Pipeline Piercing Device with Automatic Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing piercing devices for gas pipelines are complex, large, and costly, lacking a vertical bore and outlet shaft, and do not provide an automatically triggered valve for safety against differential pressure.
Innovation Solution
A piercing device with a cylindrical body, cutting means, fluid passage, and valve, featuring reversible connection and elastic biasing means, allowing for integral rotation and translation configurations, and an annular seal for sealing the shaft, enabling safe and efficient piercing of polyethylene gas pipelines under load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If existing piercing devices are used for gas pipelines, then the pipeline can be pierced, but the devices are complex, large, and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The piercing device is divided into distinct functional modules: a cylindrical body for structural support, a cutting means (hole saw) for pipe penetration, a valve for flow control, and sealing means for leak prevention. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device integrates multiple functions into a single compact unit: the cylindrical body serves as both structural support and mounting platform, the cutting means performs both cutting and initial sealing, and the valve provides both flow control and pressure regulation. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed.
2Shape
If existing piercing devices are used, then piercing can be performed, but they lack vertical bore and outlet shaft configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs asymmetric design elements including a vertical bore configuration that distinguishes inlet from outlet directions, and a bayonet connection with specific orientation requirements. This asymmetric shape provides clear vertical orientation and simplifies correct installation by preventing incorrect positioning.
3Reliability
If existing piercing devices are used, then piercing can be performed, but they do not provide automatically triggered valve for safety
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is equipped with automatic triggering mechanisms that respond to pressure differentials or flow conditions without requiring external control systems. The valve self-regulates flow based on preset parameters, providing safety functionality while minimizing the need for additional control components.
4Ease of repair
If the device adopts reversible connection means with elastic biasing, then cutting means can be released after piercing, but additional components are added
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system transitions from a static permanent connection to a dynamic reversible connection. The elastic biasing means enables the cutting means to be released after piercing by overcoming the biasing force, allowing device reuse while the reversibility is achieved through straightforward mechanical means.
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 device effectively pierces polyethylene gas pipelines while ensuring safety through an automatically triggered valve, reducing complexity and cost, and providing a compact design with vertical functionality and differential pressure sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
elastic biasing means, that urge the cutting means in a proper direction away from the second end of the cylindrical body
Implementation Method 2
at least one annular seal carried by the cylindrical body and capable of sealing off the shaft of the saddle
Implementation Method 3
a valve sensitive to a differential pressure and adapted to seal, if necessary, the internal volume of the cylindrical body in a leaktight manner
Data Source
Figure 1A~2B
Figure 3A~4
Figure 6
AI summary
The invention relates to a drilling device for piercing a fluid pipeline provided with a derivation plate with a tapped barrel. The inventive device comprises a hollow, threaded (33) cylindrical body (3), a cylinder saw (4), a fluid passage (5), and an integrated valve (6), and is adapted in such a way as to cut the pipeline by screwing the body (3) into the tapped barrel, and to close the barrel from the plate by means of the integrated valve (6). The invention can be applied to the exploitation of a gas distribution network.