Prismatic Guide Tube Roller Assembly for Riser Piping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current piping systems connecting floating structures to the sea bottom face challenges in maintaining constant tension and accommodating lateral motion due to wind, waves, and currents, requiring effective guiding structures that can handle sliding and angular displacement.

Innovation Solution

A prismatic guide tube with flexible rollers that maintain contact with both surfaces, using pre-compressed tubular rollers to reduce wear and accommodate uneven surfaces, supported by a conforming anchor structure with end stops and resilient materials for stable sliding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rigid or flexible guide tubes with sliding metal bearings or rubber bearings are used, then lateral support is provided, but wear occurs and contact with uneven surfaces is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelateral supportVSAvoidservice life of bearings

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces rollers as an intermediary element between the guide tube and the anchor structure. These rollers serve as a mediator that transforms the sliding contact into rolling contact, significantly reducing wear while maintaining lateral support. The rollers are specifically designed to accommodate uneven surfaces through their ability to conform and maintain continuous contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional sliding bearing mechanism with a rolling bearing system. This substitution changes the fundamental mechanical interaction from sliding friction to rolling friction, dramatically reducing wear and improving the durability of the guiding assembly while maintaining its lateral support function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If sliding metal bearings or rubber bearings are used, then lateral motion is accommodated, but wear and maintenance issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of lateral motionVSAvoidmaintenance requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The rollers act as an intermediary that facilitates lateral motion accommodation while reducing direct contact wear. By introducing this intermediate rolling element, the system achieves smooth accommodation of lateral movements with significantly reduced maintenance requirements compared to direct sliding contacts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of contact type from sliding to rolling. This parameter change transforms the friction characteristics, reducing wear rates and maintenance needs while preserving the ability to accommodate lateral motion of the floating structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If conventional bearings are used, then contact is maintained, but uneven surfaces cause poor contact and increased wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact maintenanceVSAvoiduneven surface effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the rollers capable of adjusting their position and orientation to conform to uneven surfaces. This dynamic adaptation allows the rollers to maintain reliable contact despite surface irregularities, reducing the harmful effects of unevenness while preserving contact maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rollers are designed with flexible characteristics that allow them to conform to uneven surfaces. This flexibility enables the rolling elements to adapt to surface irregularities, maintaining continuous contact and reducing wear caused by poor surface contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 solution allows for efficient lateral support and reduced wear, enabling the piping system to move freely in a near-vertical direction while accommodating the floating structure's motion, maintaining contact and alignment through flexible rollers and resilient materials.

Implementation Method 1

by making the rollers from pre-compressed flexible tubes, such that the bearings at all times maintain contact with both supported surfaces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9328570B2Guiding assembly for a piping system

Publication Date: 2016.05.03 AKER SOLUTIONS AS

AI summary

A guiding assembly for a riser piping system (2) in an opening in the bottom (8) of a floating structure, said assembly permitting limited axial and angular displacement of the riser piping system (2) in said opening. The assembly comprises a prismatic anchor (1) surrounding a portion of the riser piping system (2) and being connected thereto, an outer prismatic guide tube (4) receiving the prismatic anchor (1), the outer prismatic guide tube (4) having inner surfaces that are parallel to and equally spaced from outer surfaces on the prismatic anchor (1), and rollers (3) arranged in at least two different levels and confined in spaces (2) formed between said inner and outer surfaces, the rollers (3) permitting relative axial movement between the prismatic anchor (1) and the outer prismatic tube (4).