Patent Application
20120060958
The present invention relates to a structural element, a structure comprising at least one structural element, the use of said structural element and a method for hoisting a device.
In various industries use is made of structural elements for instance in the form of tubular members. These members are typically manufactured from metal or plastics. The combination of the material and the tubular shape provide structural rigidity to said elements. These elements are furthermore relatively cheap to produce.
By using a plurality of interconnected structural elements it is possible to manufacture a building structure with limited costs while still providing a high rigidity for said structure. This principle is for instance used to manufacture bridges, oil rigs, cranes and other structures having beam-like building elements.
It is an object of the present invention to improve the known structural element.
In order to accomplish that objective, the structural element according to the invention comprises a stiff, elongate tubular member, wherein an inner surface of said tubular member and side faces enclose a core extending along at least a length of said tubular member, wherein said core is provided with a fluid under pressure. Although a conventional structural element already has load-bearing capacities due to its stiffness, the load-bearing capacity of the structural element according to the invention is increased significantly by providing a fluid under pressure in the tubular member of the structural element. The fluid is held in the core, a space enclosed by side faces and the inner surface or wall of the tubular member. Preferably the core comprises the inner space of a hollow tubular member. The side faces are arranged to specify a predetermined length of said core.
Preferably the tubular member is substantially circular in cross-section. This increases the strength of the structural member. The tubular member is furthermore preferably manufactured from a stiff material, i.e. a material showing structural integrity. Suitable materials are for instance metal, carbon fibre, raisins and/or plastics. More preferably the structural element comprises a steel tube, for instance stainless steel.
It should be noted that the term fluid as used herein can be interpreted as both a gas and a liquid. It is therefore possible to fill the core of said elongate tubular member with a gas and/or liquid under pressure. The core preferably encloses the fluid air- and/or watertight, holding the fluid substantially stationary in the core.
With the term a fluid under pressure is meant that the pressure of the fluid in the core is higher than the pressure of the fluid surrounding the structural element, for instance atmospheric air or water the element is placed in. The fluid inside the tubular member, in particular in the core, is therefore in overpressure with respect to the exterior of the structural element.
Preferably the fluid in the core has a pressure in the range from 0 Pa to a pressure to attain the maximum allowable circumferential stress of the tubular member, more preferably the fluid has a pressure of approximately half of said pressure attaining maximum circumferential stress. Test and calculations indicated that this results in a significantly stronger structural element.
As an example, the pressure attaining the maximum allowable circumferential stress for a tubular member from steel S355 with a wall thickness of 12.5 mm and a radius of 250 mm is 11 MPa. However, it is preferred to provide a pressure in the core of between 5 to 8 MPa. The maximum pressure for the same tubular member manufactured from Polyamid 6 is 2 MPa. A pressure of 1-1.2 MPa is however preferred.
According to a preferred embodiment of the structural element according to the invention, the core extends along substantially the whole length of the tubular member. Along substantially the whole length of the structural element in the form of a tubular member, said element is filled with the fluid under pressure. The side faces enclosing the core are hereby preferably formed by the end faces of the tubular member. This results in a simple construction.
It is however also possible to provide only a predetermined length of the structural element with the fluid under pressure. According to a further preferred embodiment, said side faces comprise at least one removable plug. The faces enclosing the core, or for instance a plurality of cores, can then be placed accordingly along the length of the element. Preferably the core or cores provided with fluid under pressure extend along lengths of the structural element which encounter the highest loads.
Preferably said plug is movable between a first position wherein the outer diameter of said plug is smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular member and a second position wherein the outer diameter of said plug and the inner diameter of the tubular member are substantially equal. In the first position, the plug is movable in the tubular member allowing efficient placement of said plug. After proper placement, the plug is moved to the second position. The outer diameter of the plug now corresponds to the inner diameter of the inner surface of the tubular member, keeping the plug in place. The plug can now function as side face for the core. More preferably the plug comprises at least one inflatable tubular member, wherein inflating said member moves the plug from the first to the second position and vice versa.
