Pipe Gripper Differential Mechanism for Compact Oval Pipe Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior gripper devices for pipes in the petroleum industry are excessively large and unable to securely grip pipes of different diameters and irregular shapes, such as those with ovality, while allowing rotation around their longitudinal axes.
Innovation Solution
A compact gripper device design featuring a support structure, gripper arm arrangement, drive arm arrangement, pivot arrangement, and transmission mechanism with a single drive shaft and three rotatable transmission members, ensuring balanced contact pressure and enabling reliable gripping and rotation of pipes with varying diameters and ovality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional gripper devices with multiple spaced drive shafts are used, then pipes of different diameters can be gripped, but the device size becomes excessively large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple drive shafts into a single drive shaft that simultaneously drives both gripper arms through a differential mechanism. This consolidation reduces the number of drive shafts from two to one, significantly compacting the device volume while maintaining the ability to grip pipes of different diameters through the differential's inherent adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single drive shaft serves multiple functions by connecting to both gripper arms through the differential mechanism. This universal drive shaft replaces what would traditionally require separate drive shafts for each arm, achieving space savings while preserving the gripper's versatility in handling various pipe diameters.
2Reliability
If gripper arms are positioned to securely grip pipes with ovality and irregularities, then gripping reliability improves, but the device cannot accommodate pipes of different diameters effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The differential mechanism introduces dynamic adaptability to the gripper system. As pipes with ovality or irregularities are gripped, the differential automatically adjusts the distribution of driving force between the two gripper arms, allowing each arm to independently adapt to the pipe's actual shape while maintaining secure contact. This dynamic adjustment enables reliable gripping of irregular pipes across different diameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The differential mechanism changes the operational parameters of the gripper arms by allowing independent rotation and position adjustment. This parameter flexibility enables the gripper to maintain reliable contact with pipes exhibiting ovality or irregularities while simultaneously adapting to various pipe diameters through the differential's inherent degree of freedom.
3Volume of moving object
If a single drive shaft with three rotatable transmission members is used, then device compactness is achieved, but transmission complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The differential mechanism acts as an intermediary between the single drive shaft and the two gripper arms. It mediates the power transmission by distributing torque from the single drive shaft to both arms while accommodating their independent motion requirements. This intermediary component enables compact design with a single drive shaft while managing the transmission complexity through a well-established mechanical mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe gripping device includes a gripper arm arrangement having first and second gripper arms and having an open state which enables the pipe to be introduced into an opening between the arms, and an engaged state in which the gripper arms are adapted to engage with the pipe. First and second drive arms movably connect the respective first gripper arm and the second gripper arm to a support structure. Pivots rotationally connect the drive arms to the support structure. The device further comprises a transmission drive shaft and a transmission arrangement having first, second and third transmission members, each rotatable in respect to each other and coupled with each other. The first member is coupled with the drive shaft, the second member is coupled to the first member and the first drive arm, and the third member is coupled with the second member and the second drive arm.