Self-Aligning Pipe Coupling for High-Pressure Remote Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe couplings for deep concrete pilings face challenges in withstanding high fluid pressure and require significant installer input for assembly, which can be hazardous due to the large and heavy nature of the equipment.
Innovation Solution
A self-aligning pipe coupling with a tubular casing and tensioning system, featuring a frusto-conical guide member that minimizes installer input by allowing pipes to be pre-installed and aligned remotely, and a tensioning system that tightens the casing without requiring hands within the cage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If threaded couplings are used to connect pipe sections, then the connection can withstand high fluid pressure (80 bar), but the installation requires significant installer input and is hazardous due to the large and heavy nature of the equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe coupling system uses a self-aligning mechanism where the conical guide member automatically guides the second pipe into proper alignment with the first pipe during lowering, eliminating the need for manual alignment operations. The system serves itself by using the geometry of the guide member and the force of gravity to achieve proper positioning without installer intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The conical guide member acts as an intermediary element between the two pipe sections, facilitating their connection. The guide member receives the end of the second pipe and guides it into the tubular casing, mediating the alignment and insertion process without requiring direct manual manipulation of the heavy pipe sections.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment and threading of pipe sections is performed, then precise connection can be achieved, but the installer is exposed to hazards from handling large and heavy equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-alignment through the conical guide member geometry, which automatically centers and orients the second pipe relative to the first pipe during the lowering process. This eliminates the need for installers to manually position and align the heavy pipe sections, thereby removing them from the hazard zone while maintaining precise alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe coupling with the conical guide member is pre-installed on the first pipe section before lowering into the borehole. The guide member is positioned in advance to receive and guide the second pipe, so that when the pipes are lowered, the alignment function is already prepared and requires no on-site manual adjustment.
3Reliability
If traditional pipe coupling systems are used, then fluid tightness can be maintained under high pressure, but the installation process is time-consuming and requires multiple installer interventions
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular casing with tensioning system automatically secures the connection between pipe sections without requiring manual threading or multiple adjustment operations. The tensioning system maintains the fluid-tight seal through automatic tensioning, reducing the number of installer interventions needed while maintaining the same reliability standards.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a pipe coupling for connecting together the ends of two pipes. The pipe coupling comprises: a tubular casing (102) for fitting around the pipes; a tensioning system (102) for tightening the casing around the outer surface of the pipes; and a guide member (108), coupled to and extending away from a first axial end of the tubular casing, for radially aligning and guiding one of the pipes into the tubular casing. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising such a pipe coupling and a pipe, the pipe coupling being pre-installed on one end of the pipe, and configured to receive a second pipe.