Adjustable Telescoping Pit Liner for Variable Ground Grade
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing meter pit installations face challenges due to uncertainty in the final earth grade, leading to liners that may be either too long or too short, which affects access and protection for underground pipeline devices.
Innovation Solution
The development of adjustable pit liners with a telescoping design and locking mechanism allows for height adjustments, ensuring surface accessibility for devices connected to underground pipelines, facilitating installation before the final grade is known and enabling easy access for maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fixed-length meter pit liner is used, then the installation is simple, but the liner may be too long or too short when the final grade is unknown
Solution Approach 1:
The meter pit liner is designed with a telescoping mechanism that allows the upper section to slide relative to the lower section, enabling dynamic adjustment of the liner length. This dynamic structure permits the liner to adapt to varying final grades while maintaining protection for the meter pit, resolving the contradiction between installation simplicity and adaptability to ground level variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The meter pit liner is divided into multiple sections (upper section and lower section) that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the liner to be adjusted in length by moving the upper section along the lower section, providing adaptability to different ground levels while keeping the overall structure simple for installation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the liner is made adjustable with telescoping sections, then adaptability to ground levels is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescoping mechanism provides a relatively simple dynamic adjustment system where the upper section slides along the lower section. This dynamic design achieves adaptability to ground levels without requiring complex mechanical structures, as the adjustment is accomplished through straightforward linear movement and locking at desired positions.
Solution Approach 2:
A locking mechanism serves as an intermediary element that enables the telescoping sections to be held at adjusted positions. This locking mechanism simplifies the overall system by providing a reliable way to secure the adjusted length without requiring complex control systems or multiple moving parts.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the upper section is locked in place, then the liner height is stabilized, but adjustment capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism acts as an intermediary that selectively engages to stabilize the liner height when needed. It allows the upper section to be locked in place at adjusted positions, providing height stability while maintaining the ability to adjust the liner when required, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions between dynamic (adjustable) and static (locked) states as needed. The locking mechanism enables the upper section to be held firmly at desired positions for stability during operation, while allowing easy adjustment by simply moving the upper section to different positions and engaging the lock at the desired location.
Data Source
AI summary
A pit liner includes an upper section, a lower section, at least one pin wherein each pin is connected to one of the upper section and the lower section, and at least one notch defined in at least one of the upper section and the lower section the lower section and the upper section sized to adjust with respect to each other.