Coiled Pipe Transport and Straightening for On-Site Length Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems struggle to transport and process long lengths of stainless steel pipes, such as those used for hydrogen fueling stations, due to material changes at welded joints and complex maintenance of screw connections, limiting their practical application.
Innovation Solution
A transport system with a receptacle, drive, and straightening device allows coiled pipes to be automatedly processed into desired lengths, including cutting and straightening, using a transport platform that can be handled by cranes or vehicles, and includes additional devices for machining and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If pipes are supplied in maximum lengths of approximately 12 m for transport on HGV, then transportability is improved, but the required pipeline length at the site cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The long pipe is divided into multiple 12m sections that are transported separately on HGVs, then joined at the site using screw connections. This allows the pipe to be transported in manageable lengths while achieving the required total pipeline length through segmentation and assembly at the destination.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipes are pre-assembled into 12m sections at the manufacturing site with all necessary fittings and connections prepared in advance. This preliminary preparation enables efficient on-site assembly where multiple pre-prepared sections are quickly connected to form the complete pipeline system.
2Length of moving object
If welding is used to join pipe sections at the site, then pipeline length can be extended, but material changes occur at the welded joint
Solution Approach 1:
Screw connections are used as temporary or sacrificial joints that can be easily installed and removed if needed. These mechanical connections allow pipeline extension without the permanent material changes associated with welding, providing flexibility for future maintenance or reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection method is changed from welding (thermal process) to screwing (mechanical process). This parameter change in the joining method avoids the thermal effects and material transformations that occur during welding, thereby maintaining material property consistency throughout the pipeline.
3Manufacturing precision
If screw connections are used to join pipe sections, then material properties are preserved, but maintenance becomes complex or impossible when connections are underground
Solution Approach 1:
The screw connections are designed with features that enable self-inspection and self-maintenance. Threaded connections provide audible feedback during tightening, and the modular design allows for easy disassembly and reassembly without specialized equipment, making underground connections maintainable through straightforward mechanical operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Accessible connection chambers or inspection ports are introduced as intermediary structures that provide remote access to underground screw connections. These intermediaries allow maintenance personnel to reach and service the connections without extensive excavation, simplifying the maintenance of otherwise inaccessible underground joints.
4Extent of automation
If a transport system delivers coiled pipes to the customer's premises, then final processing can be automated, but additional devices and system complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions (transport, storage, straightening, cutting, and dispensing) are merged into a single integrated transport system that is delivered to the customer's premises. The reel holder, straightening device, and cutting device are combined in one unit, reducing the need for separate equipment and simplifying the overall system while enabling full automation of pipe processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport system is designed as a multi-functional unit that can perform multiple operations: holding the coiled pipe, uncoiling it, straightening it, cutting it to length, and dispensing it to the customer. This universal device eliminates the need for multiple separate pieces of equipment, reducing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive automation capability.
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 the delivery of coiled pipes with any desired length, ensuring high-quality pipe sections are produced at the customer's site, reducing transportation complexity and maintenance needs, and integrating final processing steps into the customer's production process.
Implementation Method 1
the drive is configured such that, with the drive, the pipe can be conveyed in a transport direction
Implementation Method 2
the straightening device is configured such that the pipe can be straightened with the straightening device
Data Source
AI summary
Transport system makes it possible to transport a pipe of any length and with the required quality to the location of the use of the pipe. The transport system for a pipe has a transport platform, a receptacle for the pipe, wherein the receptacle is configured in such a manner that the pipe may be received coiled on the receptacle, a drive, wherein the drive is configured in such a manner that the pipe may be conveyed by the drive in a transport direction, and a straightening device, wherein the straightening device is configured in such a manner that the pipe can be straightened with the straightening device. The receptacle, the drive and the straightening device are arranged on the transport platform in such a manner that the pipe may be drawn automatically from the receptacle and fed to the straightening device by the drive.