Foldable Pipe Exclusion Plug for Secure Debris Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foreign material exclusion devices lack a secure, readily insertable, and expandable, flexible, and foldable solution to temporarily seal construction areas like tubes or pipes from debris, which is crucial for preventing damage during assembly or maintenance in industries such as power generation.
Innovation Solution
A flexible, foldable foreign material exclusion device comprising semicylindrical resilient bodies within a flexible cover, with a hinge allowing the device to expand from a compressed state to form a snug cylinder or disk shape within a tube or pipe, effectively sealing off one side from the other and preventing debris entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid seal device is used to block tubes or pipes, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but ease of insertion and adaptability to different tube sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seal device transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamic, flexible structure that can adapt its shape. The resilient bodies allow the device to deform during insertion and then maintain sealing pressure against the tube wall, resolving the contradiction between ease of insertion and sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible resilient bodies that can be compressed into a compact form for easy insertion into tubes of various sizes. Once inside, these bodies expand to form an effective seal, combining the advantages of flexibility for insertion with rigidity for sealing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible seal device is used to improve adaptability, then ease of insertion and adaptability to different tube sizes is improved, but sealing reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device changes its physical parameters (shape, volume, density) by transitioning from a compressed transport state to an expanded operational state. The resilient bodies are compressed for insertion and then expand to their original form, providing both adaptability during insertion and reliable sealing once deployed.
3Reliability
If a complex expansion mechanism is added to achieve secure sealing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient bodies are designed to automatically expand upon insertion into the tube, using the natural elastic recovery of the material. This self-expanding mechanism eliminates the need for complex external actuation systems, achieving secure sealing while maintaining device simplicity.
4Ease of operation
If resilient bodies are used for expansion, then ease of operation and adaptability are improved, but device volume and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient bodies are nested or folded within the device housing in a compact configuration for transport and storage. When deployed, they expand outward to form the sealing structure, effectively reducing the device volume during non-operational states while maintaining full functionality during operation.
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 device provides a secure, adaptable, and efficient means to prevent debris from entering sensitive areas, ensuring the integrity of equipment during maintenance and assembly by forming a snug fit within the tube or pipe, allowing for easy removal of debris before operation.
Implementation Method 1
semicylindrical resilient bodies within a flexible cover, with a hinge allowing the device to expand from a compressed state to form a snug cylinder or disk shape
Data Source
AI summary
A foreign material exclusion device that is adapted to seal an area of a construction, such as a tube or pipe or other cavity, from foreign material or debris temporarily, wherein the device includes a cylindrical plug that has a plurality of resilient bodies for holding the device within a particular construction. The bodies are substantially planar, and semicylindrical in shape wherein two bodies are utilized. A flexible cover includes a first pouch which contains a first body therein and desirably a second pouch of the cover contains a second body therein, with the cover having a hinge between said first and second pouches. When the device is not in use, the bodies can be folded against one another in a closed position until they are inserted into a tube or pipe whereupon they can be opened to an open position and generally form a disk having a snug, fitted connection with a wall of the tube or pipe.