According to a further preferred embodiment said fluid extends along substantially the whole inner surface of said element. The fluid hereby exerts pressure to substantially the whole inner surface of the tubular member of the structural element. Preferably the fluid extends along substantially the whole inner surface along the inner diameter in the radial plane of the elongate member. The fluid hereby exerts pressure to the whole inner surface in a radially outwardly direction. In case the core extends along substantially the whole length of the tubular member, said fluid also extends along substantially the whole inner surface in the axial direction of the elongate member.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the structural element according to the invention, said core is provided with at least one compartment. A compartment can hereby function as filler, reducing the amount of fluid under pressure in the core. The compartment can furthermore prevent an explosion in case of leakage of said fluid, in particular a fluid in the form of gas. Preferably the compartment extends coaxial in the elongate tubular member, wherein the core provided with the fluid under pressure extends adjacent the inner surface of the tubular member. The compartment is preferably manufactured from a material capable of withstanding the pressure exerted by the core. Suitable materials are for instance plastic or metal.
It is however also possible to provide the compartment with a fluid under pressure. When the pressures in the core and the compartment correspond, the resulting pressure on the wall of the compartment decreases. This allows a smaller wall thickness for said compartment. The material of the compartments can then be manufactured from for instance cloth. However, in case of a leak of the core, an increased pressure is exerted on the wall of the compartment. Preferably the pressure in the compartment is approximately half of the pressure in the core. This allows a thin wall of the compartment while preventing rupture of said compartment in case of a leak.
Preferably the compartment is substantially spherical and/or tubular in shape. A spherical compartment preferably has a diameter equal to the inner diameter of the core, allowing a close fit between said compartment and the inner surface of the tubular member. The contact area between the compartment and the inner surface of the tubular member is however small, allowing the surrounding fluid in the core to exert sufficient pressure on the inner surface to ensure in a strong structural element.
A tubular compartment preferably has a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the inner wall enclosing the core. The tubular compartment hereby preferably extends at a distance from said surface, allowing the fluid to exert pressure on substantially the whole inner surface. The element is provided with suitable holders for holding the compartment in place in the core, preferably coaxial with the core of said element.
It is also possible to use a combination of spherical and tubular compartments in the core.
More preferably said compartment or a plurality of compartments extend along substantially the whole length of said core. This furthermore reduces the amount of pressurized fluid in the core and reduces the danger of explosions in case of leakage of gas, while still providing the pressure to the inner surface of the tubular member.
According to a further preferred embodiment said element is provided with hoisting means, preferably near the outer ends of the element. This for instance allows the structural element to be used as spreader bar for hoisting elongate structures such as pieces of a pipe-line. Suitable hoisting means are for example hooks, lines, chains or a combination thereof.
Preferably at least a length of the structural element in the middle region of said element is provided with a core with fluid under pressure. It is for instance possible to provide a core at said middle region of the tubular member where the maximum stresses normally occur. The core can for instance be formed by side faces in the form of plugs in intermediate locations along the length of the tubular member and the inner surface of said member. The length between said side faces is then provided with a filling under pressure.
According to a further preferred embodiment the structural member is provided with a valve. The valve preferably extends between the core and the outer surface of the tubular member for easy access. This allows the pressure of the fluid in the core to be adjusted. It then possible to adjust the strength of the element to a typical use or environment of said element. It is furthermore possible to adjust the natural frequency and damping of said element. Preferably the structural element is hereto provided with suitable pressure sensors.
Preferably the structural element further comprises a pressure vessel arranged to supply fluid to the core. The pressure vessel functions as a safety measure. In case the pressure drops in the core, additional fluid under pressure can be supplied to the core to maintain the predetermined pressure. More preferably the pressure vessel is located outside the tubular member. It is however also possible to use a compartment in the core as pressure vessel. The valve is then arranged between the compartment and the core.
The invention furthermore relates to a structure comprising at least one structural element according to the invention. This structure has an increased strength and stability (global and local) compared to structures comprising conventional structural elements. According to a preferred embodiment, the structure comprises at least two structural elements, wherein the cores of said elements are interconnected. Connecting the cores provided with fluid under pressure of separate elements allows the pressure to be averages between the elements in case one of the elements experiences a pressure drop or rise due to for instance an increased load or deformation. The connected core of the second element hereby functions as pressure vessel or buffer. Preferably the connection between the cores comprises a valve. This allows the averaging behaviour of the structure to be adjusted. More preferably each structural element comprises a valve. More preferably the structure comprises a controller arranged to control the valves of said structural elements.
According to a further embodiment of the structure according to the invention, the cores of the structural elements are connected to a shared feeding line, wherein the feeding line is connected to a pressure vessel. By controlling the valves to the individual cores, the stiffness, damping and natural frequencies of the individual structural elements can be adjusted. Preferably the structural elements of the structure are provided with suitable pressure sensors for determining the pressure in the cores.
