Composite Roundsling for Pipeline Restraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current restraint devices for pipeline systems face challenges with high heat and pressure conditions, leading to bulkiness, handling difficulties, and reduced strength after temperature exposure, necessitating either increased fibers or frequent replacements, which are costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A high strength, heat-resistant roundsling is manufactured using a composite of Para-Aramid and liquid crystal polymer fibers, commingled and intertwined to maintain strength and reduce friction, resulting in a lighter, more manageable device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If current heat resistant materials are used to manufacture restraint devices, then temperature resistance is improved, but weight and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining Para-Aramid fibers (providing heat resistance) with high-strength synthetic fibers (providing strength and reduced weight). This composite construction allows the restraint device to maintain heat resistance while reducing overall weight and bulk compared to traditional single-material constructions.
2Temperature
If current heat resistant materials are used to manufacture restraint devices, then temperature resistance is improved, but handling ease deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The composite construction combining Para-Aramid and high-strength synthetic fibers creates a material that is both heat resistant and more flexible/lightweight, directly improving handling ease while maintaining temperature resistance.
3Temperature
If material is exposed to higher temperatures and then cooled, then heat resistance is maintained, but strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite of Para-Aramid fibers (heat resistant) and high-strength synthetic fibers (strength maintaining) where each component compensates for the other's weaknesses after heat exposure. The high-strength fibers maintain structural integrity after cooling, while Para-Aramid provides the heat resistance capability.
4Strength
If the number of fibers or strands is increased to maintain strength, then strength is improved, but bulk and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The composite material construction achieves the required strength with fewer fibers by combining Para-Aramid with high-strength synthetic fibers that have superior strength-to-weight ratios. This reduces the overall bulk and complexity of the restraint device while maintaining or improving strength characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
A high strength, high temperature resistant roundsling for use as a restraint safety device. The roundsling uses a blend of fibers having characteristics of high strength, improved heat resistance, low weight, and improved handibility, as compared to roundslings assembled from non-blended fibers. Use of the roundslings of the present invention to secure sections of pipeline systems, will assist to maintain safety and reduce failure conditions in such pipeline systems that are subject to higher pressures and elevated temperatures. An exemplary and preferred range of the fiber blend for the inventive roundsling device are within a range of 30-70% Para-Aramid fibers and 70-30% LCP fibers, respectively. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention that has been tested is a roundsling manufactured to include a blend of fibers within the approximate range of 55-65% Para-Aramid and 45-35% LCP.