TECHNICAL FIELD
The present technology is directed generally to shipping systems and methods for solar energy receivers, and, in particular, to shipping systems and methods for receiver segments having receiver tubes positioned annularly within insulating tubes.
BACKGROUND
Receivers (e.g., conduits) are used to receive sunlight directed at them by corresponding solar concentrators to heat and convert water (or another working fluid) passing through the receivers to steam (or other vapors). Such receivers often comprise a receiver tube (e.g., a steel tube) positioned annularly within an insulating tube (e.g., a glass tube). Because the receivers are often large in size, the receivers are typically manufactured in sections (e.g., to address shipping and handling constraints) comprising a plurality of receiver tubes and a corresponding plurality of insulating tubes. Furthermore, the receivers are often partially assembled into segments before shipping (e.g., to decrease required shipping space and/or to decrease assembly efforts at the final destination). In particular, the receiver tubes are often placed within corresponding insulating tubes before packaging and shipping the receiver segments. However, because the insulating tubes are frequently made from glass or another fragile material, several challenges arise in successfully shipping the receiver segments without damage. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for improved shipping systems and methods associated with solar energy receivers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partially schematic isometric illustration of a solar energy collection system having solar concentrators and corresponding receivers configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.
FIG. 2A is a partially schematic isometric view of a representative shipping system configured to securely package receiver segments, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.
FIGS. 2B is a partially schematic side view of the representative shipping system illustrated in FIG. 2A,
FIGS. 3A and 3B are partially schematic side views of a securement device configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.
FIG. 4 is a partially schematic isometric view of a portion of a retention element configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.
FIG. 5 is a partially schematic front view of a retention element retaining a securement device in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.
FIG. 6 is a partially schematic perspective view of a truss member configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.
FIG. 7 is a routine directed to a method for packaging receiver segments in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A. OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENT TECHNOLOGY
The present technology is generally directed to shipping systems and methods for receivers used in solar energy collection and/or other suitable applications. In particular, the present technology can be used to improve shipping systems and methods associated with successfully shipping receiver segments without damage. For example, the technology can include securement devices that are each configured to grip an inside surface of a receiver tube at one end of a receiver segment. Receiver segments having a securement device attached to each end can be stacked and retained by retention devices. In this manner, a plurality of receiver segments can be stacked and retained in close proximity to one another while preventing contact between adjacent receiver segments. Additionally, spacers between adjacent receiver segments and/or truss members around at least some of the receiver segments can be used to further protect the receiver segments during shipping.
A benefit of embodiments of this technology is the time and cost saved by partially preassembling the receivers into segments and shipping the receiver segments without damage to their ultimate destination. Another benefit of embodiments of this technology includes safely shipping longer-than-typical receiver segments despite the increased risk that the longer receiver tubes will sag. By extending securement devices into the interior of the receiver tubes, embodiments of the present technology can shorten the unsupported length of the receiver tubes and increase their end-to-end stiffness. This, in turn, reduces the likelihood for the receiver tubes to sag when they are in a stacked arrangement, which reduces the likelihood that (1) shock and other forces encountered during shipping or handling or (2) activated vibrational modes of the receiver segments will (i) cause a receiver tube to contact its corresponding insulating tube or (ii) cause a receiver segment to contact adjacently stacked receiver segments.
As a result of the foregoing arrangements, lower cost materials (e.g., a heavy wall carbon steel as opposed to a thin wall stainless steel) can be used to form the receiver tubes, despite the increased risk of sagging associated with these lower cost material. Thus, the present technology can reduce production costs. In addition, the ability to ship longer receiver segments decreases the number of field welds and parts required during installation, which also reduces installation costs. Furthermore, the performance of the assembled receiver increases as the lengths of the shipped receiver segments increase. This is because there are fewer bellows structures within an assembled receiver, meaning that the active length of the receiver segments increases because less of the receiver segments are shadowed by the bellows structures. Moreover, the ability to ship receiver segments of various lengths permits the shipper to use more and different types of available space within a shipping container. This, in turn, permits a greater number of receiver segments per shipping container to be shipped, which reduces shipping costs.
B. SELECTED EMBODIMENTS OF SHIPPING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INSULATED SOLAR ENERGY RECEIVERS
FIG. 1 is a partially schematic isometric illustration of a solar energy collection system 100. The system includes an enclosure 101 housing solar concentrators 102 and receivers (e.g., conduits) 103. In some embodiments, the enclosure 101 includes a support structure 106, including curved support members 107 supported by uprights 108, which together support a thin film 109 in a tensioned arrangement to protect the interior of the enclosure 101. As illustrated, the receivers 103 are positioned above corresponding solar concentrators 102 within the enclosure 101. In operation, the multiple concentrators 102 direct sunlight to corresponding receivers 103 to heat and, optionally, convert water (or another working fluid) passing through the receivers 103 to steam (or another vapor). The heated working fluid can be used for power generation, solar enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations, and/or other industrial processes.
