Pipeline Guide Rings With Sliding Links for Bend Limitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide apparatuses for elongate members, such as pipelines, often fail due to tension on components during bending, leading to potential failure, as they restrict movement and cause stress points.
Innovation Solution
A guide apparatus comprising extendable elements with varying stiffness link members and engagement members that allow limited bending by sliding movement, preventing tension and stress through the use of T-shaped guide formations and resilient materials, with adjustable link and engagement members for customizable performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid link members are used to restrict bending of the elongate member, then bending control is improved, but tension stress on components increases leading to potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The link members are designed to be flexible rather than rigid, allowing dynamic movement and sliding between elements during bending. This flexibility enables the apparatus to accommodate bending movements without generating excessive tension stresses on the components, while still maintaining control over the bending radius through the constrained sliding motion along guide formations.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide formations are designed with specific geometric parameters (T-shaped cross-section with narrow opening and wider main part) that control the sliding movement of link members. By optimizing these geometric parameters, the apparatus achieves the desired bending control while limiting the tension stress on components during bending operations.
2Ease of manufacture
If uniform link members are used throughout the apparatus, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different bending requirements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus employs link members with varying properties at different locations along the elongate member. By locally adapting the link member characteristics (such as material composition, cross-sectional dimensions, or geometric configuration) to specific bending requirements at different positions, the system achieves high adaptability while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes for each individual link member type.
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
The apparatus effectively limits pipeline bending while avoiding tension and stress points, ensuring reliable operation and customizable flexibility by using sliding and elastic components, thus enhancing the durability and performance of the elongate member system.
Implementation Method 1
the elements are slidably movable relative to the link members, with guide formations provided on the elements, through which guide formations the link members slidably extend
Implementation Method 2
The engagement members may be formed of a resilient material
Data Source
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AI summary
Guide apparatus (12) for an elongate member such as a pipeline or pipe. The apparatus (12) comprising a plurality of first elements (10) in the form of rings with central openings (16) through which the elongate member extends. The first elements (10) are interconnected by link members (44) spaced around the outside of the first elements (10) and locating in T-shaped cross section guide formations (20). The link members (44) restrict the amount of pivotal movement between the first elements (10), and hence bending of the elongate member.