Pipe Holder Safety Bolt for Reliable Closure Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for vertical pipe mounting, used in offshore drilling, lack reliable signaling for proper closure, leading to potential pipe slippage and loss due to incorrect locking states, especially in adverse weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable locking device with a safety bolt and plate arrangement that engages behind a locking bolt, providing visual and tactile confirmation of proper closure through recesses and guides, ensuring all components are in the correct position for secure locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If display elements are used to mark proper closure, then closure status can be indicated, but the reliability is insufficient due to the large number of conceivable operating states
Solution Approach 1:
The safety bolt is extracted as a separate, distinct component from the locking mechanism. It physically protrudes when the door is improperly closed, creating a simple binary state (protruding vs. retracted) that clearly indicates closure status regardless of the complexity of internal locking states
Solution Approach 2:
The safety bolt provides visual indication through its positional state (protruding vs. retracted), which can be easily seen and distinguished. This visual signaling mechanism works reliably across different lighting and weather conditions, addressing the limitation of previous display elements
2Reliability
If the lock is closed without proper closure, then the device appears secure, but the pipe slips off and is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The safety bolt automatically positions itself based on the door closure state and locking profile position. When the door is properly closed and the locking profile is engaged, the safety bolt is pushed into the recess and becomes flush with the door surface, providing self-verifying indication without requiring additional manual checks
Solution Approach 2:
The safety bolt provides immediate visual and tactile feedback about the closure state. Operators can quickly verify proper locking by checking whether the safety bolt protrudes or is flush with the door surface, enabling rapid verification even in adverse weather conditions
3Device complexity
If multiple components are made pivotable, then the design becomes more compact, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The safety bolt mechanism is integrated with the existing door element and locking profile. The safety bolt serves both as a structural component of the door assembly and as an indication mechanism, eliminating the need for separate indication devices and maintaining operational simplicity
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for vertically holding pipes, comprising a base element in the form of a cylinder segment and at least one door-type access element which is pivotally connected to the base element by means of at least one pivot joint. A closure (13) is arranged opposite the pivot joint. Said closure has a pivotable lock which engages, when locked, with a latch profile (15) behind a locking pin (16). A securing pin (24) and a securing plate (23) are arranged in the area of the pivotable lock. The securing plate, depending on the position, releases at least one recess for the securing pin or closes the same.