As shown in FIG. 1, the receivers 103 have a significant length (e.g., tens or hundreds of meters) making it impractical to ship and/or handle the receivers 103 in a fully assembled state. Therefore, the receivers 103 are often manufactured in sections, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate receiver sections 115 that each include a receiver tube 104 (e.g., a steel tube) and a corresponding insulating tube 105 (e.g., a glass tube). These sections 115 typically range between one meter and five meters in length (e.g., 1 meter, 2.5 meters, 5 meters, etc.). Furthermore, the receiver sections 115 are often partially assembled into receiver segments 113 before shipping (e.g., to decrease required shipping space and/or to decrease assembly efforts at a shipping destination). In particular, the receiver tubes 104 are positioned annularly within corresponding insulating tubes 105. One or more bellows structures 114 are used to hold the receiver tubes 104 in a generally concentric arrangement within corresponding insulating tubes 105. However, because the insulating tubes 105 of the receivers 103 are frequently made from glass or another fragile material, several challenges arise in successfully shipping the receivers segments 113 without damage. For example, the receiver segments 113 cannot be stacked directly on top of each other. Moreover, the longer the receiver segment 113, the more it tends to bow or flex in a radial direction. As a result, there are increased chances that (1) forces or other shocks encountered during shipping and/or (2) activated vibrational modes of the receiver segments 113 will cause (i) a receiver tube 104 to contact its corresponding insulating tube 105 and/or (ii) a receiver segment 113 to contact an adjacently stacked receiver segment 113. When contact occurs during shipping, the receiver segments 113 (e.g., the insulating tubes 105) are often damaged. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for improved shipping systems and methods associated with the receivers 103.
With continued reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B together, a representative system 220 comprises a plurality of securement devices 230 and a plurality of retention elements 240 holding receiver segments 113 in a stacked arrangement. As described in greater detail below, each securement device 230 is configured to grip a receiver segment 113. In particular, a first securement device 230 is configured to extend into a receiver tube 104 at one end of a receiver segment 113 and to grip an inside surface of the receiver tube 104. In the illustrated embodiment, a second securement device 230 is similarly configured to extend into the receiver tube 104 at the other end of the receiver segment 113 and to similarly grip the inside surface of the receiver tube 104. In turn, the retention elements 240 are configured to receive and retain the securement devices 230, thereby facilitating packaging of the receiver segments in a plurality of rows 222 and columns 224 (e.g., to package and/or ship a high density of receiver segments 113 and/or to quicken the process of loading and unloading the receiver segments 113 into/from a shipping container 211).
As shown, each retention element 240 can comprise a first portion 240a and a second portion 240b configured to stack on top of the first portion 240a. Each retention element portion 240a, 240b of the retention element 240 can include one or more notches configured to receive a securement device 230 and to retain the securement device 230 by clamping the second portion 240b to the first portion 240a e.g., with a vertical stability element 225 (FIG. 2B). In some embodiments, retention elements 240 stacked in a column 224 can share retention element portions 240a, 240b. For example, the second portion 240b of a first retention element 240 can operate as the first portion 240a of a second retention element 240 stacked on top of the first retention element 240. In these embodiments, the first portions 240a can be identical to the second portions 240b. In other embodiments and as described in greater detail below, the first portions 240a can be different than the second portions 240b and/or the retention elements 240 stacked in a column 224 do not share retention element portions 240a, 240b.
As described above, the retention elements 240 are configured to stack on top of each other to form one or more columns 224. In an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, each column 224 of retention elements 240 is held together with a vertical stability element 225 (FIG. 2B) (e.g., a threaded rod) configured to pass through a vertical stabilization hole positioned at or near the center of each retention element 240. As the vertical stability element 225 is inserted into retention elements 240 that are stacked in a column 224, the vertical stability element 225 can draw (e.g., using a threaded nut) vertically adjacent retention elements 240 and the portions 240a, 240b of each retention element 240 toward each other, thereby clamping and retaining securement devices 230 located within the one or more notches of the retention elements 240.
