Telescopic Pipe Laying Head for Balanced Alignment and Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe laying devices suffer from imbalance issues, leading to difficult and imprecise handling, increased weight, and cost due to oversizing, as well as a lack of accurate positioning and insertion control.
Innovation Solution
A pipe laying device with a telescopic guide rail connected to a fastening head, featuring a balanced telescopic pipe assembly that reduces stress on joints, allows precise positioning, and includes a positioning fork with a compression spring and index for accurate alignment, along with suction cups for secure attachment, and cameras for visual guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pipe is located almost completely on one side of the slewing ring and universal joint, then the device can handle the pipe, but the handling becomes difficult and imbalanced requiring oversizing of device components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the guide rail attachment point offset from the centerline of the slewing ring, creating an asymmetric load distribution that balances the pipe weight on one side with the counterweight on the other. This asymmetric configuration allows the pipe to be handled effectively while preventing the imbalance that would otherwise require oversizing of all device components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements counterweight by placing a counterweight on the opposite side of the slewing ring from the pipe location. This counterweight compensates for the imbalance created by having the pipe located almost completely on one side, thereby reducing the overall device weight requirements while maintaining ease of pipe handling.
2Reliability
If the device components are oversized to account for pipe imbalance, then the device can handle the pipe, but the equipment becomes heavy and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight positioned on the opposite side of the slewing ring directly addresses the reliability concern by balancing the pipe load, eliminating the need for oversized components while maintaining reliable pipe handling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric placement of the guide rail and counterweight creates a balanced moment arm configuration that ensures reliable pipe handling without requiring excessive component sizes, thereby reducing overall equipment weight.
3Device complexity
If the telescopic tube is supported on only one side of the guide rail attachment, then the structure is simple, but the guide rail receives cantilevered forces increasing device stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetric positioning of the guide rail attachment point relative to the slewing ring centerline, which creates a balanced force distribution that reduces cantilevered forces on the guide rail while maintaining structural simplicity.
4Device complexity
If the device lacks accurate positioning capability, then the structure is simpler, but the positioning in relation to the laid pipe becomes imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with optical measurement systems (lasers and cameras) that provide precise positioning information without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms, thereby achieving high positioning accuracy with relatively simple device structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe laying device (T) connected to the jib (F) of a transport machine and carrying the pipe to be laid (T) to tight-fit it into a laid pipe (To).This coupling head (1) comprises a vertical axis (YY) swiveling link (11) and a horizontal axis (Z) tilting link (12). It comprises a guide rail (2) with a bearing (21) for positioning and attachment to the end of the laid pipe (To) and aligning the pipe to be laid (T) with the laid pipe (To) and a carrier (3) forming a telescopic tube (30) tight-fitted to the guide rail (2) and operating in relation to it; the carrier (3) carries the pipe to be laid (T) and tight-fitted to the laid pipe (To).The guide rail (2) is connected to the coupling head (1) through the telescopic tube (30).