Flexible Pipe Pressure Vault With Indexed Unstapled Wire Turns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible fluid transport conduits face issues with high manufacturing costs, limited bending radius, and potential for corrosive gas accumulation and accelerated corrosion due to stapled pressure arches, which are prone to creep and disorganization.
Innovation Solution
A flexible conduit design featuring an unstapled metal arch wire with a short-pitch helix and an indexing assembly, such as helical ribs or projections, to maintain the axial position of arch wire turns, eliminating metallic contact with the inner sheath and allowing gas escape, while using polymer spacers for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stapled pressure arches are used, then resistance to sheath creep is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and bending radius is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the stapling process from the pressure arch construction. Instead of using stapled wires, the patent employs unstapled wires with an indexing assembly that maintains wire position without mechanical fasteners, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining creep resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary indexing assembly (including indexing projections and indexing stops) that mediates between the unstapled arch wires and the sheath. This intermediary mechanism prevents wire migration and maintains structural integrity without requiring costly stapling processes
2Stability of the object's composition
If stapled pressure arches are used, then stability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the complex stapling mechanism from the pressure arch design. By using unstapled wires with a simpler indexing system consisting of projections and stops, the patent reduces structural complexity while maintaining arch stability through the indexing mechanism that prevents wire displacement
3Reliability
If stapled pressure arches are used, then creep resistance is improved, but bending flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention eliminates the rigid stapling connections that limit bending flexibility. The unstapled wire design with indexing stops allows the pressure arch to flex and adapt to bending while the indexing mechanism prevents excessive wire migration, thereby improving bending flexibility while maintaining adequate creep resistance
4Strength
If stapled pressure arches are used, then structural integrity is improved, but corrosive gas accumulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the stapled structure that creates confined spaces for corrosive gas accumulation. The unstapled wire design with indexing stops eliminates crevices and trapped spaces where corrosive gases could accumulate, thereby preventing accelerated corrosion while maintaining structural integrity through the indexing mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harm of confined spaces into benefit by designing an open unstapled structure. The indexing stops provide necessary structural support while allowing gas flow paths that prevent corrosive gas accumulation, transforming a potential weakness into a corrosion-resistant design feature
Data Source
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AI summary
The pipe comprises an internal sheath (20), and an unstapled pressure vault structure (27), comprising at least one metal vault wire (40) wound with a short pitch forming a plurality of successive turns (42) around an outer surface (21) of the internal sheath (20). The pressure vault structure (27) comprises at least one metal contact region applied on the outer surface (21) of the internal sheath (20), the metal contact region having, in cross-section in at least one median axial plane passing through the central axis, an inner edge parallel to the central axis. The flexible pipe comprises an assembly (27A) for indexing the axial position of each turn (42) along the central axis, suitable for maintaining a gap (47) between each pair of adjacent turns (42).