Clampless Fitting for Plastic Pipes Using Internal Gripping Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clampless fittings for plastic pipes in lawn irrigation systems often fail to securely grip and seal the pipes without external clamps, and their designs can be complex and cumbersome, requiring multiple parts and manual cleaning, which can be impractical in field conditions.
Innovation Solution
A clampless fitting with a C-shaped pipe gripping ring that is inserted into the pipe and grips securely as the pipe and fitting move apart, using inclined surfaces and pivot segments to pierce the pipe wall and create a secure hold without the need for external clamps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fittings are designed to be positioned outside the pipe, then they can accommodate different pipe outer diameters and wall thicknesses, but the design becomes complicated and requires multiple parts including exterior clamps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by positioning the fitting inside the pipe rather than outside. The fitting section is received within the open end of the pipe, with the pipe extending about the fitting. This inversion eliminates the need for exterior clamps and complex external sealing mechanisms, as the pipe itself provides the structural support and sealing surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the exterior clamp component from the system. By using an internal fitting design, the external clamp that was necessary for securing and sealing is completely removed. The fitting secures itself within the pipe using the pipe's internal surface, making separate clamping hardware unnecessary.
2Ease of operation
If fittings are positioned outside the pipe, then they can be installed without cleaning the pipe exterior, but they require exterior clamps that must be carried and attached by the installer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the exterior clamp from the system by using an internal fitting design. The fitting is received within the pipe and secures itself using the pipe's internal surface, eliminating the need for separate clamping hardware that would need to be carried and attached by the installer.
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting is designed to self-secure within the pipe without requiring external clamps or complex installation procedures. The pipe gripping portion with its C-shaped ring and pivot segments allows the fitting to automatically grip and seal itself as the pipe and fitting are moved apart, eliminating the need for additional parts or complex assembly steps.
3Ease of operation
If clampless fittings are designed to grip the pipe internally, then external clamps are eliminated, but they often fail to reliably secure and seal the pipe under all field conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic pipe gripping ring with pivot segments that allow the fitting to adapt to different pipe conditions. The C-shaped ring with spaced end segments and pivot connections enables the gripping elements to flex and adjust during installation and under operating conditions, ensuring reliable grip and seal across various field conditions while maintaining the clampless design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies localized gripping features at specific positions within the pipe. The pipe gripping portion includes C-shaped rings with pivot segments positioned to engage specific areas of the pipe interior, creating localized secure attachment points that provide reliable holding and sealing without requiring external clamps.
4Ease of manufacture
If fittings are received inside the pipe, then the cleaning step is often not necessary, but they require clamps to securely hold and seal the pipe onto the fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the exterior clamp component by using an internal fitting design where the fitting is received within the pipe. The pipe gripping portion with C-shaped rings and pivot segments provides self-securing functionality, completely eliminating the need for separate clamp hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional fitting arrangement by placing the fitting inside the pipe rather than outside. This inversion allows the fitting to utilize the pipe's internal surface for securing and sealing, eliminating the need for external clamps while maintaining the simplicity of installation without cleaning.
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 fitting reliably secures and seals the pipe under normal operating conditions, eliminating the need for external clamps and simplifying installation and maintenance by using the internal pressure of the water to grip the pipe, ensuring consistent performance across different pipe diameters and manufacturers.
Implementation Method 1
the pipe and fitting are initially moved apart either manually or under the pressure of the water in the pipe
Implementation Method 2
the inner surface of the pipe tightly presses the C-shaped ring into the recess of the fitting section
Implementation Method 3
the pressure of the water in the pipe... as the water in the pipe is cycled on and off alternately loading and unloading the pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A clampless fitting for one or more plastic pipes. The fitting has at least one section extending along an axis with a sealing portion and pipe gripping portion adjacent one another on the outer surface of the section. The pipe gripping portion includes a recess extending about the axis of the fitting section with a pipe gripping ring removably received in it and extending substantially about the axis. The ring is substantially C-shaped about the axis and has a plurality of pairs of first and second end segments spaced from each other along the axis and respectively joined by a central pivot segment. In operation, the fitting section is inserted in a first direction into the open end of the plastic pipe to a first location relative to the pipe in which both the sealing and pipe gripping portions are received in the pipe. The second end segment of the ring has a pipe piercing, tip section that is supported above the inner surface of the pipe as the pipe passes over the fitting section to the first relative location. Movement of the fitting section and pipe in an opposite direction away from each other will then cause the upstanding tip sections of the second end segments to pierce the inner surface of the pipe and move into the pipe wall and pivot the first and second end segments of the ring to abut one another to secure the fitting section and pipe in place.