Mobile Thrust-Pad Measurement of Hydraulic Line Mechanical Play
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring mechanical clearances and evaluating the rigidity of hydraulic pipes in hydroelectric installations are complex and risky due to the need for equipment installation in difficult-to-access locations, and the high pressure conditions can lead to device failure.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device with a carrier carriage and measuring structure is used to measure mechanical clearances and rigidity by applying pressure inside the pipe, using a thrust cylinder and thrust pad to induce deformation, allowing for safe and efficient evaluation without complex scaffolding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If strain gauges are placed around the entire circumference of the pipe to measure deformation, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the measurement function from complex circumferential strain gauge systems and concentrates it into a single thrust pad application point. By applying force through one localized point and measuring the resulting deformation, the system achieves sufficient measurement precision without the complexity of multiple gauges around the entire circumference.
Solution Approach 2:
The thrust pad acts as an intermediary that converts hydraulic pressure into localized mechanical force on the pipe. This intermediary mechanism allows deformation measurement through a single controlled application point rather than requiring direct circumferential measurement around the entire pipe.
2Measurement precision
If the pipe is filled with water at high pressure to measure mechanical behavior, then measurement precision is improved, but safety risks increase due to potential device failure
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of filling the entire pipe with high-pressure water, the invention applies pressure partially through a controlled thrust cylinder system. The pressure is applied only where needed through the thrust pad, allowing measurement precision without the excessive action of pressurizing the entire pipe volume, thereby reducing safety risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a thrust cylinder with hydraulic or pneumatic pressure to generate controlled force on the pipe through the thrust pad. This localized fluid pressure system provides precise mechanical behavior measurement without requiring the pipe to be filled with high-pressure water, improving both safety and measurement accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If complex scaffolding and equipment are installed inside the pipe for measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult access and installation risks
Solution Approach 1:
The thrust pad assembly serves multiple functions: it applies controlled force to the pipe, measures deformation, and can be moved to different locations along the pipe. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for complex scaffolding and multiple specialized equipment, improving ease of operation while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement device is designed to be movable along the pipe rather than fixed in place. The carrier carriage and thrust pad assembly can be dynamically positioned at different locations, allowing precise clearance and rigidity measurements without requiring permanent installation of complex scaffolding structures.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Device (1) for measuring mechanical play (7) between a deformable duct (5) and a rigid wall (6), the device (1) comprising at least one supporting carriage (12) configured: - so as to move inside the duct (5) until it reaches a portion of the duct (5), at a predefined position (x), and - so as to carry a measurement structure (11) comprising at least one push ram (1121) connected to a push pad (1122), the push pad (1122) being configured to bear on an inner surface element (52) of the portion of the duct (5), wherein the push ram (1121) is configured to convert a received pressure (P) into a mechanical force applied, via the push pad (1122), to the inner surface element (52) of the portion of the duct (5) by inducing at least one radial deformation (∆M1) of the portion of the duct (5) until a threshold is detected, the device further comprising a unit for pressurising the push ram (1121), which unit is capable of measuring at least the pressure (P) applied to the push ram (1121).