Thin Wall Stainless Steel Pipe Expander with Strain-Isolating Support Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pipe expanding apparatuses for thin wall stainless steel pipes face challenges in preventing strain generation during pipe expansion, leading to difficulties in disengagement and increased apparatus size, which complicates connection and transportation.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a flange with a first taper portion and a yoke with an expanded inner hole portion, along with a guide rod and pipe expanding rubber, to transmit expansion forces externally, reducing strain on the flange and yoke, and utilizing a coupling device for secure engagement without heavy members, allowing for downsizing and weight reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pipe expanding rubber is pressed between the guide ring and step portion to expand the thin wall stainless steel pipe, then the pipe expanding function is achieved, but strain is generated in the flange and yoke making disengagement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A support ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the pipe expanding rubber and the yoke. The support ring receives the expansion force from the pipe expanding rubber and transmits it to the flange through the yoke, preventing direct strain on the flange and yoke. This mediator structure enables easy disengagement while maintaining reliable pipe expansion function.
2Reliability
If heavy members are used to prevent strain generation during pipe expansion, then strain prevention is achieved, but apparatus weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support ring acts as a mediator that prevents strain generation without requiring heavy members. By distributing the expansion force through the support ring to the flange, the system achieves strain prevention while maintaining light weight and compact size, eliminating the need for bulky strain-prevention structures.
3Ease of operation
If the apparatus structure is simplified for easy connection and transportation, then ease of operation is improved, but strain generation during expansion may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The support ring provides a simple yet effective structure that prevents strain generation during pipe expansion. The detachable yoke design allows for easy connection and transportation, while the support ring ensures reliable strain prevention through its force distribution mechanism, achieving both simplicity and reliability.
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 design effectively prevents strain generation during pipe expansion, enabling smooth and accurate connection, facilitating easy disengagement, and achieving a compact, lightweight apparatus for efficient pipe expansion and connection.
Implementation Method 1
the pipe expanding rubber 112 is pressed between the guide ring 110 and the step portion 111 of the pressure application rod 107, so that the pipe expanding rubber 112 is reduced in length in a back and forth direction, and swells outward in a diametrical direction
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a pipe expanding apparatus of a thin wall stainless steel pipe in which a strain is not generated in a flange and a yoke, even when a pipe expanding rubber swells. The invention includes a flange which forms one inclined surface of a chevron shaped projection portion by internally fitting a thin wall stainless steel pipe, a yoke which forms the other inclined surface of the chevron shaped projection portion by being coupled at its one end side to the flange, and is coupled to a cylinder at its other end side, a guide rod which is coupled to a piston of the cylinder, and a pipe expanding rubber which is pinched between a step portion of the guide rod and a backup ring and expands the thin wall stainless steel pipe.