Weighted Plastic Pipe Hollow Wall Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lightweight plastic pipes with hollow profiles require additional weighting for submersion in marine environments, leading to increased costs and potential point loadings, as conventional methods like using cast concrete weights are inefficient and can cause uneven weight distribution and pipe deformation.
Innovation Solution
Filling the hollow walls of plastic pipes with a pumped concrete mix that has a density greater than water, displacing air and providing a controlled, reliable weighting without causing pipe deformation, with a long hardening time to ensure stability and viscoelastic behavior during submersion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional cast concrete weights are used to weight lightweight plastic pipes, then the pipes can be submerged in marine environments, but point loadings occur on the pipes causing potential pipe deformation and breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the weighting function with the pipe structure itself by filling the hollow wall cavity with weighting material. This integration eliminates the need for separate external weights, thereby avoiding point loadings on the pipe while achieving the required submersion weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The weighting material is nested within the hollow wall cavity of the pipe. This nested configuration allows the weighting material to be contained within the existing pipe structure, distributing weight evenly without requiring external attachments that would create point loadings.
2Stability of the object's composition
If external anchoring weights are used to immobilize pipes at the bottom, then pipe stability is improved, but costs increase and point loadings are exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the weighting and stabilization functions into a single integrated solution. The weighting material filled within the pipe wall provides both the necessary weight for submersion and stable positioning on the bottom, eliminating the need for separate external anchoring weights and their associated point loadings.
3Weight of moving object
If hollow profiles are used to reduce pipe weight, then buoyancy increases, but additional weighting is required which increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow wall cavity serves multiple functions: it provides structural lightweighting for buoyancy, and simultaneously serves as a container for the weighting material. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate weighting components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the benefits of hollow profile construction.
4Weight of moving object
If flowing medium is used to fill hollow profiles, then air pockets are displaced and weight is increased, but the medium must have specific properties increasing material selection constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies particular parameter ranges for the weighting material (density of 1100-2500 kg/m³) to achieve optimal performance. By defining these parameter ranges, the invention balances the need for sufficient weight increase with compatibility with common construction materials, maintaining reasonable material selection flexibility while achieving the desired weighting effect.
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 method provides a cost-effective, reliable weighting solution that reduces the need for external anchoring weights, ensures even weight distribution, and maintains pipe flexibility, allowing for efficient submersion and immobilization without risking pipe breakage under loadings.
Implementation Method 1
a pumped, flowing weighting/injection mass which displaces air from the pipe wall
Implementation Method 2
The pipe is weighted by injecting a pumped, flowing weighting/injection mass... the final weighting percentage for the pipe is between about 1 and 25%
Data Source
AI summary
Method of weighting of a plastic pipe with a hollow, air- filled wall, a weighted lightweight pipe with a hollow wall, and a pipeline formed by a plurality of weighted, lightweight pipes which are welded together. According to the method the hollow wall of the pipe is filled with a flowing medium which displaces air and which increases the weight of the pipe and which thereby facilitates submerging of the pipe. The flowing medium is suitably a concrete mix which has delayed hardening and low long-term strength. The concrete mix gives reliable weighting of the pipe without external point loadings. The binder of the mix prevents segregation of the aggregate and the material thereby becomes evenly distributed inside the wall of the pipe.