Adjustable Branch Pipe Fitting Holder for Vertical Welding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for attaching branch pipes to pipelines often result in uneven weld seams due to the branch pipe being welded at an angle, and require separate devices for different diameters, making them bulky and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A fitting holder with adjustable inner guide diameters and a displaceable ring with clamping elements allows for concentric fixation and alignment of branch pipes of varying sizes, ensuring vertical welding and easy handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a hole is drilled in the pipeline to attach the branch pipe, then the branch pipe can be attached to the pipeline, but the branch pipe is welded at an angle resulting in uneven weld seams
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting holder serves as an intermediary device between the branch pipe and the pipeline. It provides a stable mounting base with a guide hole that ensures the branch pipe is held perpendicular to the pipeline axis during welding, eliminating the alignment problems caused by drilling holes directly in the pipeline.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the simple mechanical guidance of a drilled hole with a structured mechanical system consisting of the fitting holder, guide hole, and clamping mechanism. This system actively maintains the perpendicular orientation of the branch pipe through physical constraints rather than relying on the limited guidance of a hole alone.
2Manufacturing precision
If separate brackets are used for each diameter of the outlet nozzle, then each diameter can be securely held, but the device becomes bulky and requires multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting holder is designed as a universal device that can accommodate branch pipes of different diameters. The guide hole and clamping mechanism can adjust to fit various sizes, eliminating the need for multiple separate brackets for different outlet nozzle diameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting holder incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities through its clamping mechanism, allowing it to adapt to different branch pipe diameters. This dynamic adaptability replaces the static, fixed-size brackets with a single versatile component that can be configured for various sizes.
3Device complexity
If the branch pipe is guided exclusively by the hole, then the structure remains simple, but the guide surface is very short resulting in poor alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance function is segmented into multiple components: the fitting holder body provides the primary mounting structure, the guide hole provides initial alignment, and the clamping mechanism provides final positioning and perpendicularity maintenance. This segmentation of the guidance function into distinct elements improves alignment precision while maintaining structural simplicity.
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
Enables consistent, vertical welding of branch pipes of different dimensions without the need for multiple devices, ensuring a uniform weld seam and improved handling due to ergonomic design and modular construction.
Implementation Method 1
The tensioning elements are designed as compression spring elements
Data Source
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AI summary
Fitting holder designed to receive a branch pipe during a welding process for attaching the branch pipe to a pipeline or tube, wherein branch pipes of different dimensions can be received by the fitting holder, comprising a hollow cylindrical housing with an upper area which, during welding, is turned away from the pipeline to be welded to it and a lower area which, during welding, is turned towards the pipeline to be welded to it, wherein supports for axially fixing the branch pipe to be received by the fitting holder are arranged in the lower area, a ring slidably arranged in the housing and clamping elements pressing the ring downwards, wherein the fitting holder has different guide inner diameters which guide the differently dimensioned branch pipes to their differently dimensioned outer diameters in the fitting holder.