Modular Pipe Formation Apparatus On-Site Extrusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transportation and assembly of large diameter plastic pipes are cumbersome and costly due to size and weight limitations, requiring sectioning and time-consuming coupling at the site, which increases labor and material costs.
Innovation Solution
A modular plastic pipe formation apparatus that allows on-site manufacturing using transportable modules, including a plastic extruder, corrugator, cooling tanks, and other components, which can be easily aligned and locked together, reducing the need for extensive transportation and minimizing handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If large diameter plastic pipes are manufactured in long sections at a factory, then production efficiency is improved, but transportation difficulty increases due to size and weight limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe formation apparatus is divided into multiple modular sections (extrusion module, cooling module, handling module) that can be independently transported and assembled. This allows the system to produce long pipes on-site without transporting entire pipe sections, resolving the contradiction between production efficiency and transportation ease.
2Ease of operation
If large diameter plastic pipes are sectioned into manageable lengths, then transportation ease is improved, but coupling complexity increases at the installation site
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of transporting pre-fabricated pipe sections and coupling them on-site, the invention inverts the process by transporting the pipe formation apparatus and manufacturing pipes directly at the installation location. This eliminates coupling operations while maintaining transportation ease.
3Productivity
If pipe formation apparatus is installed permanently at a remote site, then production speed is improved, but relocation difficulty increases when site requirements change
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe formation apparatus is designed with modular, movable components that can be easily assembled and disassembled. This dynamic design allows the system to be rapidly deployed at remote sites for high-speed production, then relocated when project requirements change, resolving the contradiction between production speed and relocation flexibility.
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 approach reduces transportation costs and time, decreases the number of welds and couplings, enhances pipe integrity, and allows for flexible production near the site of use, improving delivery speed and simplifying storage and handling.
Implementation Method 1
Inside the barrel, a rotating screw rotates and advances the plastic feed, with the assistance of heaters, to melt and pressurise the plastic feed into molten plastic.
Implementation Method 2
The newly extruded pipe is then passed through a series of cooling tanks, that spray water to solidify the plastic pipe.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular plastic pipe formation apparatus to extrude plastic pipe is disclosed and includes a plurality of modules each having a transportable container and at least one component of the pipe formation apparatus located therein. The plurality of modules are aligned in a predetermined manner during formation of plastic pipe with the components aligned for pipe extrusion. The apparatus may also include a closed circuit fluid cooling system to provide cooling fluid to some of modules to cool the pipe being formed, the cooling circuit may flows in a counter direction to the direction of pipe forming in the pipe formation apparatus.