Flexible Pipe Bend With Bellows for 3D Cryogenic Line Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transfer devices for cryogenic liquids face challenges in maintaining a fluid-tight seal, especially for angular movements, leading to pressure losses and safety risks due to the use of swivel joints and flexible hoses.
Innovation Solution
A pipe bend with a pipe elbow section fluidly connected to elastic pipe sections that allow swiveling movements around non-parallel swivel axes, providing compensation for angular movements in three dimensions while minimizing pressure drop and maintaining a gas-tight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If swivel joints and flexible hoses are used to compensate angular movements, then adaptability to vehicle movements is improved, but fluid-tight seal reliability deteriorates leading to pressure losses and safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs elastic pipe sections with bellows structures that provide flexibility for angular movements while maintaining fluid-tight seals. The bellows expand and contract elastically to accommodate pitch, yaw, and roll movements without requiring traditional swivel joints with seals, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and seal reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe bend incorporates dynamic elastic elements that adapt to varying movement conditions. The bellows structures dynamically adjust their shape and volume in response to angular displacements, providing continuous adaptability while maintaining structural integrity and seal reliability throughout the range of motion
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple swivel joints are used to compensate angular movements in three dimensions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple angular movement compensations into a single integrated pipe bend structure. Instead of using separate swivel joints for pitch, yaw, and roll compensation, the elastic pipe sections with bellows provide all three degrees of freedom within a unified structure, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining full adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic pipe sections serve multiple functions simultaneously: they compensate for pitch movements, yaw movements, and roll movements, while also maintaining fluid-tight seals and accommodating pressure variations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each degree of freedom, simplifying the overall system
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 proposed solution effectively compensates for pitch, yaw, and roll movements of a vehicle, such as a ship, with a single pipe bend that is gas-tight and causes only a limited pressure drop, enhancing safety and efficiency in cryogenic fluid transfer.
Implementation Method 1
Each elastic pipe section permits swiveling movements around a pair of two swivel axis which are not parallel to each other
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A pipe bend (200) for a transfer line for transferring fluid is suggested. The pipe bend comprises a pipe elbow section (201). Each end of the pipe elbow section is fluidly connected with a first and a second elastic pipe section (202,203). Each elastic pipe section (202,203) permits swiveling movements around a pair of two swivel axis which are not parallel to each other. At least three swivel axis of the two pairs of swivel axis (211-214) are not parallel to each other. The arrangement of the swivel axis allows for angular movements in three dimensions to compensate pitch, yaw, and roll movements of a vehicle connected to the pipe bend.