Rows 222 of retention elements 240 can be arranged by positioning retention elements 240 and/or columns 224 of retention elements 240 horizontally adjacent to one another. In some embodiments, the rows 222 and columns 224 of the retention elements 240 can be held together by horizontal stabilization elements 227 (FIG. 2A) that span across one or more rows (e.g., the top row 222 and/or the bottom row 222) of retention elements 240 on one or more sides of the stacked arrangement of receiver segments 113. The horizontal stabilization elements 227 can be welded to the retention elements 240 and/or can otherwise be attached (e.g., using clamps, braces, bolts, or other attachment devices) to at least two retention elements 240 in a row 222. The horizontal stabilization elements 227 may also be welded or otherwise attached (e.g., using clamps, braces, bolts, welding, or other attachment devices) to the shipping container 211 to provide further stability to the stacked arrangement of receiver segments 113. For example and as shown in FIG. 2A, the horizontal stabilization elements 227 can extend beyond the columns 224 of retention elements 240 to facilitate attaching the horizontal stabilization elements 227 to the illustrated shipping container 211. Although the horizontal stabilization elements 227 in FIG. 2A are illustrated on only one side of the stacked arrangement of receiver segments 113 for purposes of clarity, a shipping system can include horizontal stabilization elements on the opposite side and/or both sides of the stacked arrangement of receiver segments 113. In these and other embodiments, shipping systems can include horizontal stabilization elements (e.g., horizontal stabilization elements 227 and/or truss elements) spanning the length of the receiver segments 113 on the top, bottom, and/or side(s)s of the receiver segments 113, as described in greater detail below. The horizontal stabilization elements can be attached to opposite sides of the stacked arrangement of receiver segments 113 to prevent the retention elements 240 on one side of the stacked arrangement from moving in relation to the retention elements 240 on the other side of the stacked arrangement.
Each column 224 of retention elements 240 can be capped with a capping retention element (not shown). In some embodiments, the capping retention elements can be a retention element portion 240a and/or 240b of a retention element 240 that does not receive one or more securement devices 230 in the one or more notches located at a top edge portion of the portion 240a and/or of the portion 240b. In other embodiments, the capping retention elements can be similar to the portions 240a, 240b of the retention elements 240 in only that the capping retention elements include one or more notches in a bottom edge portion of the capping retention elements configured to receive the top row of securement devices 230. In these and still further embodiments, the capping retention elements can include a vertical stabilization hole configured to receive the vertical stability element 225 such that the capping retention elements are clamped and/or held to retention elements 240 in corresponding columns 224. In these and other embodiments, the capping retention elements can include attachment devices such that the capping retention elements can be connected to the shipping container 211 or another shipping crate, thereby providing further stability to the stacked arrangement of receiver segments 113.
As shown in FIG. 2B, the system 220 can further include one or more spacer components 228 configured to prevent adjacent receiver segments 113 from contacting one another. The spacer components 228 can be made of a soft, semi-compliant material e.g., foam, Styrofoam, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the system 220 includes a spacer component 228 between vertically adjacent receiver segments 113. In this embodiment, the spacer components 228 are placed near the center of the receiver segments 113 (e.g., to split the unsupported length of a receiver segment 113) and are configured to remain in contact with vertically adjacent receiver segments 113 at all times during the shipping process. In other embodiments, more than one spacer component 228 can be used per row 222 of receiver segments 113 in each column 224, and/or the spacer components 228 can be attached to only one receiver segment 113 in a set of vertically adjacent receiver segments 113 such that the spacer components 228 act as bumpers when the receiver segments 113 vertically oscillate during shipping, In these and other embodiments, the spacer components can be similarly placed between horizontally adjacent receiver segments 113 to prevent the horizontally adjacent receiver segments 113 from contacting one another during shipping. In still other embodiments, the spacer components 228 can be rings configured to slide onto one or more receiver segments 113 in a column 224 and to prevent the receiver segments 113 from contacting both vertically adjacent receiver segments 113 and horizontally adjacent receiver segments 113.
Although embodiments of the system 220 are illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B with a plurality of securement devices 230, a plurality of retention elements 240, and multiple rows 222 and columns 224, in some embodiments the shipping systems can have a greater or lesser number of securement devices 230, retention elements 240, rows 222, and/or columns 224. For example, shipping systems in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology can include two or fewer securement devices 230, two or fewer retention elements 240, a single row 222, and/or a single column 224. Furthermore, although each portion 240a, 240b of each retention element 240 in the system 220 is configured to receive and retain two securement devices 230 in each row 222 of a column 224, the portions 240a, 240b of the retention elements 240 in systems of other embodiments can be configured to receive and retain a greater or lesser number of securement devices 230 in each row 222 of a column 224. For example, the portions 240a, 240b in some embodiments can be configured to receive a single securement device 230 in each row 222 of a column 224 or to receive three or more securement devices 230 in each row 222 of a column 224.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are partially schematic side views of a securement device 230 configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. The securement device 230 includes a rod 331 having a first end 332 (FIG. 3B) and a second end 333. In the illustrated embodiment, the second end 333 of the rod 331 is threaded. The securement device 230 further includes a collet 334 attached to the second end 333 of the rod 331 and a stationary element 338 (FIG. 3B) between the collet 334 and the first end 332 of the rod 331. The stationary element 338 can be a hex nut that is jammed, welded, or otherwise attached to the rod 331 such that it remains in a fixed position relative to the rod 331.
