Articulated conduit linkage system

摘要

An articulating conduit linkage system for maintaining a fluid connection between a fluid source and displaceable conduit that has been buried in a subsiding permeable body. A fluid source can supply a working fluid through a source outlet. A displaceable conduit can receive the working fluid through a conduit inlet, and be buried at a depth within a subsiding permeable body that is contained within a permeability control infrastructure. A plurality of articulating conduit segments can include, an outer conduit segment coupled to the source outlet, an inner conduit segment coupled to the conduit inlet, and at least one middle conduit segment coupled to the outer and inner segments. In the event of a subsidence, the plurality of articulating conduit segments are configured so the outer and inner conduit segments extend the conduit linkage system while maintaining a working fluid connection between the source outlet and the conduit inlet.

主权项

1. An articulated conduit linkage system for maintaining a fluid connection between a fluid source and displaceable conduit buried within a subsiding permeable body, comprising:
a fluid source for supplying a working fluid through a source outlet and being located outside the permeable body; a displaceable conduit for receiving the working fluid through a conduit inlet and being buried at a depth within the subsiding permeable body; a plurality of articulating conduit segments comprising:
an outer conduit segment operably coupled to the source outlet with a first single-axis swivel joint;an inner conduit segment operably coupled to the conduit inlet with a second single-axis swivel joint; andat least one middle conduit segment operably connecting the outer and inner segments, respectively, with at least one single-axis swivel joint, to establish a working fluid connection between the fluid source and the displaceable conduit; and a box enclosure surrounding the plurality of articulating conduit segments and having a sliding vane panel adjacent the conduit inlet for preventing encroachment of the permeable body into the box enclosure, wherein a subsidence of the permeable body causes a relative displacement between the source outlet and the conduit inlet that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of both the outlet and the inlet, causing the outer and inner conduit segments to rotate in opposite directions to extend the conduit linkage system while maintaining the working fluid connection between the source outlet and the conduit inlet.