Pipe Vibration Damper With Precompressed Elastomer Ring Segments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial pipelines are prone to fatigue failures due to mechanical and acoustic vibrations, which existing damping solutions fail to effectively dissipate, especially in overground pipelines lacking suitable damping features.
Innovation Solution
A damping device comprising a compression ring with radially projecting elastomeric damping elements, securely constrained to prevent escape, which are precompressed to absorb and dissipate bending, flexural, and axial vibrations through hysteresis, providing adjustable and targeted vibration control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a thin elastomeric strip is used to compensate shape non-complementarity and prevent coating damage, then the pipe outer surface is protected, but the strip is too thin to damp pipe vibrations effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric material thickness parameter is increased from a thin strip to a substantial thickness range (10-50mm), transforming it from a protective coating shield into an effective vibration damping element capable of dissipating kinetic energy through hysteresis
Solution Approach 2:
The solution combines the elastomeric damping material with the metallic band and connection plate into a composite fixing structure, where the elastomeric layer serves dual functions of protecting the pipe coating and damping vibrations simultaneously
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an elastomeric layer is interposed between the connection plate and supporting structure to protect the supporting structure, then the supporting structure is protected, but the pipelines and fixings remain subject to fatigue failure and cracking from vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric damping element serves as an intermediary between the pipe and the fixing structure, absorbing vibration energy before it can transmit to both the supporting structure and the pipeline, thereby protecting both components from vibration-induced damage
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric layer is positioned in advance between the metallic band and the pipe, as well as between the connection plate and supporting structure, to cushion and absorb vibration energy before it causes fatigue damage to the pipeline or supporting structure
3Ease of operation
If fixing constraints are used in discreet points to support overground pipelines, then the pipes are supported, but the constraints only influence natural frequencies in a non-targeted manner and do not effectively damp vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric damping elements are strategically positioned at specific locations where vibrations occur, providing localized vibration dissipation rather than relying on global frequency influence, enabling targeted damping of bending and flexural vibrations at the pipe-fixing interface
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
Effectively dissipates kinetic energy from vibrations, preventing fatigue failures by uniformly distributing tightening forces and ensuring predictable deformation of damping elements, thus reducing pipe deformations and displacements.
Implementation Method 1
dissipate the energy of the bending vibrations (cyclic displacements of the entire section in direction transversal to the pipe axis), of the flexural vibrations (local distortions or deformations of the pipe section) and of axial vibrations or displacements, by means of cyclic deformation with hysteresis of the damping elements
Implementation Method 2
at least one damping element (9) made of elastomeric material... to dissipate the energy of the bending vibrations... by means of cyclic deformation with hysteresis of the damping elements (9)
Data Source
AI summary
A damping device (1) for pipelines (2) includes a compression ring (3) with three ring segments (4) that can be positioned around a pipe (2). Each ring segment (4) forms a damper seat (8) that receives at least one damping element (9) made of elastomeric material intended to be radially compressed against an outer surface of the pipe (2). The damper seat (8) is in shape connection with the damping element (9) so as to prevent the damping element (9) from being released from the damper seat (8) in an axial direction and in a radial direction.