The collet 334 of the securement device 230 includes a proximal portion 335, a middle portion 336, and a distal portion 337. The proximal portion 335 and the distal portion 337 are each manufactured (e.g., shaped) to have a slanted side that interfaces with opposite sides of the middle portion 336. Referring now to FIG. 3B, the proximal portion 335 is further manufactured to have a first portion with a first width W1 greater than an interior diameter of a receiver tube 104, and to have a second portion with a second width W2 less than the interior diameter of the receiver tube 104. The second width W2 corresponds to a recess 339 manufactured in the proximal portion 335 of the collet 334.. The distal portion 337 of the collet 334 is threaded and configured to interface with the second end 333 of the rod 331. The middle portion 336 of the collet 334 is manufactured with a larger bore than the proximal portion 335 and the distal portion 337 to facilitate lateral movement of the middle portion 336 outwardly away from the rod 331, as described in greater detail below.
With continued reference to FIG. 3B, the securement device 230 is configured to extend into the interior of a receiver tube 104 at one end of a receiver segment 113. More specifically, the securement device 230 is configured to extend into the interior of a receiver tube 104 by a distance D1 defined by the distance between the second end 333 of the rod 331 and the start of the recess 339 in the proximal portion 335 of the collet 334. At least a portion of the securement device 230 (comprising, for example, the first end 332 of the rod 331, the proximal portion 335, and/or the stationary element 338) remains external to the receiver tube 104 such that the securement device 230 can be received and retained by a retention element (e.g,, the retention element 240 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B), as described in greater detail below. By extending inside the receiver segment 113, the securement device 230 reduces the unsupported length of the receiver segment 113 allowing shipping of even longer receivers with reduced or eliminated risk of damage. In turn, the freedom of motion of the receiver segment 113 in the radial or lateral direction is also decreased. Although the securement device 230 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is configured to extend only a partial distance into the interior of a receiver tube 104, securement devices in other embodiments of the present technology are configured to extend into the interior of a receiver tube 104 and over the entire length of the receiver tube 104. In these embodiments, a single securement device can be received and retained by retention elements 240 on both sides of the corresponding receiver segment 113, which prevents retention elements on opposite sides of the stacked arrangement of receiver segment(s) 113 from moving relative to one another, providing the stacked arrangement even further stability,
In operation, the securement device 230 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is configured to grip an inside surface of a receiver tube 104 of a receiver segment 113. Referring to FIG. 3B, as the rod 331 of the securement device 230 is turned in a first direction, the distal portion 337 of the collet 334 is drawn closer to the proximal portion 335 of the collet 334 via the threading near the second end 333 of the rod 331. The stationary element 338 of the securement device 230 prevents the proximal portion 335 from moving in the direction of the first end 332 of the rod 331. As a result, the slanted sides of the proximal portion 335 and the distal portion 337 apply forces to the corresponding sides of the middle portion 336, thereby pushing the middle portion 336 outward away from the rod 331. The rod 331 can be turned in the first direction until the proximal portion 335 and the distal portion 337 contact the inside surface of a receiver tube 104 and the middle portion 336 of the collet 334 contacts the opposite side of the inside surface of the receiver tube 104. In this manner, the securement device 230 can grip the inside surface of a receiver tube 104 and can accommodate variations in the interior diameters of the receiver tubes 104. When the rod 331 of the securement device 230 is turned in a second direction opposite the first direction, the distal portion 337 of the collet 334 is drawn away from the proximal portion 335 of the collet 334. This allows the middle portion 336 to move inward toward the rod 331 and to release the receiver tube 104.
FIG. 4 is a partially schematic isometric view of a representative retention element portion 440 (e.g., corresponding to portion 240a and/or portion 240b of the retention element 240 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B) configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. As shown, the portion 440 is H-shaped; is generally rectangular; and includes a first upright (e.g., vertical) side 441, a second upright (e.g., vertical) side 442, and a transverse (e.g., horizontal) portion 443. Retention element portions in accordance with other embodiments of the present technology can have other shapes suitable for stacking the portions on top of each other. For example, portions in some embodiments can be brick-shaped or cinderblock-shaped.
