Pipe Joint Heater for Even Thermal Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for breaking over-torqued pipe joints using a blow torch result in uneven heating, leading to potential warping of the female tool joint, making the pipe unsuitable for further assembly.
Innovation Solution
A heater is integrated or separately arranged adjacent to a pipe make/break vise assembly to provide even heating around the circumference of the female tool joint, preventing warping and facilitating the disconnection of the joint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a blow torch is used to heat the female tool joint, then the joint can be heated to facilitate breaking, but the heating is uneven causing warping of the female tool joint
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is divided into multiple heating zones or segments arranged around the female tool joint, with each zone independently controllable. This allows different sections of the joint to be heated uniformly across the entire circumference, preventing warping while achieving the necessary temperature for breaking the over-torqued connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system provides localized and uniform heat distribution specifically to the female tool joint area requiring breaking. The heater is positioned and configured to concentrate thermal energy precisely where needed, ensuring even heating of the joint circumference without affecting other parts of the pipe assembly.
2Productivity
If a blow torch is used to heat the female tool joint, then breaking of the joint can be facilitated, but the female tool joint becomes unsuitable for further assembly due to warping
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is divided into multiple heating zones or segments arranged around the female tool joint, with each zone independently controllable. This allows different sections of the joint to be heated uniformly across the entire circumference, preventing warping while achieving the necessary temperature for breaking the over-torqued connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The uniform heating system prevents warping before it can occur by distributing heat evenly across the female tool joint circumference. This preliminary preventive action ensures the joint can be broken effectively while maintaining the pipe section's integrity for future reuse, countering the harmful warping effect before it compromises reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If a separate heater is used instead of integration with the vise assembly, then the heater can be manually positioned for even heating, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separate heater design allows the same heating apparatus to be used with different vise assemblies and pipe configurations. By making the heater a standalone unit that can be manually positioned, it achieves universal applicability across various pipe sizes and vise types, maintaining heating uniformity without requiring complex integrated designs for each specific application.
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
The solution ensures even heating of the female tool joint, preventing warping and enabling successful disconnection of over-torqued pipe joints without damaging the pipe sections.
Implementation Method 1
a heater is arranged adjacent to a pipe make/break vise assembly to heat a female tool joint of two pipe sections connected by threads
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatus and methods are described where a heater is arranged adjacent to a pipe make/break vise assembly to heat a female tool joint of two pipe sections connected by threads to facilitate breaking or disconnection of the joint. The heater can have any configuration or can be used in any manner to result in even heating around the circumference of the female tool joint. In addition, the heater can be incorporated into the same apparatus as the make/break vise assembly, or the heater can be an apparatus that is separate from the apparatus containing the make/break vise assembly. In one embodiment, the heater can be used as a stand-alone heater to heat the female tool joint.