Pulley-Assisted Cable Puller for Longer Pull Per Stroke
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable pulling systems for trenchless pipe replacement, such as pipe bursting and splitting, face inefficiencies due to limited cable pull per stroke, which can lead to cable stretching and failure to advance the bursting or splitting head within the pipe, and require complex dual gripping mechanisms, increasing costs and reducing operational speed.
Innovation Solution
A cable puller system utilizing a single cable gripping device and an extending and contracting beam with a pulley mechanism that doubles the cable pull per stroke, combined with a splitter to facilitate efficient pipe bursting or splitting, and a soil reaction plate design to guide and support the cable, allowing for faster and simpler operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single cable gripping device is used, then device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but cable pulling efficiency decreases due to limited cable pull per stroke
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pulley mechanism that changes the dimensional relationship between beam movement and cable pull. By routing the cable through the pulley, a single-dimensional beam extension translates into doubled cable pull distance, effectively using spatial arrangement to overcome the limitation of a single gripping device.
Solution Approach 2:
The pulley acts as an intermediary element between the extending beam and the cable. This mediator allows the beam's linear motion to be converted into doubled cable pull, enabling a single gripping device to achieve the cable pull distance that would otherwise require a more complex dual-gripping system.
2Device complexity
If limited cable pull per stroke is used, then the mechanism remains simple, but cable stretching increases and the bursting or splitting head fails to advance within the pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The pulley mechanism transforms the relationship between beam extension and cable pull distance. By arranging the cable to pass through the pulley, the system achieves doubled cable pull per stroke without increasing mechanical complexity, thereby preventing cable stretching and ensuring proper advancement of the bursting or splitting head.
3Productivity
If complex dual gripping mechanisms are used, then cable pulling efficiency improves, but operational speed decreases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of cable multiplication from a complex dual-gripping mechanism and implements it through a simple pulley system. This extraction allows the system to achieve the necessary cable pull distance without the operational delays and costs associated with complex mechanisms, thereby maintaining high operational speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The pulley serves as a simple intermediary that replaces the need for complex dual-gripping mechanisms. This single intermediate element achieves the same cable multiplication effect without the operational complexity, maintaining both high productivity and fast operational speed.
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 system enhances cable pulling efficiency by doubling the cable length per stroke, simplifies the mechanism, reduces costs, and accelerates the pipe replacement process by minimizing cable stretch and fouling, thereby improving operational speed and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The pulley is attached at a distal end of the moving portion. The cable is routed around the pulley. As the beam extends, the pulley doubles the amount of cable pulled.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable puller and associated methods are shown. Useful example methods include pipe bursting using cable pullers as shown. Cable pullers and methods shown provide a mechanical advantage that increases an amount of cable pulled in one cycle. Selected examples are shown that include a pulley located on a distal end of a moving portion of an extending and contracting beam. The pulley and the mechanical advantage it supplies helps to improve the efficiency of the cable puller and reduce manufacturing cost of the cable puller.