Through Pipe Drum Lifting Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Transporting large drums, such as coke drums, is difficult, time-consuming, and hazardous due to their size and weight, requiring significant resources and equipment for safe and efficient removal.

Innovation Solution

A through pipe is designed to be attached to the drum, extending longitudinally with top and bottom attachments, including shackles and cheek plates, to facilitate safer and more efficient lifting by allowing for crane lifting and distributing loads effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional methods are used to transport large drums, then safety can be maintained, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires extensive equipment and personnel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport speedVSAvoidequipment requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drum lifting system is segmented into modular components: a through pipe extending through the drum, top and bottom attachments with shackles, and cheek plates. This segmentation allows the system to be assembled and disassembled easily, reducing equipment complexity while maintaining lifting capability for large drums

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The through pipe acts as an intermediary element that transfers the lifting force from the top attachment to the bottom attachment and cheek plates. This intermediary structure enables efficient force distribution throughout the drum, allowing standard lifting equipment to handle large drums that would otherwise require specialized heavy machinery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If a through pipe is attached to the drum for lifting, then lifting efficiency improves, but the drum equipment state may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelifting efficiencyVSAvoidequipment state

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The through pipe is pre-installed through the drum before lifting operations begin. The top and bottom attachments, along with cheek plates, are prepared in advance and positioned correctly. This preliminary setup ensures that the lifting system is optimized for efficiency while the attachments are designed to minimize impact on the drum's structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The attachments are designed with localized reinforcement features - the cheek plates are positioned at specific locations on the drum body where they provide maximum structural support during lifting. The bottom attachment includes a plate with holes positioned to distribute load evenly, preventing localized stress concentration that could compromise the drum's equipment state

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If multiple attachments are used on the drum, then load distribution improves, but the attachment process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload distributionVSAvoidattachment process

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple attachment functions are merged into integrated components: the bottom attachment combines the load-distributing plate with integrated holes for shackle attachment, and the cheek plates are pre-configured with attachment points. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the attachment process while maintaining effective load distribution across multiple points

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20240083672A1Through pipe for lifting drums

Publication Date: 2024.03.14 ALTAIR STRICKLAND LLC

AI summary

The present invention is a lift pipe designed for improving the ease and safety of lifting large drums, e.g. coke drums.