The method of strengthening or damping relates to a structure comprising at least one structural element according to the invention.
It can be a separate member, cluster of members around an important joint, part of the structure in a zone (splash zone etc) or the whole structure.
This structure has an adjustable strength (damping capabilities) in separate directions. It can work as a passive system—the properties of the structure stay constant, or can work as a semi-active system—at time to time to adjust the properties or full-active system—to follow the environmental circumstances and adjust the system to them.
The system can react by changing the pressure (strengthening/weakling of parts) or changing the damping in the system (vessels) or between the structural elements self. This structure has an increased fatigue life (i.e. design life) due to higher mean stress (see Goodman curves). Fatigue life increases also because the increased strength of the structure causes lower deformations i.e. lower stress ranges.
By increase or decrease of the stiffness it can be changed the natural frequency and the structure can avoid the action frequency areas of the waves, wind or currents and hence decrease the stresses and deformations.
Through adjustment of the pressure in separate members they can avoid the VIV (Vortex Induced Vibrations) caused by waves, winds or currents.
The method can be used for new structures or strengthening, design life extension or improve the dynamic behaviour of existing structures. The improvement means low accelerations, smaller deformations and low stress level. It is useful during transport, lifting or other operations some parts of the structures to be temporary strengthened.
Only for mode “full active system” it is necessary the members to be connected in a system by permanent fluid supply lines. For all other modes (semi-active or passive), after filling the lines can be removed. The system can function with or without permanent fluid connections between de elements.
This method can replace the method for filling one structure with grout. If a jacket platform (tubular structure) needs strengthening, the common method now is to insert grout into the braces. Filling with grout has a lot of disadvantages in comparison to the invention:
The invention furthermore relates to the use of a structural element according to the invention as spreader bar for hoisting a device. A conventional spreader bar normally comprises a tubular member provided with hoisting means in the form of slings for attaching the device to be hoisted and slings to for instance a crane. The hoisting capacity of these spreader bars is limited. When heavier and/or larger devices need to be lifted, spreader frames are normally used. Spreader frames are manufactured from a plurality of beam like members to provide sufficient stiffness for hoisting said device. Spreader frames tend to be heavy and expensive. A structural element according to invention at least partially filled with pressurized fluid provides a relatively light spreader bar which has a lifting capacity comparable to the known spreader frames. Using a lighter spreader bar for instance allows the use of lighter crane.
The invention furthermore relates to a method for hoisting a stiff, elongate tubular member according to the invention comprising:
By providing side faces, for instance on the ends of the tubular member to be hoisted, an enclosed core is provided. By filling said core with a fluid under pressure, the stiffness and stability of the tubular member is increased. With the method according to the invention it is possible to hoist tubular members of relatively long length without the need for a spreader bar or frame.
Preferably the core extends along at least a length of the middle region of said element between the hoisting means. The middle region of the tubular member normally experiences the highest stresses. The core can be formed by faces, for instance is the form of plugs, provided in intermediate locations in the tubular member. The core between said side faces can then be provided with a fluid under pressure. Preferably the method further comprises providing at least one compartment in said core.
It is however also possible to provide cores at the end regions of the tubular member where the hoisting means are normally provided. The cores are then better accessible. The first side faces of each of the cores can for instance be formed by faces provided on the end of the tubular member, wherein additional faces are provided in intermediate locations along the length of the tubular member, for instance in the form of plugs. The length between said additional faces is thereby not provided with a filling under pressure.
More preferably the method further comprises removing the side faces, for instance in the form of plugs, after hoisting. The tubular member, for instance for a pipe line, can then be installed properly. In case compartments are used, said compartments are removed too.
It should be noted that all the features from the tubular member according to the invention can also be applied to the method for hoisting said member. It is for instance possible to provide the core with a plurality of compartments or to provide a valve and pressure vessel.
The present invention is further illustrated by the following Figures, which show a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, wherein:
a-d schematically show a first embodiment of the structural element according to the invention in cross-section;
In
The core 3 shown in
In
Although the cores do not extend along the whole length of the tube 2, the gas in the cores 3a and 3b do exert pressure on the whole inner surface 2a along the lengths of said cores 3a and 3b. In the radial plane perpendicular to the axis of the tube 2, the gas exerts a pressure directed radially outwardly on the whole inner diameter of surface 2a. An axial pressure is furthermore exerted on side faces 4a, 5a and 4b, 5b. The stiffness and stability of the tube 2 is hereby improved with respect to conventional tubes for use in for instance construction.
