Chamfer Ring Sleeve for Pipe Couplings Without O-Ring Disturbance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The need to manually chamfer or bevel the ends of thermoplastic pipes before installation in couplings, which can lead to imprecise cuts and potential leaks due to improper handling, is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A pre-manufactured insertion sleeve with a chamfered inner surface and a design that allows it to move past O-rings without disturbing their position, eliminating the need for manual chamfering of pipe ends.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual chamfering is performed by technicians in the field, then the pipe end can be beveled to facilitate insertion, but imprecise cuts may occur which disturb O-rings and create leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The chamfer is pre-formed on the pipe during the extrusion manufacturing process before the pipe is shipped to the installation site. This preliminary action eliminates the need for field technicians to perform manual chamfering, ensuring consistent precision while maintaining ease of insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical chamfering process performed by technicians is replaced with an automated extrusion process that forms the chamfer during pipe manufacturing. This substitution eliminates human error and variability in chamfer precision.
2Ease of manufacture
If chamfering tools are used in the field, then beveled edges can be created on pipe ends, but improper tool usage results in imprecise cuts and potential seal disturbance
Solution Approach 1:
The chamfer is created during the pipe manufacturing process before shipment, eliminating the need for field chamfering operations. This ensures that the pipe is ready for immediate installation without requiring additional field tools or operations that could compromise seal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe manufacturing process itself provides the chamfering function that would otherwise require separate field operations. The pipe serves its own preparation needs through the extrusion process, eliminating the need for additional field services and tools.
3Ease of operation
If technicians manually create chamfers, then insertion ease is improved, but the complexity of field operations increases due to additional tools and procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The chamfer is pre-formed during pipe manufacturing, eliminating the need for technicians to carry and operate specialized chamfering tools. This reduces field operation complexity while maintaining the ease of pipe insertion benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The chamfering operation is extracted from the field installation process and incorporated into the pipe manufacturing process. This removes the complexity of field chamfering tools and procedures from the installation workflow.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe coupling includes an insertion sleeve with a body that has an outer surface and an opening that passes through the body. The body includes a cylindrical first section disposed between a second section and a third section. The first section has a maximum outer diameter of the body. The second section has a varying diameter along its length. The third section has a varying diameter along its length. The opening includes a first region with a constant inner diameter and a second region with a varying diameter. A maximum diameter of the second region is greater than the constant inner diameter. The insertion sleeve is assembled on the rigid stiffener with the second region positioned closer to the first O-ring than the first region. The maximum diameter of the second region is greater than an outer diameter of the first O-ring.