As shown in FIG. 4, each upright side 441, 442 of the portion 440 includes one or more notches 415-418. More specifically, the first upright side 441 includes a pair of first notches 415 in a top edge portion 445 that are aligned with a pair of second notches 416 in a bottom edge portion 446. Similarly, the second upright side 442 of the portion 440 includes a pair of first notches 417 in a top edge portion 447 that are aligned with a pair of second notches 418 in a bottom edge portion 448. The first notches 417 and/or the second notches 418 can be further aligned with corresponding first notches 415 and/or second notches 416. As described in greater detail below, the notches 415-418 are configured to receive securement devices (e.g., the securement devices 230 shown in FIGS. 2A-3B). In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the first notches 415, 417 are rectangular notches and the second notches 416, 418 are triangular notches. In other embodiments of the present technology, however, the first notches 415, 417 can be triangular and/or the second notches 416, 418 can be rectangular. In these and other embodiments, one notch in a pair of notches 415, 416, 417, and/or 418 can be rectangular and the other notch in the pair of notches 415, 416, 417, and/or 418 can be triangular. In these and still other embodiments, any of the notches in any pair of notches 415-418 of the portion 440 can have a different shape (e.g., circular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, etc.). Although the portion 440 is illustrated with a pair of notches 415-418 in each edge portion 445-448 of each upright side 441, 442, portions configured in accordance with other embodiments of the present technology can include a greater or lesser number of notches 415-418 in any of the edge portions 445-448 and/or in any of the upright sides 441, 442. In some embodiments, for example, a portion can include a first number of notches (e.g., 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) in one or more edge portions 445, 446, 447, and/or 448 and/or upright sides 441 and/or 442; and a second number of notches (e.g., 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) in one or more other edge portions 445, 446, 447, and/or 448 and/or upright sides 441 and/or 442. In still other embodiments, a portion can include holes in addition to or in lieu of the notches 415, 416, 417, and/or 418 that are also configured to receive securement devices (e.g., securement devices 230).
The transverse portion 443 of the retention element portion 440 includes a vertical stabilization hole 444 positioned near the center of the transverse portion 443. As discussed above, the retention element portion 440 is configured to receive a vertical stability element (e.g., vertical stability element 225 shown in FIG. 2B) in the vertical stabilization hole 444 to clamp vertically adjacent portions 440 together (e.g., to retain a securement device in one or more notches 415-418) and/or to hold vertically adjacent retention elements together (e.g., to stabilize a column of retention elements). Although the portion 440 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a single vertical stabilization hole 444 manufactured near the center of the transverse portion 443, portions configured in accordance with other embodiments of the present technology can include a different number of vertical stabilization holes 444 and/or one or more vertical stabilization holes 444 manufactured at other locations in the portions. In some embodiments, for example, a portion can include more than one vertical stabilization hole 444 offset from each other such that the portion can receive one or more vertical stabilization elements (e.g., vertical stabilization elements 225) at one or more locations. In these and other embodiments, portions can include one or more vertical stabilization holes 444 in one or more upright sides (e.g., upright side 441 and/or 442) of the portions. In still other embodiments, one or more portions can lack a vertical stabilization hole 444 altogether. Similarly, portions in accordance with some embodiments can include one or more horizontal stabilization holes (e.g., in the upright side 441, the upright side 442, and/or the transverse portion 443) in addition to or in lieu of the vertical stabilization hole(s) 444. The horizontal stabilization hole(s) can be configured to receive a horizontal stabilization element (e.g., horizontal stabilization element 227 shown in FIG. 2A) similar to the vertical stabilization element described above and to provide horizontal stability to horizontally adjacent retention elements and/or retention element portions.
FIG. 5 is a partially schematic front view of a retention element 540 (e.g., similar to the retention element 240 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B) retaining a securement device 230 in accordance with embodiments of the present technology, As shown, the retention element 540 includes a first portion 540a having a rectangular notch 515 in a top edge portion 545. The retention element 540 further includes a second portion 540b having a triangular notch 516 in a bottom edge portion 546. As discussed above, the retention element 540 in other embodiments can include a triangular notch in lieu of the rectangular notch 515 and/or a rectangular notch in lieu of the triangular notch 516.
The rectangular notch 515 and the triangular notch 516 of the retention element 540 are configured to receive the securement device 230. More specifically, the notches 515, 516 are configured to receive the rod 331, the stationary element 338, and/or a proximal portion 335 of the securement device 230. Furthermore, the retention element 540 is configured to retain the securement device 230 by clamping the securement device 230 (e.g., with first portion 540a and the second portion 540b and/or with a vertical stabilization element (not shown), as discussed above). In some embodiments, the retention element 540 further includes a second side with notches aligned with the notches 515, 516 (e.g., as partially shown in the portion 440 illustrated in FIG. 4). In these embodiments, the notches in the second side are similarly configured to receive and retain the securement device 230.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the securement device 230 includes a flat 558 (shown in dashed lines) machined into the stationary element 338 and/or into the proximal portion 335. The flat 538 is configured to interface with at least one side of notch 515 and/or notch 516 of the retention element 540 to limit (e.g., inhibit and/or prohibit) rotation of the securement device 230 once it is received in the retention device 540. In this manner, the securement device 230 and the retention element 540 can “clock” a receiver tube 104 (FIG. 2A) to a specific orientation. In other embodiments, the securement device 230 can omit the flat 558. For example, a securement device connected to the opposite end of the receiver tube can lack a flat (e.g., to prevent over-constraining the receiver tube 104 and/or the receiver segment 113).
FIG. 6 is a partially schematic perspective view of a truss 660, e.g., formed from two truss members 629, and used in a shipping system in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. As shown, each truss member 629 includes a rectangular frame 661 and a plurality of truss elements 662 attached to elongated sides of the rectangular frame 661. In operation, the truss members 629 are configured to prevent retention elements 640 from moving relative to one another. In this manner, the truss members 629 provide horizontal stability to the stacked arrangement of receiver segments 113 illustrated in FIG. 6.
