Hose Test Pressurisation Device with Sequential Roll Feeding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional test pressurization systems for hoses, such as fire hoses, require significant space and pose risks to operators due to high pressure, which can lead to injuries from bursting hoses during inspection.

Innovation Solution

A test pressurization device with pairs of motor-driven press rolls that allow for sequential pressurization and inspection of hose sections, eliminating the need for a separate feeding device and providing a space-efficient solution while maintaining prescribed pressure and protecting operators from high-pressure leaks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a drum with vertically oriented axis is used to wind-up the hose, then the winding-up can take place within a relatively small space, but the operator risks being injured by high-pressure leaking jets during inspection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace required for hose windingVSAvoidoperator injury risk from high-pressure leaks
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hose inspection system is divided into multiple segments: a pressurization zone where the hose is pressurized between press rolls, and an inspection zone where the pressurized hose section is transported for visual inspection. This segmentation allows the operator to remain at a safe distance from the high-pressure zone while still performing inspection functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A transport mechanism acts as an intermediary between the pressurization zone and the inspection zone. This intermediary transports short pressurized hose sections to the operator for inspection, eliminating the need for the operator to approach the high-pressure area directly while maintaining inspection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the whole wound-up hose is filled with pressurised fluid for inspection, then tightness control can be performed, but the operator risks injury from bursting hoses during visual inspection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehose tightness controlVSAvoidoperator injury from hose bursting
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of pressurizing the entire hose, the system pressurizes only short sections of the hose at a time between the press rolls. This segmentation reduces the potential energy stored in the pressurized portion, minimizing injury risk if bursting occurs, while still enabling effective tightness control of the inspected section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial pressurization to only the necessary portion of the hose being inspected, rather than pressurizing the entire hose length. This partial action is sufficient for tightness control while significantly reducing the hazards associated with full hose pressurization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a transparent protective screen fully encapsulates the drum, then visual inspection is eased and operator protection is provided, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator protection during inspectionVSAvoidprotective screen structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the pressurization function from the inspection area by using press rolls to pressurize hose sections separately from the operator's workspace. This extraction eliminates the need for extensive protective enclosures, reducing device complexity while maintaining operator protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The transport mechanism serves as an intermediary that moves pressurized hose sections to the operator without requiring the operator to enter or approach the high-pressure zone. This intermediary approach provides protection through distance rather than through complex protective structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If separate feeding devices are used to pull the hose through the system, then hose can be fed through press rolls, but hose wear increases and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehose feeding through systemVSAvoidhose wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the feeding function with the press rolls themselves. The press rolls that pressurize the hose also serve to feed it through the system, eliminating the need for separate feeding devices and reducing hose wear from additional contact points and mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The press rolls are designed with multi-functionality, serving both to pressurize the hose and to feed it through the inspection system. This universal application reduces the number of components, simplifies the system, and minimizes hose wear by eliminating redundant feeding mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This solution enables efficient space utilization and reduces hose wear, allowing for faster inspection and detection of leaks, with the ability to maintain constant pressure and automatically compensate for pressure deviations, thus enhancing safety and reducing working time.

Implementation Method 1

each pair of press rolls is arranged for pressing together the hose between the rolls in conjunction with pressurisation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

at least one of the pairs of press rolls is/are configured to operate as driving rolls for feeding of the hose

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2521903B8Test pressurisation device for hose
Publication Date: 2018.10.31 ALLGOTECH

AI summary

A test pressurisation device (100) for hose (1) includes a first pair of press/driving rolls (10, 12) between which the hose can be inserted, and a second pair of press/driving rolls (20, 22) between which the hose can be inserted. The first pair of press/driving rolls (10, 12) is arranged on a distance from the second pair of press/driving rolls (20, 22). Further each pair of press/driving rolls is arranged for pressing the hose together between the rolls in conjunction with pressurisation with a medium such as water so that a limited part of the hose, which is located between the first and the second pair of press/driving rolls, can be held pressurised and control of the hoses or its couplings tightness is admitted. Furthermore, while sections of the hose are held pressurised between the pairs of press/driving rolls, the same pairs of press/driving rolls are feeding the hose forward, thus checking the hoses tightness in a continuously moving section approach. In this way a very space efficient solution is achieved, as only a limited part of the hose needs to be held pressurised at a time.