Coupling Adapter Height Adjustment Toggle Lever

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing socket adapters struggle to optimally adapt the bottom level to adjacent pipelines and require complex operation for expansion elements, leading to potential leaks due to insufficient seal stretching and uneven pressure distribution.

Innovation Solution

A socket adapter with a separately operable lifting element, designed as a toggle lever with a longer first lever arm, allows precise adjustment of the socket adapter's sole level, featuring a turnbuckle-actuated clamp for easy operation and even seal distribution, ensuring a reliable seal across the entire circumference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the lifting element is designed as a toggle lever with a longer first lever arm, then the level adjustment precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelevel adjustment precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting element is segmented into a longer first lever arm and a second lever arm, allowing the clamp to be positioned optimally while maintaining adjustment precision. This segmentation enables the clamp to run outside the remaining toggle levers without impairing their operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lifting element extends in a different spatial dimension with a longer first lever arm, creating a through opening that allows the clamp to access the pipe section from an alternative path, avoiding interference with other toggle levers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the clamp runs around the pipe section with the turnbuckle in the upper half, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The turnbuckle is repositioned to the upper half of the pipe section circumference, utilizing the vertical dimension for easier access and operation, while the clamp wraps around the pipe section to accommodate this new position without interfering with other components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the seal is stretched radially outward by the toggle levers, then the reliability of sealing is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is segmented and distributed across multiple toggle levers positioned around the pipe section, with each lever contributing to stretching the seal radially outward. This distributed approach ensures uniform seal engagement and prevents leakage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The toggle levers are interlocked where they support the seal, merging their functions to work together as a unified system. This interlocking mechanism ensures that all levers contribute equally to seal stretching, maintaining reliable sealing across the entire circumference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Weight of moving object

If the pipe section length is limited to at most 50 cm, then the weight of the socket adapter is reduced, but the adaptability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight of socket adapterVSAvoidadaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The socket adapter incorporates dynamically adjustable toggle levers and a lifting element that can be operated independently, allowing the short pipe section to adapt to various pipe diameter differences and connection requirements, compensating for the limited length through enhanced adjustability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables precise level adjustment and reliable sealing across varying pipe diameters, preventing leaks by evenly supporting the seal over the entire circumference, facilitating easy handling and ensuring a secure connection without impairing the operation of other toggle levers.

Implementation Method 1

the lifting element is designed as a toggle lever which extends at a distance from the pipe section with a first lever arm and which initially rests against the pipe section with a second lever arm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLever: Lever

Implementation Method 2

a seal (3) made of an elastomer material is arranged, which with a first section (15) rests tightly on the outside of the pipe section (2) and which has a second section (16) which is spaced from the pipe section (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3458757B1Coupling adapter with height adjustment
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 FUNKE KUNSTSTOFFE GMBH
  • EP3458757B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3458757B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a coupling adapter (1) comprising: a cylindrical pipe section (2); a seal (3) consisting of elastically deformable material which surrounds the outer circumference of the pipe section (2), said seal (3) comprising a first section (15) which allows a tight fit with the pipe section (2), and comprising a second section (16) which can be moved radially outwards relative to the pipe section (2); and a plurality of expansion elements which are distributed around the periphery of the pipe section (2) between the pipe section (2) and the second section (16) of the seal (3), and which can be moved radially outwards such that the outer diameter of the seal (3) can be varied depending on the respective positions of the expansion elements. According to the invention, an expansion element designated as a travel element (9) is provided in the lower peripheral section of the coupling adapter (1). The expansion element can be separately manipulated such that the invert level of the coupling adapter (1) can be adjusted using the travel element (9).