but the device cannot absorb vibrations and generates fretting wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamping securityVSAvoidfretting wear and vibrations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid metal wire bushes with a flexible clamp body made of elastomeric material that wraps around the conduit. This flexible shell absorbs vibrations through elastic deformation while maintaining secure clamping, eliminating the fretting wear caused by rigid contacting surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the mechanical wire-based clamping system with an elastomeric flexible clamp that uses elastic deformation instead of rigid mechanical contact. This replacement eliminates wire debris generation while maintaining clamping effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If metal wire bushes are used to tightly clamp conduit, then secure holding is achieved, but expensive materials and complex manufacturing are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamping effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity and material cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from expensive metal wires to cost-effective elastomeric material. The elastomeric material provides sufficient clamping effectiveness through its elastic properties, eliminating the need for complex metal wire weaving and sophisticated manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs an elastomeric clamp body that is cheaper to manufacture and replace compared to metal wire bushes. While elastomeric material may have shorter service life under extreme conditions, it significantly reduces material cost and manufacturing complexity for typical applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Force

If conventional clamps with complex geometries are used, then adequate clamping force is provided, but production and service costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamping forceVSAvoidclamp geometry complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the clamp body and bush into a single integrated elastomeric component. The flexible clamp body directly contacts the conduit without requiring a separate metal bush, simplifying the geometry while maintaining adequate clamping force through the elastomeric material's inherent friction and elastic properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastomeric clamp body forms a flexible shell that conforms to the conduit shape, providing adequate clamping force through elastic deformation and friction. This flexible shell design eliminates complex metal geometries while maintaining effective clamping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 solution effectively reduces fretting wear, lowers maintenance and production costs, and provides a flexible clamping mechanism that absorbs vibrations, enhancing the durability and efficiency of conduit fixation in turbine systems.

Implementation Method 1

Each wedge-washer includes a sidewall that is inclined in a direction opposite to the bend angle and is in contact with a respective outwardly-extending end of the segment or segments secured thereby

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Implementation Method 2

Each of the outwardly-extending ends is bent at a respective bend angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the sheet metal, towards a respective conduit-facing end

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10711920B2Clamping device and an associated method thereof

Publication Date: 2020.07.14 GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECH LLC

AI summary

Clamping device including sheet metal, wedge-washers, and fastening members. Sheet metal includes first segments and second segment, where each of the first and second segments include conduit-facing end and outwardly-extending end. Conduit-facing ends are joined to each other and wrapped around conduit in opposite directions. Outwardly-extending ends extend in opposite direction to outwardly-extending end. Each outwardly-extending end is bent at bend angle towards a respective conduit-facing end. Wedge-washers are disposed on first and second segments. Each wedge-washer includes sidewall inclined in a direction opposite to bend angle and in contact with a respective outwardly-extending end. Fastening members are disposed on respective wedge-washer.