Pipe Cradle Alignment for Stable Ditch Pipeline Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transportation and placement of large pipe segments for oil, gas, and water pipelines are time-consuming and costly, requiring oversized vehicles with counterweights and posing safety hazards due to the need for human crews to manually position the segments, which can lead to tipping and damage.
Innovation Solution
A pipe laying apparatus with remote-controlled mobile platforms that support pipe segments with cradles aligned along a central longitudinal axis, allowing for safe and efficient transportation and offloading by straddling the ditch and using a ramp for gentle placement, reducing the need for human intervention and minimizing the risk of damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If side boom vehicles are used to transport and position pipe segments, then the pipe segments can be moved to the ditch, but the risk of vehicle tipping and pipe damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specialized pipe laying apparatus with a boom and cradle system that acts as an intermediary between the vehicle and the pipe segment. The cradle securely holds the pipe segment and the boom provides controlled movement, eliminating the need for side boom vehicles to directly manipulate heavy pipes, thus preventing tipping and damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe laying apparatus is divided into functional segments: the vehicle platform, the boom mechanism, the cradle for holding pipe segments, and the lowering system. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, with the cradle and boom working together to safely position pipes without compromising vehicle stability.
2Ease of operation
If human crews manually position pipe segments from side booms, then the pipe segments can be directed into the ditch, but safety hazards increase due to dangerous positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe laying apparatus is designed to perform the positioning function automatically through its mechanical systems. The boom mechanism and cradle work together to direct and lower pipe segments into the ditch without requiring human operators to be in dangerous positions, making the system self-sufficient for the hazardous positioning task.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical positioning method (human crews physically directing pipes) with an automated mechanical system consisting of the boom and cradle. This substitution eliminates the need for human intervention in the dangerous zone while maintaining precise control over pipe segment placement.
3Productivity
If side boom vehicles are used for pipe transport, then pipe segments can be delivered to the ditch, but the process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe laying apparatus enables continuous operation by allowing the vehicle to move along the ditch while the boom and cradle continuously support and position pipe segments. The system can operate without stopping to reposition equipment or personnel, maintaining a steady flow of pipe installation and reducing overall transportation time.
4Reliability
If multiple side booms are used to handle large pipe segments, then the pipe segments can be safely supported, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe laying apparatus is designed as a universal system that can handle various pipe segment sizes and weights using a single vehicle equipped with an adjustable boom and cradle. The cradle can accommodate different pipe dimensions, and the boom's range of motion allows one vehicle to perform the work that previously required multiple specialized vehicles, reducing equipment quantity while maintaining support reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for laying pipe in a ditch. The apparatus comprises a mobile platform having a longitudinal central axis. A support extends from the mobile platform and includes a cradle. The cradle supports a weight of a pipe segment in alignment with the central longitudinal axis of the mobile platform as the pipe laying apparatus transports the pipe segment to a location where the pipe segment is to be placed and as the pipe laying apparatus offloads the pipe segment at the location where the pipe segment is to be placed in the ditch.