Steerable Pipe Joint Machining for Lined Renovation Bends
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pipe renovation methods, such as lining techniques, face challenges in efficiently machining joint areas between thicker and thinner pipes, particularly due to the unsuitability of existing robot bores for complex pipe geometries and the need for skilled operation, leading to potential blockages and increased renovation costs.
Innovation Solution
A machining device with a rotatable spindle and steerable protruding parts, capable of being attached to an external actuator, is used to remove material from the joint area by sanding or cutting, allowing for precise hole puncture and edge honing within the pipe system, including bends, using abrasive bands and a steering device to maintain control and direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If robot bores are used to drill holes in joint areas, then holes can be created to allow waste water flow, but the device is too large to navigate bends and requires special skills leading to operational errors
Solution Approach 1:
The machining device is divided into modular components including a rotatable spindle, steerable protruding parts, and interchangeable cutting tools. This segmentation allows the device to navigate complex pipe geometries and perform multiple operations (drilling, cutting, honing) with a single compact unit that can pass through bends.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates steerable protruding parts and a rotatable spindle that can dynamically adjust their position and orientation. This dynamic capability allows the device to adapt to various pipe configurations including bends and joint areas, eliminating the need for large fixed-geometry robot bores.
2Reliability
If lining technique is used to renovate pipes, then a continuous tight pipe is formed with excellent flow properties, but joints are blocked requiring additional hole drilling
Solution Approach 1:
The machining device performs preliminary preparation of joint areas by removing lining material and creating precise openings before final assembly. This preliminary action ensures that joints remain functional while maintaining the integrity of the lining in other areas, eliminating the need for additional corrective hole drilling.
3Productivity
If destructive methods are used to remove old pipes, then complete pipe replacement is achieved, but building structures must be destroyed and rebuilt
Solution Approach 1:
The machining device extracts and removes only the necessary portions of old pipe material or lining at joint areas, rather than requiring complete pipe removal. This selective extraction allows renovation to proceed while preserving the surrounding building structure, avoiding the harmful effects of destructive demolition and rebuilding.
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
This solution enables efficient machining of pipe joint areas, reducing the need for destructive methods, minimizing waste accumulation, and allowing for cost-effective renovation with improved flow properties and durability, thus enhancing the efficiency and environmental friendliness of pipe renovation processes.
Implementation Method 1
A machining device with a rotatable spindle and steerable protruding parts, capable of being attached to an external actuator, is used to remove material from the joint area by sanding or cutting
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a machining device for machining the material of a pipe system comprising a joint area between a pipe having a smaller inner diameter and a pipe having a larger inner diameter. The device is characterized in that it comprises protruding parts, that have been adapted to position the device or at least a part of it inside the pipe having smaller diameter of the pipe system, steerable, actuator operable means for removing material from the joint area of the pipe system and steering device for controlling the direction of the machining device in relation to the longitudinal axis of the pipe having thinner diameter in the pipe system while removing material from the joint area of the pipe system. A method for machining material of a joint area of a pipe system comprising a thinner and a thicker pipe from the thinner pipe is also disclosed.