Pipe Scraper Adjustable Guide Wheels Helical Path

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pipe scrapers require more time and effort to scrape smaller diameter pipes due to superimposition of scraped bands in consecutive revolutions, leading to inefficiency and increased time consumption.

Innovation Solution

The pipe scraper features adjustable idle guide wheels that allow variation of the angle between their axis of rotation and the pipe axis, enabling minimal superimposition or adjacency of scraped bands between revolutions, with a single-piece support and carrier design and a mechanism for precise positioning of the scraper head.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the guide wheels are fixed at a specific angle for maximum diameter pipes, then the scraped bands are adjacent for maximum diameter pipes, but the scraped bands superimpose for smaller diameter pipes increasing scraping time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescraping speedVSAvoidadaptability to different pipe diameters
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guide means is made adjustable in angle relative to the pipe axis, transforming a static fixed-angle design into a dynamic adjustable one. This allows the operator to optimize the helical path pitch for each specific pipe diameter, ensuring adjacent scraped bands regardless of pipe size, thereby maintaining high productivity across all diameter ranges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The angle parameter of the guide wheels relative to the pipe axis is made variable. By changing this angular parameter according to the pipe diameter being processed, the system optimizes the helical scraping path to prevent band superimposition, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining high scraping speed and adapting to different pipe sizes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of time

If the guide wheels are adjusted for smaller diameter pipes to prevent band superimposition, then scraping time is reduced for small pipes, but the scraped bands become non-adjacent for maximum diameter pipes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescraping timeVSAvoidscraping path precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustable guide means allows dynamic adaptation of the scraping path geometry to match the specific pipe diameter, ensuring that the helical bands are precisely adjacent without gaps or overlaps. This precision is achieved by optimizing the angle parameter for each pipe size, thereby minimizing scraping time while maintaining precise scraping path control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a fixed support structure is used, then the device structure is simple, but the ability to adjust the scraping path for different diameters is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport structure complexityVSAvoidadjustability of scraping path
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support means is designed with adjustable characteristics, allowing the guide means to be repositioned at different angles relative to the pipe axis. This transforms a static simple support structure into a dynamic adjustable one, enabling adaptation to various pipe diameters while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity through the use of adjustable mechanisms rather than completely redesigning the support structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2384868B1Pipe scraper
Publication Date: 2012.09.26 C B C
  • EP2384868B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2384868B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2384868B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The pipe scraper (10) comprises: a pipe carrier means (14) on which the pipe (13) to be scraped rests; a scraper means (15) comprising both a scraper head (34) provided with at least one scraper blade (36), and a guide means (46) intended to rest on the outer surface of the pipe (13) and which causes the scraper blade (36) to follow this outer surface, in order to scrape it, along a cylindrical helical path coaxial with the pipe (13); a support means (12) which carries both the pipe carrier means (14) and the scraper means (15) such that the distance between the two can be varied. Means (46, 49, 50, 51, 52) are provided to vary the pitch of said helical path.