BR-102024017307-A2 - Vibration damping support for piping with thermal expansion movement.

Abstract

The present invention consists of an attenuation support to support or mitigate movement of an element, primarily a pipe in a pipeline, wherein the movement comprises vibration and/or thermal expansion. The attenuation support comprises multiple damping elements (1), multiple spacing elements (4), a housing (3) that houses the multiple damping elements (1) and the multiple spacing elements (4), a rod (2) extending through the housing 3, wherein the multiple damping elements (1) and the multiple spacing elements (4) are interleaved within the housing (3), forming a sandwich, wherein the rod (2) is mounted with radial interference in relation to the multiple damping elements (1). The multiple damping elements (1) are hollow discs made of elastomeric material and the multiple spacer elements (4) are hollow discs made of rigid material, and when thermal expansion movement of the tube occurs, the rod (2) moves relative to the multiple damping elements (1) and when dynamic movement occurs as a result of tube vibration, the friction between the rod and the multiple damping elements (1) deforms the latter, causing a hysteretic damping of the movement.

Inventors

• CLAUDIO JOSE GRANDO DA CUNHA
• Alberto WARTCHOW

Assignees

• Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras

Dates

Publication Date

20260310

Application Date

20240823

Claims (4)

1. 1. Vibration damping support for thermally expanded pipes, characterized in that it comprises: multiple damping elements (1); multiple spacing elements (4); a housing (3) that houses the multiple damping elements (1) and the multiple spacing elements (4); a rod (2) extending through the housing (3); and a clamp (5), in which the multiple damping elements (1) and the multiple spacing elements (4) are interleaved within the housing (3).
2. 2. Thermally expanded pipe vibration damping support, according to claim 1, characterized in that the multiple damping elements (1) are hollow discs of elastomeric material and the multiple spacing elements (4) are hollow discs of rigid material, and wherein the multiple spacing elements (4) have a central hole diameter larger than the central hole diameter of the multiple damping elements (1).
3. 3. Thermally expanded pipe vibration damping support, according to claim 1, characterized in that the rod (2) is inserted with radial interference into the central hole of the multiple elastomeric damping elements (1).
4. 4. Vibration damping support for thermally expanding pipes, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (3) and the rod (2) have ball joint type fastening (6) with minimum clearance and that allows the combination of expansion movements and that allows mounting with an inclined position relative to the base (7) of the vibration damping support.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [01] The present invention falls within the field of mechanical engineering. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pipe support, suitable for damping movements arising from vibrations, but allowing expansions due to thermal expansion. FUNDAMENTALS OF THE INVENTION [02] Supporting hot pipes with high thermal expansion and vibration presents an engineering challenge. Conventional guide or clamp-type supports (with or without elastomeric elements) restrict movement, whether vibratory or due to thermal expansion; however, when the vibratory movement of the pipe is in the same direction as the thermal expansion movement, conventional supports cannot be used. Another important issue is the need for a field-adjustable solution to obtain suitable strength, stiffness, and dynamic energy absorption characteristics. [03] One solution is the use of hydraulic dampers, which allow for thermal expansion, however their application is not specific to pipeline vibration but rather to impulse loads such as water hammer and seismic loads (“snubbers”), used for example in pipelines with two-phase flow. This model may fail with hydraulic oil leakage, requiring component replacement. Another solution is the use of viscous element dampers, which allow absorbing thermal expansion movements of the pipeline, but become inadequate when the expansion values are high, due to their limited travel. Another option is the “sway brace” model, which has an internal spring that absorbs a certain expansion, normally up to 3 inches, and, after this, prevents vibration by the imposed restriction. STATE OF THE ART [04] Document DE2834649A1, entitled “Motor vehicle vibration damper”, discloses a shock and vibration damper, especially suitable for motor vehicles. It operates by friction, having a piston sliding in a cylinder. At the end of the cylinder (2) where the piston rod (3) protrudes, a brake (7') is provided for the rod, comprising a stack of wear-resistant discs (7) through which it passes and of rubber-like elastic material, mainly plastic, fixed to the cylinder. At the inner end of the rod there is a piston (5) guiding it in the cylinder. The piston may be formed of membrane-type discs of wear-resistant plastic and elastic material (16) fixed to the rod, which passes through them. More specifically, document DE2834649A1 discloses a polygonal disc in the shape of an equilateral triangle that is placed on top of the stack of membrane discs. This disc bends when the rod is inserted, but does not bend when it is removed. Thus, it is easier to insert than to remove the piston. It also suggests that several polygonal discs can be inserted between the membrane discs in a misaligned manner with each other. [05] Document WO9514830A1, entitled “Seismic isolation bearing”, discloses a seismic isolation bearing including an upper load plate (11A) for fixing the bearing to a structure to be supported, a lower load plate (11B) for fixing the bearing assembly to the foundation and a steel-reinforced rubber bearing body (13) sandwiched between them. The rubber bearing body (13) performs the functions of bearing and restoring the seismic isolation bearing. A steel intermediate plate (14) extends radially from the middle of the rolled pile of the bearing body and includes a plurality of holes (35) near the outer circumference of the intermediate plate. A first series of yield pins (12T) is anchored in the upper load plate and extends downwards towards the lower load plate, and a second series of yield pins (12B) is anchored in the lower load plate and extends upwards towards the upper load plate. The flow pins (12T, 12B) are received within the oversized holes (35) arranged around the periphery of the intermediate plate. During lateral displacement of the bearing assembly, the intermediate plate (14) deflects and plastically deforms the pins; after the cessation of the applied lateral force, the elastomeric support body pushes the assembly back to its original position, plastically reforming the flow pins to their original position. The flow function of the flow pins is thus decoupled from the bearing and restores the function of the bearing body (13). Document WO9514830A1 also discloses the construction of an interleaved rubber and metal bearing comprising a central hole for the insertion of a piston rod or pin. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [06] The present invention consists of a support that has a rod inserted with interference fit into a set of viscoelastic elements (e.g., elastomers, rubber, polyurethane), which restricts vibratory motion and virtually allows any imposed thermal expansion motion. The configuration of the support, using a “sandwich” of viscoelastic elements interspersed with rigid elements, allows for easy alteration of the dynamic and stiffness characteristics by modifying the quantities and/or dimensions of the elements. It is a low-cost manufacturing and maintenance solution, suitable for common ap