Clamping Joint for Polymer Pipes with Pre-Assembled Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping joints for polymer and composite pipes require additional operating steps for assembly, are prone to detachment under tensile force, and suffer from cross-sectional narrowing, which complicates production and installation.
Innovation Solution
A clamping joint design where the clamping sleeve is pre-assembled on the connector and moves over the pipe in the opposite direction of insertion, utilizing a lead-in cone for easy pipe insertion without prior widening, and features an elastic region for pre-assembly and a rigid region for clamping, with a stop collar to prevent sleeve displacement, ensuring secure attachment and reduced cross-sectional narrowing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pipe is pushed onto the support sleeve first and then the clamping sleeve is fitted, then the assembly steps are separated, but this increases the number of operating steps and makes assembly more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping sleeve is pre-assembled on the connector together with the support sleeve, merging two separate assembly operations into one. The clamping sleeve is already in position on the connector before the pipe is inserted, so that when the pipe is pushed onto the support sleeve, the clamping action occurs automatically during the same insertion motion, eliminating the need for a separate clamping step.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping sleeve is pre-positioned on the connector before the pipe insertion takes place. This preliminary positioning ensures that the clamping action is already prepared and will occur automatically when the pipe is inserted, rather than requiring a separate subsequent clamping operation.
2Ease of operation
If the pipe is widened prior to connection, then the pipe can be pushed over the support sleeve, but this requires an additional operating step that increases assembly cost
Solution Approach 1:
The support sleeve is pre-formed with a conical expansion section at its end that protrudes beyond the clamping sleeve. This preliminary geometric design of the support sleeve automatically performs the pipe widening function during insertion, eliminating the need for a separate pipe widening step. The conical shape guides and expands the pipe as it is being inserted.
Solution Approach 2:
The support sleeve incorporates a conical expansion section that changes the geometric parameters of the pipe during insertion. The conical shape progressively increases the pipe's internal diameter as the pipe is pushed onto the support sleeve, allowing smooth insertion without requiring prior pipe widening operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If the clamping sleeve is fitted before pipe attachment, then pre-assembly is possible, but the clamping sleeve can easily be forgotten, requiring pipe removal and re-assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping sleeve and support sleeve are merged into a single pre-assembled unit on the connector. Since both components are already in their final positions before pipe insertion, there is no risk of forgetting to install the clamping sleeve. The pipe insertion operation simultaneously achieves both the support function and the clamping function in one action.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-assembled clamping and support sleeve arrangement performs the clamping function automatically during pipe insertion without requiring separate manual intervention. The system serves itself by having the pipe insertion motion directly trigger the clamping action through the pre-positioned clamping sleeve, eliminating human error in assembly completion.
4Reliability
If a conventional clamping joint is used, then connection is achieved, but severe cross-sectional narrowing occurs reducing flow capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping sleeve is designed with differentiated local zones: a rigid region with tapered inner diameter for clamping, and an elastic region with larger inner diameter for pipe insertion and flow. The elastic region's larger diameter minimizes cross-sectional narrowing and maintains flow capacity, while the rigid region provides the necessary clamping force for secure connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping sleeve is segmented into functionally distinct regions: the rigid region for clamping and the elastic region for flow. This segmentation allows each region to optimize its specific function without compromising the other, maintaining flow capacity in the elastic region while achieving secure clamping in the rigid region.
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
Simplifies assembly, eliminates the need for pipe widening, enhances clamping strength under tensile force, and maintains optimal flow characteristics by minimizing cross-sectional narrowing and ensuring permanent sealing.
Implementation Method 1
The clamping sleeve (6) has an elastic region (9) for pre-assembly and a rigid region (10) for clamping
Data Source
AI summary
A clamping connection for pipes made of polymer material or made of composite materials, containing a connection piece, which has a supporting sleeve for the sliding on of a pipe to be connected and which is bounded at one end by a stop collar, wherein a sealing element is arranged on the supporting sleeve, wherein the clamping connection also comprises a clamping sleeve, which is captively connected to the stop collar of the connection piece before the pipe installation, wherein a pipe inserted onto the supporting sleeve is clamped by sliding the clamping sleeve over the pipe in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the pipe.