Coaxial Tubing Spacer Groove Design for Secure Bending
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coaxial tubing systems face challenges in maintaining structural integrity and secure mechanical and electrical interconnection, especially during bending, due to the lack of effective spacers that prevent collapse and deformation of inner and outer tubes, and ensure positive interlocking for a broader range of applications.
Innovation Solution
A securable spacer system with an annular body and retention groove design that maintains annular spacing and allows for crimping of the outer tube to secure the spacer in place, along with a bending sleeve that transmits bending forces and maintains spacing between inner and outer tubes, ensuring structural integrity and electrical grounding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If spacers are inserted between inner and outer tubes to maintain spacing during bending, then structural integrity is improved, but the spacer may slip or exit the tube due to lack of positive interlocking
Solution Approach 1:
The retention groove is pre-formed on the spacer before assembly, creating a predetermined receptacle that guides and secures the outer tube in the correct position during the bending process, preventing slip or exit
Solution Approach 2:
The retention groove acts as an intermediary feature between the spacer and outer tube, providing a mechanical interface that positively interlocks the two components and ensures reliable spacing maintenance
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional spacers are used without positive interlocking, then assembly is easier, but electrical interconnection and grounding are not ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: maintaining annular spacing, providing positive mechanical interlocking through the retention groove, and ensuring electrical interconnection/grounding between inner and outer tubes, eliminating the need for separate components
3Adaptability or versatility
If metal tubes are bent without proper support, then flexibility is improved, but collapse or severe deformation of tubes occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer with retention groove is installed before bending to pre-establish structural support and spacing, preventing collapse during the subsequent bending operation
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer acts as an intermediary support structure between inner and outer tubes during bending, transmitting and distributing bending forces to prevent localized collapse or deformation
Data Source
AI summary
Spacers are provided for maintaining annular tube spacing, particularly at tube ends, in coaxial tubing systems, while also proving fluid passages ways permitting fluid flow between tubes of the coaxial tubing system. The spacers may be made of conductive material for enabling electrical coupling of the inner and outer tubes, and thus grounding of the inner tube. The spacers define a retention groove extending around their periphery for receiving a crimped portion of the outer tube, so as to mechanically fix the spacer in a longitudinal position relative to the coaxial tubing system. Accordingly, the spacer does not rely on “springbuck” characteristics of bent coaxial tubing systems for fixation, and thus is suitable for use in both bend and unbent portions of coaxial tubing systems.