Tubular Drifting Mandrel With Radial Mobility and Diameter Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing drifting devices for tubular goods require at least two operators and significant effort to verify traversability, and there is a need for simultaneous internal diameter measurements, which is cumbersome and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A drifting device with a cylindrical mandrel and internal diameter measuring equipment combined, featuring a mobility attachment part that allows the mandrel to move radially and be propelled automatically, reducing operator effort and enabling simultaneous diameter and length measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cylindrical mandrel is pushed or pulled through the tubular good using ropes and operators, then the traversability can be verified, but at least two operators are required and significant effort is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical system (operators pulling ropes) with an automated propulsion system. The drifting device includes an actuator that automatically propels the device through the tubular good, eliminating the need for operators to manually pull the mandrel through ropes. This substitution maintains the traversability verification function while dramatically reducing operator effort and requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The drifting device is designed to propel itself through the tubular good using an integrated actuator. The device serves its own propulsion needs without requiring external manual intervention, thereby reducing operator involvement from at least two operators to potentially zero operators during the actual drifting operation.
2Reliability
If separate equipment is used for traversability testing and internal diameter measurement, then each function can be performed, but the process is time-consuming and requires multiple operator interventions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate inspection functions (traversability testing and internal diameter measurement) into a single integrated drifting device. The device combines a cylindrical mandrel for traversability verification with internal diameter measuring equipment, allowing both measurements to be performed simultaneously in one passage through the tubular good. This eliminates the need for separate testing operations and reduces total inspection time.
Solution Approach 2:
The drifting device is designed as a multi-functional tool that performs both traversability verification and internal diameter measurement. The universal design allows a single device to execute multiple inspection tasks that previously required separate specialized equipment, thereby reducing time loss and operator interventions while maintaining measurement accuracy.
3Device complexity
If the cylindrical mandrel is rigidly fixed to the body, then the structure is simple, but wrong results may be generated due to inability to adapt to tubular good variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a rigid, static attachment structure to a dynamic, movable attachment structure. The attachment part is designed to enable the cylindrical mandrel to move relative to the body along the radial direction, allowing the mandrel to adapt to variations in the tubular good's internal geometry. This dynamic capability ensures reliable measurement results by maintaining proper contact and alignment throughout the drifting process.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment structure allows changes in the relative position parameters between the mandrel and the body. By enabling radial movement, the system can adjust the mandrel's position to accommodate variations in the tubular good's internal diameter and geometry, thereby maintaining measurement reliability without requiring a complex rigid structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
This drifting device (2) for a tubular good includes a body (12), a means of propelling the body (12) through the tubular good, and at least one attachment part (66) for attaching a cylindrical mandrel to the body (12), wherein the attachment part (66) is so configured to enable a degree of mobility of the cylindrical mandrel with respect to the body (12) along a radial direction.