Pre-Insulated Steam Piping Loop for Buried Obstruction Bypass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pre-insulated piping systems face challenges in navigating around underground obstructions without increasing trench depth and eliminating the need for valve pits or manholes, which adds significant cost and complexity to installation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves creating an artificial low point in the pipeline using an expansion loop with a downwardly angled cross-leg portion to bypass obstructions, allowing the pipeline to remain shallow and eliminating the need for deeper trenching or additional structural components like valve pits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the pipeline is routed deeper to go below the duct bank obstruction, then the pipeline can avoid the obstruction, but the trenching cost increases and additional safety measures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension change by creating an artificial low point (dip) in the pipeline at the obstruction location, allowing the pipe to route over the duct bank vertically rather than requiring increased overall trench depth. This localized vertical adjustment enables obstruction avoidance while maintaining shallow overall burial depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipeline is segmented into different elevation zones with the artificial low point creating a distinct dip section. The pipe is installed in multiple elevation levels (normal burial depth, dip section, and recovery section) to navigate around the obstruction without requiring uniform deep trenching along the entire pipeline length.
2Adaptability or versatility
If valve pits or manholes are built to accommodate changes in elevation, then the pipeline can navigate obstructions, but the installation cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the elevation change function from traditional valve pits or manholes and integrates it directly into the pipeline itself through the artificial low point design. The dip section performs both the elevation transition and the obstruction clearance functions that would otherwise require separate structural components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions (elevation change, obstruction clearance, and pipeline continuity) into a single integrated artificial low point structure, eliminating the need for separate valve pits or manholes that would be required in conventional designs.
3Ease of manufacture
If the pipeline remains shallow to reduce trenching costs, then installation is more economical, but the pipeline cannot avoid underground obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses vertical dimension changes at specific locations (the dip section) to provide obstruction avoidance capability while maintaining shallow overall burial depth. This localized vertical adjustment allows the pipeline to clear obstructions without requiring increased trench depth along the entire route.
Data Source
AI summary
An installation technique is shown for use with a pre-insulated steam piping system having an inner steel carrier pipe surrounded by a layer of foam insulation and then by an outer protective jacket. An expansion loop is used to create an artificial low point in the overall pipeline which allows the pipeline to avoid a buried obstruction without the necessity of increasing the depth of the remaining portion of the pipeline on either side of the loop. The expansion loop has a pair of oppositely arranged side legs which are joined by a cross-leg portion of the loop, the cross-leg portion of the loop being angled downwardly at a predetermined angle, to thereby provide a change in elevation which avoids the buried obstruction in the pathway of the pipeline.