FIG. 6 illustrates several methods of attaching the truss members 629 to the retention elements 640. For example, the rectangular frame 661 of each truss member 629 can be directly attached (e.g., welded, bolted, etc.) to the retention elements 640 illustrated to the left of the receiver segment 113. In contrast, the truss members 629 can be indirectly attached to the retention element 640 illustrated to the right of the receiver segment 113 in addition to or in lieu of being directly attached (e.g., welded, bolted, etc.) to the right retention element 640. In particular, the rectangular frame 661 of each truss member 629 is indirectly attached to the right retention element 640 via horizontal frames 667 attached (e.g., welded, bolted, etc.) to the rectangular frames 661. As shown, the horizontal frames 667 can be attached to the right retention element 640 using one or more attachment inserts 664 inserted into and/or attached (e.g., welded, bolted, etc.) to the right retention element 640. Also shown, the horizontal frames 667 can alternatively be attached to the right retention element 640 via a plate 665 attached (e.g., welded, bolted, etc.) to the right retention element 640. In other embodiments, a greater or lesser number of horizontal frames 667 can be used to attach one or more truss members 629 to the retention elements 640 and/or the horizontal frames 667 can be directly attached (e.g., welded, bolted, etc.) to the retention element 640. In these and other embodiments, the horizontal frames 667 and/or plates 665 can include vertical stabilization holes configured to receive a vertical stabilization element (e.g., vertical stabilization element 225 shown in FIG. 2B).
The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 includes two truss members 629. To ensure that the truss members 629 move uniformly with one another and/or to facilitate attaching the truss members 629 to the retention elements 640, the truss members can be attached (e.g., welded, bolted, etc.) to one another (e.g., via the one or more horizontal frames 667, as shown). Furthermore, although shown with two truss members 629 in FIG. 6, shipping systems in accordance with other embodiments of the present technology can include a greater (e.g., three or four) or fewer (e.g., zero or one) number of truss members 629 and/or can include truss members on different sides of the receiver segment 113 than illustrated in FIG. 6 (e.g., on the top and/or the bottom of the receiver segment 113 in addition to and/or in lieu of the truss members 629 illustrated to the front and the back of the receiver segment 113). In these and other embodiments, one or more truss members 629 can be used in addition to or in lieu of spacer components (e,g., the spacer components 228 described with respect to FIG. 2B above).
FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a routine 770 directed to a method of packaging receiver segments 113 in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. The routine 770 can begin at block 771 by positioning and/or orienting securement device(s) into end(s) of receiver segment(s) 113. For example, the routine 770 can include extending a securement device into an interior of a receiver tube 104 at one end of a receiver segment 113. In some embodiments, the routine 770 can include clocking the securement device and/or the receiver segment 113 in a specific orientation such that a flat machined into the securement device interfaces with a specific side of a notch in a retention element when the securement device is positioned in the retention element. The routine 770 can further include turning a rod of the securement device in a first direction to actuate a collet of the securement device and thereby grip an inside surface of the receiver tube 104. The routine 770 can include repeating this procedure for the other end of the receiver segment 113 and/or for other receiver segments 113,
At block 772, the routine 770 can include positioning a row of retention element portion(s). For example, the routine 770 can include installing a row 222 of retention element portion(s) at locations corresponding to one or both sides of an eventually stacked receiver segment 113 (as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B). At block 773 the routine 770 can include installing a row of securement devices. For example, the routine 770 can include positioning a securement device in a notch located at a top edge portion of a retention element portion, In some embodiments, the routine 770 can ensure that a flat machined into the securement device correctly interfaces with a side of the notch.
The routine 770 can include returning to block 772 to install the next row of retention element portion(s). For example, the routine 770 can include stacking the next row of retention element portion(s) on top of the previous row of retention element portion(s) such that the previously installed securement devices are positioned within notches located at a bottom edge portion of the retention element portion(s) in the next row. In some embodiments, the routine 770 can include ensuring that a flat machined into a securement device correctly interfaces with a side of a notch in a retention element portion in the next row. In these and other embodiments, the routine 770 can include returning to block 773 to install the next row of securement device(s) and/or can include repeating blocks 772 and/or 773 a desired number of times.
Additionally or alternatively, the routine 770, at any point, can include performing blocks 774-779. For example, the routine 770 can include installing truss member(s) at block 774 onto retention element portion(s), and/or the routine 770 can include installing spacer component(s) at block 775 between vertically adjacent receiver segments 113 and/or between horizontally adjacent receiver segments 113
In these and other embodiments, the routine 770 can include installing capping retention elements at block 776 on the top of a column of retention element(s), and/or the routine 770 can include installing vertical stabilization element(s) at block 777 into columns of retention element(s). For example, the routine 770 can include installing vertical stabilization element(s) into one or more vertical stabilization hole(s) in the capping retention element and/or into the retention element(s) in a column.
