Telescoping Spool Structure for Straight-Through Flow Length Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for addressing length variances in pressurized fluid-flow lines, such as flow redirection through hoses or elbows, lead to erosion issues and are not scalable to larger diameters, making them inconvenient and impractical for large-scale applications.
Innovation Solution
An extendable spool system that adjusts length by extending the flow line rather than redirecting the flow, minimizing erosion and allowing scalability from small to large diameters by using a threaded tube and inner tube configuration with axial movement and sealing mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If flow redirection through hoses or elbows is used to address length variances, then length adjustments can be achieved, but erosion is accelerated on the redirecting parts and downstream parts
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of redirecting flow through turns (elbows/hoses) to achieve length adjustment, the patent inverts the approach by extending the flow line axially through telescoping spool sections. This eliminates the harmful redirection turns while maintaining length adjustment capability, thereby preventing erosion caused by directional changes in the fluid flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The spool is divided into multiple telescoping sections (first spool section, second spool section, etc.) that can extend and retract independently. This segmentation allows the flow line to be extended axially without creating turns or redirects, achieving length adjustment while maintaining straight flow paths and minimizing erosion.
2Length of moving object
If flow redirection through elbows or hoses is used for length make-up, then length variances can be addressed, but the method is not easily scalable to larger diameters due to wall thickness requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The spool employs telescoping sections with movable inner sections that can extend and retract within outer sections. This dynamic configuration allows the same spool design to accommodate a range of lengths and diameters, making it scalable to larger diameters without requiring excessively thick walls, unlike static redirected-flow lines.
3Length of moving object
If multiple redirected-flow lines are used to account for length differences in large diameter applications, then length variances can be addressed, but setup time increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescoping spool design serves multiple functions: it provides length adjustment, maintains proper flow alignment, and accommodates various diameter requirements all within a single device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate redirected-flow lines, reducing both setup time and overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An extendable spool is disclosed. The length of the extendable spool is able to continuously varied. The extendable spool accounts for length variances in flow lines by extending the flow line rather than redirecting the flow. Because the flow direction does not make any turns, erosion is minimized on both the extendable spool and downstream parts. The extendable spool is readily scalable from small diameters to large diameters. Because of this, it requires fewer lines and therefore less setup time to account for length differences between large diameter lines.