For hoisting a tube 2 it is advantageously to provide at least a length of the tube in the middle region of the tube 2 with a core 3 as shown in
Prior to hoisting, the core 3 is provided using side faces 5a and 5b. In this example, the side faces 5a and 5b are in the form of plugs. The plugs comprise a body 51 and inflatable tubular members 52. For placement of the plugs, the tubular members 52 are deflated, allowing easy placement of said plugs in the tube 2. When the plugs are in place, the members 52 are inflated, sealing the core 3. The core 3 can then be provided with a fluid under pressure. In this example also end faces 4a and 4b are provided. The regions indicated with 3a and 3b are however not filled with a fluid under pressure.
After correct placement of the tube 2 by hoisting, the plugs 5a and 5b can be removed using lines 53 and the tube 2 can for instance be incorporated in a pipe-line after removal of faces 4a and 4b. It is for instance also possible to provide a core 3 prior to hoisting which extends along the whole length of the tube 2 as shown in
d shows an alternative embodiment of the tube 2 as shown in
A middle region of the tube 2 extends in a lateral direction. Here, the lateral direction is a horizontal direction. The tube ends extend in an upwards direction. At least a length of the tube 2 in the middle region of the tube 2 has a core 3. The core is provided with a plurality of compartments in the form of inner tubes 12 which extend in the core 3. The core 3 is enclosed in between a first intermediate face 5a and a second intermediate face 5b. When hoisting, the highest stresses occur in said middle region. In particular, the middle region is vulnerable to deformations. For that reason the tube 2 is reinforced in the middle region.
At least one sling 7 is provided for hoisting the tube 2. As illustrated, four slings 7 are connected to the tube 2 and at a central point connected to each other. Two slings 7 are connected at the outer tube ends and two slings are connected at the intermediate faces 5a, 5b of the structural element. Herewith, the structural element can be hoisted in a stable manner and a risk on unallowable bending may be prevented.
In
As an example, a conventional spreader bar a diameter of 508 mm and a wall thickness of 12.5 mm manufactured from steel is capable of lifting a structure of 16 tons with a length of 18 meters. In contrast, the spreader bar according to the invention is capable of lifting a structure weighing 16 tons of at least 30 meters in length. Although a conventional spreader frame is capable of lifting the same structure as the spreader bar according to the invention, the spreader frame has a weight at least four times higher than the spreader bar according to the invention and is six times more expensive.
In
In
In the embodiment shown in
In
In
In
In
If for instance one of the elements 1a-d is stressed, for instance due to a change in load, a deformation of the structure by for instance an earthquake or a collision with for instance a vehicle or a wave, the pressure in the core of said element can be adjusted to compensate for the change in stress. The pressure in a particular core can be increased up to the ultimate loading limit of said element, allowing the element to reach its maximum strength. In case one of the elements 1a-d is deformed or collapsed, the surrounding elements can be adjusted to compensate for the loss of one of the elements by increasing the pressure in the remaining cores 3a-d.
By changing the pressures in the cores, the natural frequencies and the damping of the structural elements, in particular the elements forming the structure, are changed. Next to changing the he static characteristics of the structure, this also allows changing the dynamic response of said structure. Resonance of the structure can hereby effectively be prevented, resulting in lower stresses and vibrations. The resulting fatigue damage is hereby significantly reduced.
In the structure of
It is also possible that a structure without pressure vessel 9 and pump 10 is used. The cores 3a-d are then interconnected using suitable lines. These lines can be provided with valves 11a-d. When one element, for instance element 1a, is stressed, the pressure in core 3a will rise. Due to the pressure difference between the cores, the overpressure in core 3a will be distributed to the other cores 3b-d, dependent on the switching of the lines. The pressures in the other cores 3b-d will therefore also rise, compensating for the load experienced by element 1a. The same applies in case the pressure drops in one of the cores 3a-d.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, but extends also to other embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. It should be noted that the features described for instance the structural element can also be applied to the structure according to the invention and vice versa. It is for instance possible to provide the cores of the structure with compartments.
This application is the National Stage of International Application no. PCT/EP2009/055920, filed May 15, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2009/055920 | 5/15/2009 | WO | 00 | 11/14/2011 |