At block 778, the routine 770 can include installing horizontal stabilization element(s). For example, the routine 770 can include installing horizontal stabilization element(s) onto the top and/or bottom rows of retention elements. In these and other embodiments, the routine 770 can include installing horizontal stabilization element(s) into horizontal stabilization holes in the retention element(s) of a row of retention element(s). In these and still other embodiments, the routine 770 can include attaching the retention element(s), truss member(s), capping retention element(s), securement device(s), and/or horizontal stabilization element(s) to a shipping crate to provide further stability to the stacked arrangement (block 779).
Although the steps of routine 770 are discussed and illustrated in a particular order, the method illustrated by routine 770 is not so limited. In other embodiments, the method can be performed in a different order. For example, securement devices can be installed into receiver segment(s) and/or installed into retention element(s) before, during, and/or after positioning portion(s) the retention element(s). In other embodiments and as discussed above, any of blocks 774-779 can be performed before, during, and/or after blocks 771, 772, and/or 774. Moreover, blocks 771-779 are illustrated for the sake of completeness. A person skilled in the art will readily recognize that the illustrated method can be altered and still remain within these and other embodiments of the present technology. For example, one or more steps of the method illustrated in FIG. 7 can be omitted from and/or repeated in some embodiments.
C. ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES
Several aspects of the present technology are set forth in the following examples.
1. A system for transporting at least one receiver segment, the system comprising:
- a first securement device and a second securement device, each positionable to grip an inside surface of an end of a receiver segment;
- a first retention element and a second retention element, each having a first portion and a second portion,
- wherein
- the second portion of the first retention element is stackable on top of the first portion of the first retention element,
- the second portion of the second retention element is stackable on top of the second portion of the second retention element,
- the first securement device is coupleable to the first retention element, and
- the second securement device is coupleable to the second retention element.
The system of example 1 wherein the first and the second securement devices each comprise:
- a rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is threaded;
- a collet attached to the second end of the rod, wherein the collet includes
- a proximal portion having a first width greater than an interior diameter of the insulated receiver tube and a second width less than the interior diameter and corresponding to a recess of the proximal portion,
- a distal portion between the proximal portion and the second end of the rod, wherein the distal portion is threaded, and
- a middle portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion; and a stationary element between the proximal portion and the first end of the rod,
- wherein
- the first and the second securement devices are positionable to extend a first distance into an interior of the receiver segment defined by the distance between the second end of the rod and the recess of the proximal portion, and
- the middle portion of the collet is moveable outwardly away from the rod as the distal portion is brought closer to the proximal portion by rotating the rod.
3. The system of example 1 or 2 wherein each portion of the first and the second retention elements comprises:
- a first vertical side and a second vertical side, wherein each vertical side includes a first notch in a top edge portion of the vertical side and a second notch aligned with the first notch and in a bottomedge portion of the vertical side; and
- a horizontal portion,
- wherein
- the first vertical side, the second vertical side, and the horizontal portion are positioned in an H-shape,
- at least one of the first notch or the second notch of the first retention element is positioned to receive the first securement device, and
- at least one of the first notch or the second notch of the second retention element is positioned to receive the second securement device.
The system of example 3 wherein at least one of he first notch or the second notch is triangular.
5. The system of example 3 or 4 wherein at least one of the first notch or the second notch is rectangular.
6. The system of any one of examples 3-5 wherein the first securement device includes a flat positioned to interface with a side of at least one of the first notch or the second notch of the first portion and the second portion, respectively, and to inhibit rotation of the first securement device.
7. The system of any one of examples 1-6, further comprising a threaded rod, wherein each portion of the first retention element includes a hole positioned to receive the threaded rod to clamp the first portion to the second portion thereby retaining the first securement device.
8. The system of any one of examples 1-7, further comprising a third retention element having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions of the third retention element are positioned adjacent to the first and second portions of the first retention element, respectively, thereby forming a first row of retention elements.
9. The system of example 8, further comprising a horizontal stabilization element attached to the first and the third retention elements, wherein the horizontal stabilization element is positioned to hold the first retention element to the third retention element.
10. The system of example 9 wherein the horizontal stabilization element includes a first attachment end proximate to the first retention element and a second attachment end proximate to the third retention element, and wherein at least one of the first and the second attachment ends are positioned to attach to a shipping container.
11. The system of any one of examples 1-7, further comprising a third retention element having a first portion and a second portion stacked on top of at least the first portion of the first retention element, thereby forming a first column of retention elements, wherein the third retention element is positioned to receive a third securement device attached to an end of a receiver segment.
12. The system of example 11 wherein the first portion of the third retention element is the second portion of the first retention element.
