Portable Winch Assembly Segmentation for Pipe Bursting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for replacing underground pipes require trench excavation and heavy, cumbersome equipment, limiting accessibility and efficiency, especially for remote or hard-to-reach locations.
Innovation Solution
A portable winch assembly composed of separable components that can be assembled on-site, featuring a footplate, support frame, and drive mechanism, allowing for the application of up to 10 tonnes of tensile force without the need for a trailer or extensive access roadways, with components designed for easy transportation and assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If heavy pipe bursting equipment is used to apply high tensile force, then the force capability is improved, but the portability and ease of transportation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The winch assembly is divided into separable components including a footplate, support frame, magazine, and drive mechanism. Each component can be independently transported and then assembled on-site to form the complete high-force equipment, resolving the contradiction between force capability and portability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If trailer-mounted winch is used to reduce excavation, then the excavation requirement is reduced, but the accessibility to remote locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The winch assembly components can be carried individually to remote locations without requiring trailer access, and then assembled on-site. This maintains the reduced excavation benefit while improving accessibility to locations without roadway access.
Solution Approach 2:
The footplate is designed to be locatable within an existing access hole, positioning the pulley at ground level while the magazine and drive mechanism extend above ground. This three-dimensional arrangement minimizes excavation requirements while maintaining equipment functionality.
3Weight of moving object
If separable components are used to improve portability, then the ease of transportation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The winch assembly is segmented into four main components (footplate, support frame, magazine, drive mechanism) that can be independently transported. The gravity-based mounting system simplifies assembly by eliminating the need for complex fastening procedures during on-site assembly.
4Ease of operation
If gravity-based mounting is used to simplify assembly, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stability under load may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame is designed to tilt backward under cable tension, with the rear feet engaging the ground to provide stability during operation. This dynamic stability mechanism allows simple gravity-based assembly while maintaining structural integrity under load.
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
Enables efficient and accessible pipe replacement without trench excavation, allowing for the application of significant tensile force while reducing complexity and weight, facilitating use in various applications beyond pipe replacement.
Implementation Method 1
a magazine which is locatable upon the support frame and has a cable wound therearound
Implementation Method 2
a drive mechanism which is connectable to the magazine to drive the magazine to rotate
Implementation Method 3
The footplate comprises a substantially flat bottom plate, a substantially flat back plate and a pair of side plates
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
This invention relates to a portable winch assembly(10; 210) comprising a footplate (12; 212), a support frame (14; 214) which is locatable upon the footplate, a magazine (16; 216) which is locatable upon the support frame, and a drive mechanism (22; 222) which is connectable to the magazine to drive the magazine to rotate. The foot plate, support frame, magazine and drive mechanism comprise separable components which may be transported separately to a site of use and assembled into the winch at the site of use. The invention can provide a portable winch assembly capable of generating a tensile force of up to 10 tonnes, and is therefore suitable for pipe pulling and pipe bursting applications for example, and yet is made up of parts which can readily be carried to the site of use, which site of use may be inaccessible for vehicles.