Pipe Fitting Lift Assembly for Safe Alignment Around Existing Pipe
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of large pipe fittings around existing pipes for water and gas transportation is hazardous and labor-intensive, requiring multiple personnel and involving high risks of injury due to manual handling and misalignment, with traditional methods being time-consuming and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an upper lift assembly and a lower lift assembly, with a chevron-shaped lift frame, crow's foot vertical runner assemblies, and a cradle system, allows for the secure suspension, movement, alignment, and clamping of upper and lower pipe fitting portions using mechanical equipment, reducing the need for manual labor and minimizing the risk of injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional manual methods are used to position and align pipe fitting portions, then installers can complete the installation with basic equipment, but the risk of personal injury increases and alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces mechanical equipment (crane, excavator, backhoe) as intermediaries between the installers and the pipe fitting portions. These machines handle the heavy lifting and positioning, eliminating direct manual contact with heavy components and thereby preventing injuries while maintaining installation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical handling with automated mechanical systems. The crane, excavator, and backhoe provide controlled movement and positioning of pipe fitting portions, substituting human physical effort and manual alignment processes with machine-controlled operations that enhance safety and precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional manual alignment methods are used, then the installation process can proceed without specialized equipment, but the alignment precision between upper and lower pipe fitting portions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses mechanical equipment as intermediaries to achieve precise alignment. The crane, excavator, and backhoe provide controlled movement and positioning capabilities that enable accurate alignment of the upper and lower pipe fitting portions, eliminating the imprecision of manual alignment methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual alignment procedures with machine-controlled positioning. The mechanical equipment provides precise control over the position and orientation of pipe fitting portions, ensuring accurate alignment between upper and lower sections while reducing dependency on installer skill and effort.
3Productivity
If traditional installation methods are used, then the installation process can proceed with minimal equipment, but the installation time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual installation processes with automated mechanical systems. The crane, excavator, and backhoe perform heavy lifting, positioning, and alignment operations that would otherwise require multiple installers and significant time, thereby dramatically increasing installation speed and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary positioning and alignment of pipe fitting portions using mechanical equipment before final installation. The crane, excavator, and backhoe can pre-position components with high precision, allowing installers to complete the assembly process more efficiently without the time-consuming trial-and-error of manual alignment.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If manual handling of upper pipe fitting portion is used, then the equipment requirements are minimized, but the harmful factors such as crushing and maiming risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces mechanical equipment (crane, excavator, backhoe) as intermediaries between the installers and the heavy pipe fitting portions. These machines handle all aspects of lifting, moving, and positioning the upper fitting portion, eliminating direct manual contact and thereby completely preventing crushing and maiming risks associated with heavy components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual handling of heavy pipe fitting portions with automated mechanical systems. The crane, excavator, and backhoe provide controlled manipulation of the upper fitting portion throughout the entire installation process, substituting human physical interaction with machine-controlled operations that eliminate injury risks.
Data Source
AI summary
A system to suspend, move, place, align and clamp upper and lower pipe fitting portions of a pipe fitting to each other around an existing pipe. The system includes an upper lift assembly configured to attach to an upper pipe fitting portion and a lower lift assembly configured to attach to a lower pipe fitting portion. The upper lift assembly is connectable to the lower lift assembly by a suspension arrangement such that when the suspension is attached to both the lower lift assembly and the upper lift assembly the upper and lower pipe fitting sections of a pipe fitting become aligned and pressed together.