Bonded Slip Joint Pipe Fitting for Repeatable Leak-Resistant Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe fitting systems are limited in their ability to create reliable, leak-proof joints along the outer surface of pipes, as they often require pre-cut pipe lengths and are prone to failure or high costs due to the use of expensive sealing components and manual adhesive application, which lacks repeatability and can be counterproductive.
Innovation Solution
A novel pipe fitting system comprising a hub with a tapered bore and a cap with a protrusion that ensures adhesive or sealant is effectively distributed and sandwiched between the hub, cap, and pipe during installation, creating a robust adhesive-bonded joint at any point along the pipe surface, eliminating the need for expensive sealing components and allowing for flexible placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If slip joints or compression fittings are used to make a joint at any point along the pipe, then the joint can be placed flexibly along the pipe surface, but the joint is less resistant to failure and more prone to leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the placement flexibility of slip joints with the reliability of bonded joints by integrating adhesive application into the slip joint installation process. The adhesive is applied to the pipe surface before the slip joint is installed, merging two different joining methods into a single composite joint that achieves both flexibility and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive is applied to the pipe surface in advance before the slip joint is installed. This preliminary action ensures that the adhesive is in position to bond the joint to the pipe, allowing the joint to be placed at any location along the pipe while maintaining strong adhesion and leak resistance.
2Reliability
If adhesive or sealant is added during slip joint installation, then joint reliability may improve, but it is difficult to get the adhesive into the locations where it is useful and the process lacks repeatability
Solution Approach 1:
The slip joint installation process itself serves to apply and distribute the adhesive. As the slip joint is pushed onto the pipe, it automatically forces the adhesive into the joint location between the fitting and the pipe, eliminating the need for separate manual adhesive application and ensuring consistent, repeatable results.
Solution Approach 2:
The slip joint fitting acts as an intermediary that transfers and distributes the adhesive from its initial application point to the final bonding location. The mechanical action of installing the fitting forces the adhesive into the gap between the fitting and pipe, ensuring proper distribution without manual intervention.
3Ease of manufacture
If manual adhesive application is used, then adhesive can be placed where needed, but the process lacks repeatability and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The installation process automatically performs the adhesive distribution function. The act of pushing the slip joint onto the pipe forces the adhesive into the bonding location, eliminating variability introduced by manual application and ensuring consistent, repeatable results across all installations.
4Reliability
If expensive sealing components like O-rings or gaskets are used in slip joints, then sealing capability improves, but manufacturing cost increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, complex sealing components with a simple adhesive bonding system. The adhesive provides the necessary sealing and bonding function at a fraction of the cost of O-rings, gaskets, or compression rings, while eliminating the need for these additional parts and simplifying the overall fitting design.
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 system provides a reliable, cost-effective method for creating adhesive-bonded joints on pipes, enhancing joint strength and leak resistance while accommodating imperfections in the pipe surface, suitable for various materials like PVC, ABS, and metals, with applications in pipe repair and construction industries.
Implementation Method 1
adhesive or sealant is effectively distributed and sandwiched between the hub, cap, and pipe during installation, creating a robust adhesive-bonded joint
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a pipe fitting for making a bonded joint on a pipe comprising a hub, a cap, and a method for bonding the hub to the pipe. The hub has a cone-shaped bore section with an inner diameter at one end similar to the outer diameter of the pipe, expanding to a second diameter. The cap has a protrusion extending along its bore with a leading edge of a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the pipe as well as an inner-trailing edge of diameter similar to the outside of the pipe. Helical ribs on both components allow the cap to be mounted to and tightened against the hub. As the components are assembled onto a pipe, the protrusion on the cap pushes previously applied adhesive under the protrusion and along the pipe, sandwiching adhesive between the pipe and the protrusion, and between the hub and the protrusion.