Polymer Tube Bundle Markings for Installation Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tube bundles for power or data lines lack markings that facilitate easier installation, pulling, or blowing of cables, leading to inefficiencies in installation and maintenance processes.
Innovation Solution
A tube bundle design featuring tubes and a shell with repetitive and spaced markings on their outer surfaces, allowing for machine-readable identification, such as alphanumeric, bar codes, QR codes, or RFID elements, to simplify installation, documentation, and maintenance by providing easily readable information for data processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If tube bundles are provided without markings, then the structure remains simple and manufacturing costs are low, but installation and maintenance processes become inefficient and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-installing machine-readable markings (barcodes, QR codes, RFID tags) on tubes and sheaths during the manufacturing process. These markings contain pre-encoded information about tube identifiers, lengths, and routing data, which are read by scanning devices during installation to automatically document the pipe system configuration, eliminating manual documentation efforts and improving installation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating machine-readable representations (digital copies) of tube and sheath information through barcodes, QR codes, or RFID tags. These visual or electromagnetic copies encode essential data that can be rapidly captured by scanning devices, replacing traditional manual identification methods and enabling efficient automated documentation of the pipe system
2Extent of automation
If machine-readable markings are added to tubes and sheaths, then installation documentation becomes automated and efficient, but manufacturing complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by implementing a standardized marking system that serves multiple functions: identification of tubes and sheaths, encoding of length and routing information, and automated documentation during installation. The same marking technology (barcodes, QR codes, or RFID tags) can be applied to different components throughout the system, providing a universal solution that simplifies the overall manufacturing process despite the added complexity of the markings themselves
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming physical tube and sheath characteristics into machine-readable data formats. Information such as tube identifiers, lengths, and routing details are encoded into visual (barcodes, QR codes) or electromagnetic (RFID) parameters that can be rapidly captured and processed by scanning devices, enabling automated documentation without significantly complicating the manufacturing process
3Reliability
If no identification system is provided, then the tube bundle structure remains simple, but tracking and maintenance of individual tubes becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/manual identification methods with optical and electromagnetic detection systems. Machine-readable markings (barcodes, QR codes, RFID tags) are scanned by optical or electromagnetic readers during installation and maintenance, automatically capturing tube and sheath information. This substitution of mechanical reading methods with optical/electromagnetic fields significantly improves tracking reliability while keeping the identification system relatively simple
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a tube bundle (1) comprising a number of tubes (2) made of polymer material arranged in a shell (3) made of polymer material, wherein at least one tube (2) has a tube marking (2.5) on or in its outer surface (2.1) which is repeating and spaced apart from each other, and wherein the shell (3) has a shell marking (3.5) on or in its outer surface (3.1) which is repeating and spaced apart from each other.