Vibration Clamp With Damping Blocks for Pipe Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pipe mounting systems fail to effectively manage vibrational loads in industrial applications, leading to fatigue, maintenance issues, and potential catastrophic failures due to inadequate restraint or over-restraint, which can result in production losses, safety hazards, and environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
A vibration clamp assembly comprising an inner clamp encircling the pipe, an outer clamp, and damping blocks with a damping layer between them, allowing for secure engagement and vibrational isolation, enabling the pipe to expand thermally without stress concentration and eliminating the need for precise bolted connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional bolted brackets and collars are used to clamp the pipe, then the pipe is secured to the support, but the bolted arrangement works loose under vibration and fatigue loads requiring constant maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces damping blocks as intermediary elements between the inner clamp and outer clamp. These damping blocks serve as a mediator that absorbs vibrational energy and prevents the direct transmission of vibration forces to the bolted connections, thereby reducing the frequency of maintenance required for the bolted arrangement while maintaining securing reliability.
2Reliability
If friction grip bolts or high vibrational materials are used to restrain the pipe, then the pipe is securely restrained, but thermal expansion of the pipe is restricted introducing excessive longitudinal loading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different functional zones within the clamp assembly. The inner clamp provides secure local restraint where needed, while the damping blocks create a localized zone that allows for thermal expansion accommodation. This localized differentiation enables effective restraint without restricting thermal expansion, preventing excessive longitudinal loading on the pipe.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional bolted arrangements are used, then the pipe can be mounted to the support, but the tolerances work loose under vibration leading to inadequate restraint
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of vibration-induced loosening into a beneficial function. The damping blocks are designed to utilize the vibrational forces that would normally cause loosening, instead absorbing and dissipating this energy. This transforms the previously harmful vibration into a controlled energy dissipation mechanism, maintaining restraint adequacy without requiring tight tolerances.
4Reliability
If the pipe is overly restrained to prevent vibration, then vibrational loads are reduced, but the pipe cannot expand thermally introducing different problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the restraint function into distinct components: the inner clamp provides vibration restraint, while the damping blocks and outer clamp arrangement provide thermal expansion accommodation. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one function, enabling the system to simultaneously manage vibrations effectively while maintaining thermal expansion capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The vibration clamp assembly effectively dampens vibrational loads, prevents fatigue, and allows for thermal expansion without stress buildup, reducing maintenance needs and ensuring secure pipe fixation while preventing resonance-induced failures.
Implementation Method 1
the damping blocks include a damping layer intermediate the inner and outer clamps, said damping layer arranged to dampen vibration loads from the pipe
Implementation Method 2
under a thermal load, thermal expansion of the pipe between the pipe mounts may be restricted or hindered adding excessive longitudinal loading to the pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A vibration clamp assembly for clamping a pipe to a support, the assembly comprising: an inner clamp arranged to encircle and engage the pipe; an outer clamp arranged to encircle the inner clamp and mount to said support; a plurality of damping blocks fixed to the periphery of the inner clamp and positioned to engage the outer clamp; wherein the damping blocks include a damping layer intermediate the inner and outer clamps, said damping layer arranged to dampen vibration loads from the pipe.