Articulated Pipe Pig Wheel Layout for Tight Bend Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional smart pipe pigs face difficulties navigating tight bends in pipes due to their symmetrical wheel arrangement, which limits wheel size and restricts their ability to effectively traverse complex pipe geometries.
Innovation Solution
The pipe pig features linked segments with biasing elements that pivot and align wheels out of straight line alignment, allowing them to contact opposite sides of the pipe, including hub-driven wheels and a video camera for navigation and sensing, enabling efficient negotiation of tight bends and complex pipe layouts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional smart pigs use symmetrical wheel arrangement to maintain structural simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to navigate tight bends is limited due to small wheel size
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe pig is divided into multiple articulated segments that can pivot relative to each other. Each segment carries wheels that contact the pipe wall, and the segments can angle away from straight-line alignment to navigate bends. This segmentation allows the pig to adapt to tight bends while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe pig employs dynamic articulation between segments, allowing the structure to change its configuration from straight-line alignment during normal travel to angled configurations when encountering bends. The segments can dynamically adjust their relative positions to follow the pipe geometry, enabling navigation of tight bends without permanent structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If pipe pig segments are made smaller in cross section to enter pipes, then ease of operation is improved, but the wheels become even smaller relative to pipe internal diameter
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the pipe pig, each individual segment can be made small enough to enter pipes of various diameters, while the collective arrangement of multiple segments with articulated connections enables larger effective wheel contact patches. The segments work together to provide sufficient wheel size for effective operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a single-dimension constraint (wheel size relative to pipe diameter) to a multi-dimensional configuration where segments are arranged in three-dimensional space. The articulated segments can position their wheels at different angles and locations within the pipe cross-section, effectively increasing wheel contact capability without increasing individual segment size.
3Adaptability or versatility
If biasing elements are added to angle segments away from straight line alignment, then adaptability to tight bends is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing elements are distributed among multiple segments rather than concentrated in a single complex mechanism. Each segment incorporates its own biasing element to maintain angular separation from adjacent segments, distributing the complexity across modular units and making the overall system more manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing elements automatically perform the function of maintaining segment angularity without requiring external control mechanisms. The springs or elastic elements self-generate the necessary forces to keep segments angled away from straight-line alignment, eliminating the need for additional actuators or control systems.
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 design allows the pipe pig to successfully navigate tight bends and complex pipe geometries while carrying sensing electronics, enhancing its ability to inspect and monitor pipe conditions effectively.
Implementation Method 1
the pig having a biasing element for biasing the linked segments away from a straight line alignment
Implementation Method 2
at least a central wheel of the linked wheels is pivotally linked to adjacent wheels through a spring loaded connection that biases the central wheel out of straight line alignment
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe pig is provided with linked wheels, and at least a central wheel of the linked wheels is pivotally linked to adjacent wheels through a spring loaded connection that biases the central wheel out of straight line alignment with the adjacent wheels. The pipe pig may be used to negotiate tight bends in a pipe and carry sensing electronics.