Pipe Handling Attachment With Pivoting Roller for Accessory Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe handling attachments for heavy construction equipment lack the ability to efficiently rotate and manage pipes during make-up and break-out operations, particularly when dealing with pipe accessories like reamers or valves, due to limited positional flexibility and interference issues.
Innovation Solution
A pipe handling attachment configured for attachment to heavy construction equipment, featuring a head assembly, main beam assembly, tilt actuators, and a vise assembly with a pipe roller gripping assembly that can pivot between lowered and raised positions to avoid interference with pipe accessories, enabling efficient rotation and handling of pipes during connection and disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pipe roller gripping assembly is used to rotate pipe sections during make-up and break-out operations, then pipe handling efficiency is improved, but interference with pipe accessories such as reamers or valves occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe roller gripping assembly is made dynamically positionable through a pivoting mechanism that allows it to move between a lowered operational position for pipe rotation and a raised clearance position to avoid interfering with pipe accessories such as reamers or valves. This dynamic repositioning capability enables the system to adapt to different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces vertical movement (raising and lowering) of the pipe roller gripping assembly as an additional degree of freedom. By moving the assembly vertically between lowered and raised positions, the system resolves spatial interference issues without compromising its primary pipe rotation function.
2Ease of operation
If the pipe roller gripping assembly is positioned in the lowered position for pipe rotation, then pipe handling capability is maintained, but interference with pipe accessories occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe roller gripping assembly transitions from a static to a dynamic configuration through pivoting capability. The assembly can be lowered to maintain pipe rotation capability during normal operations, then raised to eliminate interference when pipe accessories are present, providing operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Before interference with pipe accessories can occur, the system proactively raises the pipe roller gripping assembly to a clearance position. This preliminary action prevents the harmful interference from happening in the first place, allowing subsequent operations with pipe accessories to proceed without obstruction.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pipe roller gripping assembly is raised to avoid interference with pipe accessories, then compatibility with accessories is improved, but pipe rotation capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains pipe rotation capability through periodic lowering of the pipe roller gripping assembly when pipe accessories are not present. The dynamic positioning allows the assembly to be raised for accessory compatibility during certain phases, then lowered to restore full pipe rotation capability for subsequent operations.
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 attachment enables efficient rotation and management of pipes during make-up and break-out operations, allowing for safe handling of pipe accessories by moving the pipe roller gripping assembly out of the way when necessary, thus improving operational efficiency and reducing interference.
Implementation Method 1
The pipe roller gripping assembly is configured to grip a pipe and rotate the pipe about a longitudinal axis of the pipe
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
An attachment that is configured for attachment to an arm of a piece of heavy construction equipment. The attachment is configured to rotate a section of pipe during break-out (i.e. disconnection or disassembly) from another section of pipe and/or make-up (i.e. connection or assembly) with another section of pipe. The attachment is configured to break the joint or torque the joint, unthread or thread pipe, and lift the pipe under the power of the heavy construction equipment.