Pipe Transport Trolley Coupling for Easier Lateral Disengagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pipe transport devices require significant time and effort to separate transport trolleys due to large and heavy trolley sizes, and the confined spaces under the pipes make it difficult to remove coupling pins, leading to inefficient pipe joining operations in pipeline construction.

Innovation Solution

The pipe transport device incorporates a switching device with an engagement pin that can be operated from a remote position, allowing for easy disengagement of transport trolleys without interfering with the pipes, reducing the effort required to separate the trolleys and facilitating efficient pipe joining by using a lifting jig to transfer the first transport trolley into the second transport trolley.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the first transport trolley is large and heavy to carry pipes, then the carrying capacity is improved, but the time and effort to lift and transfer the trolley into the second pipe increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrying capacityVSAvoidtime to transfer trolley
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling bar is extracted from the confined space under the pipes by extending it laterally outward. This allows the coupling pins to be removed from a accessible position away from the pipes, eliminating the interference problem while maintaining the ability to connect and transport heavy pipes efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling bar serves as an intermediary mechanism that connects the two transport trolleys laterally rather than vertically. By using this intermediary coupling structure, the heavy trolleys can be connected and disconnected without requiring lifting operations, as the coupling occurs at a convenient lateral position away from the pipe interference zone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the coupling bar is positioned under the pipes to connect trolleys, then the structural stability is improved, but the removal of coupling pins becomes difficult due to interference with pipes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidease of removing coupling pin
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling bar is repositioned from a vertical arrangement under the pipes to a horizontal arrangement extending laterally outward. This dimensional change moves the coupling operation out of the confined vertical space under the pipes, allowing easy access to coupling pins without interference from the pipes while maintaining structural stability through the lateral connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of repair

If the transport trolley is drawn beneath the second pipe and moved forward with the second trolley, then the collection and reuse of trolleys is facilitated, but the operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of collecting trolleyVSAvoidoperational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first transport trolley is merged with the second transport trolley by positioning it beneath the second pipe and moving it forward together. This combining approach allows both trolleys to be transported as a unit, facilitating easy collection and reuse of the first trolley for subsequent pipe transportation operations without requiring separate handling procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4212699B1Pipe transport device
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP4212699B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4212699B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4212699B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a pipe transport device (10) for transporting a pipe. Said pipe transport device comprises a first transport trolley (12) configured for transporting a first pipe (11), a second transport trolley (15) configured for transporting a second pipe (14), and a coupling device (16) with a coupler (28) for coupling the first transport trolley (12) and the second transport trolley (15). The coupler (28) includes a switching device (37) for switching an engaging member (36), which is part of the coupler (28), from the engaged state to the disengaged state, wherein the switching device (37) includes an operation part (45) for operating the switching device (37) from outside. The operation part (45) is exposed to a space (57) formed between the first pipe (11) when being loaded on the first transport trolley (12) and the second pipe (14) when being loaded on the second transport trolley (15).