Flexible Pipe Clamping Insert for Heavy-Lift Strand Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pipe handling tools are unable to lift significant masses of flexible pipes due to their flexibility, which prevents sufficient friction from being achieved between the tool and the pipe, limiting the weight that can be lifted to tens of tonnes rather than hundreds.
Innovation Solution
A pipe handling apparatus that grips the pipe's wall between clamping members with elongate surfaces extending axially, featuring teeth, grooves, or ball bearings to increase grip, and a wedge-shaped profile to engage multiple helically wound strands, allowing for greater mass support by distributing the load across multiple strands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional pipe handling tools are used to grip flexible pipe, then the tool can be applied to the pipe surface, but the pipe flexes under pressure limiting friction and preventing significant mass from being lifted
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping surface is segmented into multiple discrete elements (teeth, grooves, or ball bearings) that individually engage with the pipe surface. This segmentation allows the gripping force to be distributed across multiple contact points, preventing the pipe from flexing under concentrated pressure while maximizing the total friction force available for lifting heavy masses.
2Strength
If conventional tools rely on hoop strength for gripping, then they can handle rigid steel pipe, but they cannot achieve sufficient grip on flexible pipe to lift hundreds of tonnes
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping surface incorporates localized features (teeth, grooves, or ball bearings) with specific geometries designed to engage with the local structure of flexible pipe. These features concentrate gripping force at specific contact points rather than distributing it uniformly, enabling the tool to penetrate through polymer layers and grip the steel strands beneath, thereby achieving sufficient grip strength on flexible pipe while adapting to its unique structure.
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 lifting of flexible pipes weighing hundreds of tonnes by securely gripping the steel strands beneath the polymer layers, overcoming the limitations of conventional tools that rely on hoop strength and friction.
Implementation Method 1
As the wall of a pipe is gripped between different parts of the apparatus, inherent hoop strength of the pipe is not relied upon to obtain a hold on the pipe
Implementation Method 2
The clamping surface may comprise teeth, grooves or other formations to increase grip between the clamping member and the pipe to be handled
Data Source
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AI summary
Pipe handling apparatus with an insert (4) configured to be inserted into a pipe to be handled (23). One or more clamping members (19) are moveably mounted relative to the insert. One or more actuators (17) are operable to urge the clamping members (19) towards the insert (4) thereby to grip the wall of the pipe to be handled (23). The insert (4) may be cylindrical. Multiple clamping members (19) may be spaced around the insert (4). The clamping members (19) may extend axially along the insert (4). The apparatus is suitable for handling flexible pipes (23) formed from multiple layers of helically wound metal strands.