Pipe Closure Plug for Offshore Foundation Pile Buoyancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transportation of elongate and heavy pipes used in offshore structures is laborious and requires an alternative method that does not involve modifying the pipes, such as welding or creating holes, to achieve efficient and fluid-tight sealing for buoyancy and driving force transfer.
Innovation Solution
An assembly comprising a pipe and a plug with a fluid-tight sealing mechanism using a pressurized fluid chamber and actuators, which applies a controlled sealing force to the pipe, allowing for buoyancy and efficient transportation without altering the pipe's structure, and includes a plug with a floating body for buoyancy and actuators for exerting the sealing force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional transportation methods are used for elongate pipes, then the pipe can be transported, but the process is laborious and requires heavy equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies buoyancy as a counterweight force to offset the pipe's weight. By sealing one end of the pipe with a plug and filling the interior with air or gas, the assembly achieves positive buoyancy that counteracts gravity, allowing the heavy pipe to float and be towed with minimal equipment.
2Ease of operation
If the pipe is modified for transportation (welding eyes, creating holes), then transportation becomes easier, but the pipe's structural integrity and fatigue load are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing plug serves multiple functions: it seals the pipe end to create buoyancy, provides a connection point for towing, and transfers driving force during pipe installation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate modifications like welding eyes or creating holes, preserving the pipe's structural integrity.
3Power
If a sealing mechanism is designed to transfer driving force, then efficient pipe installation is achieved, but the sealing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing function with the driving force transfer function into a single integrated mechanism. The sealing plug uses friction between its outer surface and the pipe's inner wall to simultaneously achieve sealing and transmit driving force during pipe installation, eliminating the need for separate locking dogs or complex mechanical interfaces.
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
Enables efficient transportation of elongate pipes with minimal resources and operations by creating buoyancy and transferring driving force through the sealing means, maintaining the pipe's integrity and avoiding structural modifications, thus facilitating safe and effective towing over water.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing means comprises a fluid chamber for a pressurised fluid
Implementation Method 2
the assembly comprising the pipe and the plug itself has buoyancy, thus creating a good starting position for transporting the assembly over water
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 3c~3d
AI summary
The invention relates to an assembly (1) comprising an elongate pipe (5) which extends along a central axis (7) and a plug (6a,6b) which is arranged in or on the pipe and which exerts a sealing force on the pipe in order to seal an open pipe end in a fluid-tight manner. The invention relates in particular to elongate pipes in offshore-structures in which the pipes are used as foundation piles. These foundation pipes can, in practice, be over 80 metres long and weigh 400-600 tons. As the transportation of these elongate and heavy pipes is laborious, there is a need for an alternative.