Ball-Supported Pipeline Alignment Structure for Leak-Proof Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipeline connection systems face challenges in precisely aligning joint connection portions, leading to difficulties in achieving a leak-proof seal due to high surface contact resistance and potential gaps between contact surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The proposed alignment pipeline features a pipe body with a connection piece that includes a plurality of balls arranged in a rolling and dispersing manner, allowing the connection piece to move relative to the outer casing along a radial direction, thereby aligning the pipeline axis lines without surface contact and reducing the risk of water leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If male joint and female joint are in surface contact to enable alignment, then alignment capability is provided, but moving resistance increases and alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional surface contact between male and female joints with ball contact. Multiple balls are arranged on the connection piece, transforming the contact interface from flat surfaces to spherical points. This curvature change reduces contact area and friction, enabling smoother movement and more precise alignment during the connection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the traditional sliding friction mechanism with a rolling friction mechanism. Instead of surfaces sliding against each other, balls roll between the connection piece and the outer casing, dramatically reducing moving resistance and enabling easier, more accurate alignment.
2Ease of operation
If male joint and female joint slide along contact surface to align, then alignment is achieved, but gaps form between contact surfaces causing water leakage
Solution Approach 1:
By using balls instead of flat surfaces, the contact interface becomes point-based rather than surface-based. This eliminates the formation of gaps between contact surfaces, as the balls maintain continuous contact with the outer casing during alignment, ensuring reliable waterproof sealing without relying on O-rings.
Solution Approach 2:
The balls serve as intermediary elements between the connection piece and the outer casing. These balls facilitate the alignment process while maintaining continuous contact, acting as mediators that enable movement without creating leakage paths, thereby improving the waterproof function.
3Reliability
If O-ring is added to enhance waterproof function, then leak-proof effect is improved, but device complexity and material cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the O-ring component from the connection structure. By using balls for contact and alignment, the system achieves waterproofing through the ball contact mechanism itself, removing the need for additional sealing elements like O-rings, thereby simplifying the structure and reducing material costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The balls serve multiple functions simultaneously: they enable alignment through rolling motion, reduce friction during connection, and provide waterproof sealing through continuous contact. This multi-functionality replaces what would traditionally require separate components (alignment mechanism plus O-ring sealing), reducing overall device complexity.
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
This solution effectively reduces the friction force at the contact surface, allows for easy alignment of the joint connection portion, and achieves a good leak-proof effect without the need for additional O-rings, thereby saving material and assembly costs.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of balls is arranged on the connection piece in a rolling and dispersing manner. At least a part of the balls are in contact with the outer casing, so that the connection piece is movable relative to the outer casing along a radial direction of the pipe body axis line.
Data Source
AI summary
An alignment pipeline is arranged on an outer casing and configured to connect to a communication pipe which has a communication pipe axis line. The alignment pipeline includes a pipe body, a connection piece, and a plurality of balls. The pipe body has a pipe body axis line, and includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The first end is configured to connect to the communication pipe. The connection piece surrounds the pipe body, is arranged at the second end, and is movably connected to the outer casing. The plurality of balls is arranged on the connection piece in a rolling and dispersing manner. At least a part of the balls are in contact with the outer casing, so that the connection piece is movable relative to the outer casing along a radial direction of the pipe body axis line.