RESULTS OF WORKING CAPACITY RESEARCH OF PIPELAYER IMPROVED EQUIPMENT

Abstract

PURPOSE. The paper introduces a new variant of the improved design of a pipelayer boom additional support. The proposed technical solution increases pipelaying smoothness and improves pipelayer stability when in operation. The result is achieved by adding extra elements into the construction of the pipelayer boom support. The purpose of the work is to check the strength and performance of the proposed pipelayer equipment. METHODS. The existing method of strength calculation of the proposed design is rather laborious. The software product Solid Works is used to determine the critical stresses, strain values and maximum shifts in the design. RESULTS AND THEIR DISCUSSION. The cargo boom in the proposed construction is joined with the support, which consists of a hydraulic cylinder and a metal base used for cylinder fixation to the support with bolted-type connection. The dependences gained from the computation pattern of the pipelayer working equipment are given to prove the efficiency of the proposed design solution. The calculated dependences allow to determine the rate of the loads applied to the pipelayer. CONCLUSIONS. The results of the theoretical researches carried out in Solid works are represented by diagrams and show the stresses, shifts and deformations in the design of a pipelayer boom used for long-distance pipeline laying. Moreover, the size of the strength margin in the pipelayer boom support structure has been determined.