Pipe Support Spring Disassembly Under Controlled Counterforce

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pipe supports with pre-tensioned springs pose a safety risk during dismantling due to uncontrollable relaxation, which can cause harm to people and damage objects.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a force-generating device to counteract and control the spring force, allowing safe disassembly by compressing the spring further and then releasing it in controlled steps, ensuring the spring plate is held securely during the process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the housing is opened without further action during dismantling, then the dismantling process is simple and fast, but the spring relaxes suddenly causing safety hazards and damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedismantling speedVSAvoidsafety hazard from uncontrolled spring relaxation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The method applies preliminary counteracting force using a force-generating device to offset the spring's relaxation tendency before housing opening. This preliminary anti-action prevents the harmful sudden relaxation by establishing force equilibrium, allowing safe disassembly while maintaining dismantling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The spring is pre-compressed to a controlled extent before housing opening, and the force-generating device is positioned and activated in advance. This preliminary preparation ensures that the spring remains in a controlled state throughout the disassembly process, eliminating safety hazards while enabling efficient dismantling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a force generating device is used to counteract spring force, then safety during dismantling is improved, but the dismantling process becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety during dismantlingVSAvoiddismantling process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The force-generating device serves as an intermediary element that mediates between the spring's stored energy and the disassembly process. This intermediary applies controlled counterforce to neutralize the spring hazard, enabling safe dismantling without requiring complex specialized equipment or procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The method controls the spring's compression parameter throughout the disassembly process. By adjusting and maintaining the spring within a controlled compression range, the hazard is eliminated while using simple, readily available force-generating equipment, thus avoiding excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If the spring is compressed further to prevent relaxation, then control over spring movement is improved, but the force required increases and may damage components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol over spring movementVSAvoidforce required on spring plate
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The spring is compressed to a controlled extent that is sufficient to prevent uncontrolled relaxation but not excessive to cause damage. This partial action approach applies just enough counterforce to achieve safety and control, avoiding unnecessary stress on components while maintaining stability throughout disassembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive 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 safe and controlled dismantling of pipe supports by preventing uncontrolled spring relaxation, facilitating safe disposal or reassembly of components.

Implementation Method 1

a spring (8) and an axially movable spring plate (9) which are arranged within the housing (2), wherein the spring (8) rests on the one hand on the spring plate (9) and on the other hand on the second end plate (7) and is thereby compressed in such a way that the spring (8) exerts a spring force (12) on the spring plate (9) in the direction of the first end plate (5)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP4397428B1Disassembly of pipe mount with spring
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 RWE NUCLEAR GMBH
  • EP4397428B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4397428B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4397428B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Method for disassembling a pipe support (1), wherein the pipe support (1) has a housing (2) wherein a spring (8) and an axially movable spring plate (9) are arranged inside the housing (2), wherein the spring (8) bears against the spring plate (9) on one side and against a second end plate (7) on the other, and is thereby compressed such that the spring (8) exerts a spring force on the spring plate (9) in the direction of a first end plate (5), and wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) exerting a force (11) on the spring plate (9) with a force generating device (10), which opposes the spring force (12) generated by the spring (8), b) separating the first end plate (5) from a shell (3), while the force (11) generated on the spring plate (9) by the force generating device (10) is at least as large as the spring force (12) generated by the spring (8),c) Reducing the force (11) generated by the force-generating device (10) on the spring plate (9) to an amount below the spring force (12) generated by the spring (8), and d) Removing the spring (8) and the spring plate (9) from the housing (2).