Protected Sensor Tube Structure With Slit Spacer Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Metal tubes used in various applications are prone to stress-induced failures, leading to pipe bursts and increased costs, and existing solutions for attaching sensors to these tubes fail to protect them from environmental influences effectively.

Innovation Solution

A tube structure comprising an inner and outer metal tube with a spacer tube having longitudinal slits that house a signal line, providing a stable and secure environment for the signal line and sensor by ensuring a tight mechanical force-fitting between the tubes, which withstands operational conditions such as temperature and pressure differences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sensors are attached to metal tubes to detect damage, then monitoring capability is improved, but protection against environmental influences deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring capabilityVSAvoidenvironmental influences on sensor

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The signal line is nested within the spacer tube structure, specifically routed through the slit in the spacer tube and protected by the concentric arrangement of inner tube, spacer tube, and outer tube. This nesting provides physical protection against environmental factors while maintaining the monitoring function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The spacer tube acts as an intermediary structure that houses and protects the signal line. The slit in the spacer tube provides a protected pathway for the signal line, isolating it from direct environmental exposure while allowing it to transmit signals from the monitoring system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a spacer tube is introduced to house the signal line, then protection of signal line is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of signal lineVSAvoidtube structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer tube serves multiple functions: it maintains the concentric arrangement of tubes, provides structural support, houses and protects the signal line through its slit, and enables mechanical force-fitting. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate protective components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective function for the signal line is merged into the spacer tube structure itself. The slit in the spacer tube combines the structural spacing function with the signal line housing function, eliminating the need for separate protective conduits or channels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If mechanical force-fitting is applied to secure tubes, then connection strength is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strength between tubesVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The concentric arrangement of the inner tube, spacer tube, and outer tube is prepared in advance, with the spacer tube featuring a pre-formed slit. This preliminary preparation enables the subsequent mechanical force-fitting process to proceed efficiently by ensuring proper alignment and spacing before the force-fitting operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The spacer tube is segmented by the longitudinal slit, creating a discontinuous structure that allows for controlled deformation during force-fitting. This segmentation enables the spacer tube to be compressed and expanded as needed to achieve tight mechanical connections with the inner and outer tubes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 effectively protects signal lines and sensors from environmental influences while maintaining a stable tube structure, ensuring reliable operation and reducing the risk of pipe bursts by providing a secure and defined space for the signal line and sensor within the tube structure.

Implementation Method 1

the inner tube, the spacer tube and the outer tube are mechanically force-fitted over a part of the longitudinal extension of the spacer tube

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical force-fitting: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3589874B1A tube structure with a protected sensor and method for manufacturing a tube structure with a protected sensor

Publication Date: 2021.01.27 SANDVIK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AB

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Figure 3

AI summary

A tube structure (1) comprising an inner tube (3) of metal and an outer tube (2) of metal, wherein the inner tube (3) extends in the outer tube (2), wherein a spacer tube (4) is located between the inner tube (3) and the outer tube (2), wherein the spacer tube (4) comprises at least one slit (5), wherein the at least one slit (5) extends in a longitudinal direction of the spacer tube (4) and over an entire longitudinal extension of the spacer tube (4), and wherein the at least one slit (5) forms a space in a radial direction of the tube structure (1) extending from an outer surface (7) of the inner tube (3) to an inner surface (8) of the outer tube (2), wherein the tube structure (1) further comprises at least one signal line (9) located in the at least one slit (5) of the spacer tube (4), wherein the at least one signal line (9) extends in the longitudinal direction of the spacer tube (4).