Pipe Spinner Lifter With Rollers for Rotation During Lifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe lifters and clamps do not allow for easy rotation of pipes while they are being lifted, leading to labor-intensive and unsafe manual processes for threading or unthreading sections during pipeline installations.
Innovation Solution
A pipe spinner and lifter device with pivotable jaws and rotatable rollers that securely grip and allow pipes to rotate about their longitudinal axis, combined with a tensile member guide path and counterweight system to facilitate rotation during lifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a scissor-type pipe clamp is used to securely lift and move pipe sections, then the pipe can be securely gripped and prevented from slipping, but the pipe cannot rotate about its longitudinal axis while engaged by the clamp
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces static friction pads with dynamic rollers that can rotate about their longitudinal axes. This allows the pipe to rotate about its longitudinal axis while being gripped, as the rollers rotate in response to the pipe's rotation rather than preventing it through static friction. The jaw tips are configured to contact the pipe through these rollers, maintaining secure grip while enabling rotation.
2Ease of operation
If manual rotation with strap wrenches is used after pipe positioning, then pipe threading can be performed, but the process becomes labor-intensive and creates safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pipe lifting function with the pipe rotation function into a single device. The pipe spinner and lifter combines the gripping mechanism with rollers that enable rotation, allowing both lifting and rotation to be performed simultaneously by the same device rather than requiring separate operations with different tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables pipe rotation to be performed preliminarily while the pipe is being lifted and positioned, rather than requiring rotation to occur after positioning is complete. The rollers are configured to allow rotation during the entire lifting and positioning process, facilitating threading operations before final installation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pipe rotation is performed after scissor-type clamp disengagement, then the pipe can be rotated freely, but the two-step process significantly increases installation time and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains continuous pipe rotation capability throughout the entire lifting and positioning operation. The rollers remain engaged with the pipe during the full range of motion, allowing uninterrupted rotation without requiring clamp disengagement and re-engagement, thus eliminating idle time and maintaining continuous productive action.
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
Enables pipes to be rotated and lifted simultaneously, reducing manual labor and safety risks, and streamlining the threading or unthreading process by eliminating the need for manual rotation with tools like strap wrenches.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of rollers are mounted on the jaws, each rotatable about a rolling axis... allowing the cylindrical member to rotate about its longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 2
a source of pull at the first side and a counterweight at a second side of the pipe spinner and lifter. Then, during operations when the tensile member is operationally connected to the source of pull, the tensile member will cause the cylindrical member to rotate about its longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 3
a source of pull at the first side and a counterweight at a second side of the pipe spinner and lifter
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect there is provided a pipe spinner and lifter for supporting and rotating a cylindrical member having a longitudinal axis. The pipe spinner and lifter comprises a pair of jaws that pivot about a pivot member, to allow the pipe spinner and lifter to actuate between an open configuration and a closed configuration. A plurality of rollers are mounted on the jaws, each rotatable about a rolling axis. When the pipe spinner and lifter is in the closed configuration, the cylindrical member can be rotatably captured by the pipe spinner and lifter, allowing the cylindrical member to rotate about its longitudinal axis. Preferably, the plurality of rollers are arranged in a substantially mirrored arrangement on the jaws. More preferably, the rolling axis of each of the rollers is substantially parallel to the cylindrical member's longitudinal axis.