13. The system of example 11 or 12, further comprising a capping retention element stacked directly on top of the second portion of the third retention element, wherein
- the capping retention element includes a first notch in a bottom edge portion of the capping retention element;
- the second portion of the third retention element includes a second notch in a top edge portion of the third retention element, the second notch being aligned with the first notch; and
- the capping retention element and the third retention element are positioned to receive a third securement device in the first notch and the second notch.
14. The system of any one of examples 11-13, further comprising at least one spacer positioned between vertically adjacent receiver segments to prevent vertically adjacent receiver segments from contacting one another.
15. The system of any one of examples 1-14, further comprising at least one truss member attached to the first and the second retention elements, wherein
each truss member comprises:
- a rectangular frame having two elongated sides generally in parallel with one another, and
- a plurality of truss elements each attached to each of the elongated sides; and
the at least one truss member is positioned to hold the first retention element to the second retention element.
16. The system of any one of examples 1-15, further comprising the receiver segment, the receiver segment having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein
- the first securement device extends a first distance into an interior of the receiver segment at the first end; and
- the second securement device extends a second distance into the interior of the receiver segment at the second end.
17. The system of example 16 wherein the receiver segment includes a receiver tube positioned annularly within an insulating tube.
18. A method of packaging one or more receiver segments, the method comprising:
- installing a first securement device into a first end of a first receiver segment;
- installing a second securement device into a second end of the first receiver segment;
- positioning the first securement device into a first notch of a first portion of a first retention element;
- positioning the second securement device into a first notch of a first portion of a second retention element;
- stacking a second portion of the first retention element onto the first portion of the first retention element, wherein the first securement device is positioned in a first notch of the second portion of the first retention element; and
- stacking a second portion of the second retention element onto the first portion of the second retention element, wherein the second securement device is positioned in a first notch of the second portion of the second retention element.
19. The method of example 18, further comprising installing a truss element to attach the first retention element to the second retention element.
20. The method of example 18 or 19, further comprising installing a vertical stabilization element into the first retention element via vertical stabilization holes in the first portion and the second portion of the first retention element.
21. The method of any one of examples 18-20, further comprising:
- installing a third securement device into a first end of a second receiver segment; and
- positioning the third securement device into a second notch of the second portion of the first retention element.
22. The method of example 21, further comprising installing a spacer component on the first receiver component before positioning the third and the fourth securement devices.
23. The method of example 21 or 22, further comprising stacking a capping retention element onto the second portion of the first retention element, wherein the third securement device is positioned in a first notch of the capping retention element.
24. The method of example 23, further comprising installing a vertical stabilization element into the capping retention element and the first retention element via vertical stabilization holes in the first retention element and the capping retention element,
25. The method of any one of examples 18-24 wherein the first securement device includes a flat, and wherein the first securement device is installed into the first receiver segment and positioned within the first notch of the first portion such that the flat interfaces with at least one side of the first notch and holds the first receiver segment in a first rotational orientation.
26. The method of any one of examples 18-25, further comprising: installing a third securement device into a first end of a second receiver segment;
- positioning a first portion of a third retention element vertically adjacent to the first portion of the first retention element;
- positioning the third securement device into a first notch of the first portion of the third retention element; and
- stacking a second portion of the third retention element onto the first portion of the third retention element, wherein the third securement device is positioned in a first notch of the second portion of the third retention element.
27. The method of example 26, further comprising installing a horizontal stabilization element across the first retention element and the third retention element.
28. The method of example 26 or 27, further comprising attaching at least one of the first retention element and the third retention element to a shipping container via the horizontal stabilization element.
D. CONCLUSION
The above detailed descriptions of embodiments of the technology are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise form disclosed above. Although specific embodiments of, and examples for, the technology are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are within the scope of the technology. For example, in some embodiments, receiver segments 113 can operate as standalone receivers 103. As another example, although steps are presented in a given order, other embodiments may perform steps in a different order. The various embodiments described herein may also be combined to provide further embodiments.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the technology have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments of the technology. To the extent any materials incorporated herein by reference conflict with the present disclosure, the present disclosure controls. Where the context permits, singular or plural terms may also include the plural or singular term, respectively. Moreover, as used herein, the phrase “and/or” as in “A and/or B” refers to A alone, B alone, and both A and B. Additionally, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and “with” are used throughout to mean including at least the recited feature(s) such that any greater number of the same feature and/or additional types of other features are not precluded.
From the foregoing, it will also be appreciated that various modifications may be made without deviating from the disclosure. For example, various components of the technology can be further divided into subcomponents, or various components and functions of the technology may be combined and integrated. In addition, certain aspects of the technology described in the context of particular embodiments may also be combined or eliminated in other embodiments. Furthermore, although advantages associated with certain embodiments of the technology have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the technology, Accordingly, the disclosure and associated technology can encompass other embodiments not expressly shown or described herein.
Patent Application
20190382192
