Pipe Tracer Guide Body for Pressurized Gas Line Tracing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for tracing pressurized gas pipes, particularly those made of insulating materials like PE, pose safety risks for operators and require shutting off the gas supply, leading to extended intervention times and customer disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a lock valve, shell extraction device, and guide body with Teflon seals allows secure introduction of a tracer into pressurized pipes without depressurizing the line, ensuring operator safety and minimizing disruptions by using a guide body with seals and a telescopic vent for gas evacuation, enabling tracing independently of customers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tracer is introduced into a pressurized pipe using conventional methods, then the pipe can be traced, but the operator is exposed to gas ejections and safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide body as an intermediary device that mediates between the operator and the pressurized pipe. The guide body includes a sealed passage through which the tracer is introduced, and a telescopic vent that directs any gas ejections away from the operator's face. This intermediary structure allows the operator to work safely without direct exposure to hazardous gas releases.
2Productivity
If the pipe is opened to introduce a tracer, then the tracing can be performed, but the gas supply must be shut off causing customer disruption and extended intervention time
Solution Approach 1:
The guide body is pre-assembled with the tracer inside before approaching the pipe. The system is designed to connect directly to the pressurized pipe through its existing purge valve, eliminating the need for preliminary gas shutdown procedures. This preliminary preparation allows the tracing operation to commence immediately without customer disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide body acts as an intermediary that interfaces with the pipe's existing purge valve system. By utilizing this existing infrastructure, the tracer can be introduced through a sealed passage without requiring the pipe to be opened or the gas supply to be shut off, thus maintaining continuous service to customers.
3Reliability
If conventional tracing methods are used, then the pipe can be traced, but the intervention time is extended due to additional safety checks and procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the guide body: it serves as the introduction channel for the tracer, the sealed enclosure for the operator's protection, and the mounting structure for the telescopic vent. This integration eliminates the need for separate safety equipment and procedural checks, reducing intervention time while maintaining tracing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide body is designed to be self-contained with the tracer pre-loaded inside. The system utilizes the pipe's existing purge valve for introduction, and the telescopic vent automatically directs gas ejections away from the operator. These self-service features eliminate the need for additional safety personnel or extended procedural checks.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 2d
AI summary
The invention relates to a pipe tracer (5) comprising a flexible metallic element (51) covered with an electrically insulating material, said tracer comprising at a first end guiding means (52, 53, 54) arranged to allow guidance and obstacle clearance of said first end in the pipe, characterized in that the guiding means comprise a curved segment (52) at the first end of the tracer