Adjustable Inner Sealing Sleeve With Tooth-Latch Pipe Fit

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Solution Overview

Problem

The renovation of liner ends in pipelines requires specific production of steel profiles due to diameter jumps, increasing manufacturing effort, and existing sealing sleeves are not adaptable to varying diameters, complicating assembly and component technology.

Innovation Solution

A variably adjustable inner sealing sleeve with a ring-shaped band made of corrosion-resistant steel, featuring a locking mechanism with a slot, row of teeth, and spring-loaded latching element that allows expansion in fine steps and prevents contraction, integrated with a guide body and elastic spring element for secure fitting across multiple diameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a locking device with multiple rows of teeth and dual clamping pinions is used, then the reliability of preventing displacement is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of displacementVSAvoidlocking device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates one of the two clamping pinions and its associated row of teeth from the locking device. The remaining single clamping pinion with its row of teeth is sufficient to prevent both expansion and contraction displacement, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The single remaining row of teeth serves multiple functions: it prevents displacement during expansion, prevents displacement during contraction, and works with the single clamping pinion to provide bidirectional locking. This multi-functional design reduces the number of components needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If specific steel profiles are produced for each diameter, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the manufacturing effort and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediameter accuracyVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing sleeve is designed to be dynamically adjustable in diameter rather than requiring separate fixed-diameter profiles. The expandable structure allows a single base profile to adapt to multiple diameter requirements, eliminating the need for producing multiple specific steel profiles while maintaining precision through the expansion mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the diameter parameter dynamically through expansion rather than producing separate profiles for each diameter value. This allows continuous or discrete adjustment to match different pipe diameters, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the required precision for each application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 provides a flexible sealing system that simplifies assembly, reduces manufacturing complexity, and ensures a secure, adaptable fit across various diameters, enhancing both assembly and manufacturing efficiency while maintaining high chemical and temperature resistance.

Implementation Method 1

The locking element (13) is under the action of a spring element (14) and engages in the toothing of the row of teeth (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3997375B1Inner sealing sleeve for inserting into pipes
Publication Date: 2022.10.19 AMEX SANIVAR AG
  • EP3997375B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3997375B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3997375B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The inner sealing sleeve (1) according to the invention for inserting into pipes is, in particular, a liner end sleeve. The inner sealing sleeve (1) has a sleeve body (2) made up of a band (3) curved in the form of a ring, wherein an inner band end (4) and an outer band end (5) overlap. The sleeve body (2) is expandable, and therefore the inner band end (4) can be displaced relative to the outer band end (5) along an expanding direction U. An arresting arrangement (7) prevents the inner band end (4) from being able to be displaced back, counter to the expanding direction U, relative to the outer band end (5). The arresting arrangement (7) has a slot (8) which is arranged at the inner band end (4), as seen in the circumferential direction, and has a row of teeth (10) and also a latching mechanism (12) with a latching member (13). The latching member (13) is subject to the action of a spring element (14) and engages in the toothing formation of the row of teeth (10) by way of its latching teeth (15).The latching member (13) is subject to the action of a spring element (14) and engages by way of its latching teeth (15) in the toothing formation of the row of teeth (10). The latching member (13) and the spring element (14) are arranged in a chamber (16) of a guide body (17), wherein the latching member (13) can be displaced in the chamber (16).