Telescopic Pipe Pulling Support Leg for Compact Trench Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for replacing buried pipes require significant force and often involve bulky equipment, as they necessitate digging the entire length of the pipe and lack efficient mechanisms for towing the old pipe out, especially when the new pipe's diameter differs from the old one.
Innovation Solution
A pulling device with a support leg and operating arm that adjusts in length using a sliding locking mechanism and a screw element, providing axial compression and torque absorption, allowing for secure anchoring and efficient towing of pipes with varying diameters, and can be easily transported in a compact kit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a heavy and bulky frame is used to tow the pipe to be replaced, then the pipe can be extracted, but the device becomes difficult to transport and implement
Solution Approach 1:
The support leg is divided into multiple telescopic segments that can extend and contract. This segmentation allows the device to achieve the necessary length and force distribution without requiring a single bulky frame, making the overall device more compact and transportable while maintaining structural integrity during pipe extraction
Solution Approach 2:
The support leg transitions from a static structure to a dynamic telescopic structure. The telescopic mechanism allows the support leg to adapt its length during operation, providing the necessary reach and force application points for pipe extraction while collapsing to a compact form for transport, thus resolving the contradiction between operational effectiveness and transportability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support leg length is fixed, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to different cavity sizes and excavation dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The support leg incorporates a telescopic mechanism with locking positions that allow dynamic adjustment of length. This enables the same device to adapt to various cavity sizes and excavation dimensions by extending or contracting the support leg to the appropriate length, while the locking mechanism maintains structural stability during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic support leg with adjustable length makes the device universal, capable of being used in different excavation scenarios and with various pipe sizes. The same basic device structure can serve multiple functions and adapt to different site conditions without requiring multiple specialized tools
3Reliability
If the support leg lacks axial compression capability, then the structure is simpler, but it cannot firmly anchor to the ground and absorb torques from the operating arm
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic support leg incorporates a locking mechanism that transitions the structure from movable to fixed during operation. The locking positions engage to prevent relative movement between telescopic segments, enabling the support leg to withstand axial compression forces and absorb torques generated by the operating arm during pipe extraction
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to engage before the full operational load is applied. By pre-locking the telescopic segments at the appropriate length, the structure prepares itself to withstand the compression forces and torques that will be applied during pipe extraction, preventing structural failure or unintended movement
Data Source
AI summary
Pulling device for towing a pipe to be replaced, comprising a support leg (1), for bearing on a cavity in the ground, the support leg comprising a first element (11) and a second element (12), the second element being mounted to slide relative to the first element with a locking mechanism for the position of the second element relative to the first element, the support leg further comprising a first and a second foot (21,22), the support leg further comprising a third element to be rotated (13) to adjust the length of the support leg along a longitudinal axis (X1), an operating arm (3) configured to bear on the support leg, an attachment system (5) connected to the operating arm, the attachment system comprising a traction member configured to pull the pipe to be replaced.