Flexible Pipe Joint Boot for Thermal and Chemical Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elastomeric flexible elements in flexible pipe joints face reduced performance due to thermal and chemical exposure from fluids, with existing solutions like two-stage bellows being costly, space-intensive, and prone to buckling.
Innovation Solution
An annular flexible boot provides thermal or chemical insulation by encircling the lumen of the flexible pipe joint, with a shape conforming to neighboring components, using multiple layers of materials like metal alloy foil and fabric-reinforced elastomer to create a redundant insulation system, reducing pressure and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a two-stage bellows is used to provide thermal or chemical insulation of the elastomeric flexible element, then insulation performance is improved, but device complexity, cost, and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible boot acts as an intermediary barrier between the fluid and the elastomeric flexible element. The boot encircles the lumen and provides thermal and chemical insulation, preventing direct exposure of the elastomeric element to harmful fluid conditions while maintaining flexibility and articulation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible boot is constructed from composite materials including fabric-reinforced elastomer and metal alloy foil layers. This composite structure provides both mechanical strength and thermal/chemical insulation properties, resolving the contradiction by achieving protection without excessive complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a two-stage bellows is used for insulation, then thermal or chemical protection is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible boot utilizes thin-film construction with fabric-reinforced elastomer and metal alloy foil layers that provide insulation functionality at lower cost compared to complex two-stage bellows. This approach achieves thermal and chemical protection through simplified manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible boot provides a cost-effective insulation solution that can be manufactured more economically than two-stage bellows, using readily available materials and simpler construction methods, thereby reducing overall system cost while maintaining protective functionality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a two-stage bellows is used for insulation, then thermal or chemical protection is improved, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible boot is nested within the existing pipe joint structure, encircling the lumen without requiring additional external space. This nested configuration provides insulation functionality while maintaining a compact overall footprint, resolving the space contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulation function is achieved by adding a radial dimension (the boot wall thickness) rather than increasing axial length. This dimensional approach allows thermal and chemical protection without significantly increasing the space occupied by the pipe joint assembly.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a two-stage bellows is used for insulation, then thermal or chemical protection is improved, but sensitivity to buckling under load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible boot incorporates metal alloy foil and fabric-reinforced elastomer composite layers that provide both insulation and mechanical strength. This composite construction resists buckling under load while maintaining flexibility, resolving the reliability contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The boot structure is designed with varying local properties - thicker or reinforced sections in areas subject to higher buckling loads, and optimized material composition at different locations. This local quality approach provides buckling resistance where needed while maintaining overall flexibility and insulation performance.
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 annular flexible boot offers improved thermal and chemical insulation, reduced sensitivity to buckling, and cost-effectiveness, allowing for a more compact and lightweight design compared to traditional two-stage bellows.
Implementation Method 1
an annular flexible boot for thermally or chemically insulating the at least one annular elastomeric flexible element from the fluid flowing through the flexible pipe joint
Implementation Method 2
using multiple layers of materials like metal alloy foil and fabric-reinforced elastomer to create a redundant insulation system
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible pipe joint has a body and an annular elastomeric flexible element flexibly coupling an extension pipe to the body and operable to pivot the extension pipe with respect to the body. The flexible pipe joint also has an annular flexible boot operable to thermally or chemically insulating the annular elastomeric flexible element from the fluid flowing through a lumen of the flexible pipe joint. The annular flexible boot encircles the lumen, and the annular flexible boot has a first annular end attached to the extension pipe and a second annular end mounted so that pivoting of the extension pipe with respect to the body causes a flexing of the annular flexible boot, and a majority of the annular flexible boot has a shape conforming to shape of neighboring components of the flexible pipe joint.