Split Radial Crimping Tool for Composite Pipe Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Crimping tools for fiberglass/plastic composite pipes face challenges in achieving uniform radial stress distribution due to non-axi-symmetric features and varying wall thickness, leading to potential leakage and structural integrity issues in high-stiffness materials like composite pipes used in gathering lines.
Innovation Solution
A crimping tool with a split housing assembly and a crimper assembly featuring multiple jaws that apply a proportionally selected radial load, allowing for controlled, uniform crimping and accommodating non-axi-symmetric features, along with means for easy assembly and removal from the work piece.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional crimping tool is used on composite pipes with non-axi-symmetric features and varying wall thickness, then the crimping operation can be performed, but uniform radial stress distribution cannot be achieved, leading to leakage and structural integrity issues
Solution Approach 1:
The crimping tool divides the crimping action into multiple independent radial jaws (three or more) that can be individually controlled. Each jaw applies force at a specific angular position, allowing independent adjustment of force distribution around the circumference to compensate for non-uniform pipe wall thickness and achieve uniform radial stress distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool implements local quality control by allowing different radial forces to be applied at different angular positions around the pipe circumference. The force distribution is tailored to match the local wall thickness variations, applying higher force where the wall is thinner and lower force where the wall is thicker, thereby achieving uniform stress distribution throughout.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid housing assembly is used to encircle long pipe sections, then structural stability is improved, but handling and positioning become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing assembly is divided into two or more separable main body components that can be independently positioned and assembled around the pipe. This segmentation allows the components to be handled separately, improving ease of operation when positioning around long pipe sections, while the joining mechanism ensures structural stability when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The separable housing components are designed to nest around the pipe in a sequential manner, with each component being positioned and then joined to the others. This nested assembly approach facilitates easier handling and positioning of long pipe sections while maintaining the structural integrity of the complete assembled housing.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple radial jaws are used to accommodate non-axi-symmetric features, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The crimper assembly uses multiple radial jaws that share a common structural support and actuation mechanism. While each jaw can be independently positioned to accommodate non-axi-symmetric features, they all function within a unified assembly that reduces overall complexity compared to having completely independent crimping mechanisms at each position.
Data Source
AI summary
A crimping tool is disclosed that includes a housing assembly carrying a crimping assembly having jaws with engagement surfaces designed to move in the radial direction under controlled load and controlled displacement with application of hydraulic pressure to pistons provided to load the jaws. The crimping tool is designed to be separable into two parts, which facilitates assembly and disassembly of the tool around the work piece for crimping at locations remote from the end of a continuous or long section of pipe. This tool is adapted for use in crimping end fittings onto composite pipe and for use in a field environment where the tool is manually transportable.