Closet Flange With External Locking Ring for Waste Pipe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closet flanges can cause blockages in plumbing systems due to their design, which reduces the inner diameter of the waste pipe, and they often require solvent cement for installation, which may not provide a secure seal or easy disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A closet flange with a tubular portion and a flange portion that includes a seal ring and a locking structure, such as a corrugated locking ring, to securely attach to a mounting surface and prevent axial separation from the waste pipe, using a polymeric material like PVC and a stainless steel locking ring to ensure a tight seal and easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional closet flange is used that goes on the inside of the waste pipe, then installation is simplified, but the pipe's inner diameter is reduced which could lead to blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The closet flange is inverted from the conventional design by mounting on the outside of the waste pipe rather than inside. The flange portion is secured to the mounting surface with the tubular portion receiving the waste pipe from the outside, eliminating the reduction of inner diameter while maintaining installation simplicity through the same basic insertion method
2Reliability
If solvent cement is used to attach the closet flange to the waste pipe, then a chemical weld is achieved, but disassembly becomes difficult and secure sealing is not guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The chemical bonding method (solvent cement) is replaced with a mechanical locking system. The locking structure with locking lugs that engage corresponding features on the waste pipe provides both secure sealing through the seal ring and easy disassembly by simply releasing the mechanical locks without chemical bonds
Solution Approach 2:
A seal ring is introduced as an intermediary element between the tubular portion of the flange and the waste pipe. This separate sealing component ensures reliable sealing while allowing the mechanical locking structure to handle the connection and disconnection functions independently
3Reliability
If a locking structure with multiple inner edge portions is used, then axial separation is inhibited providing secure connection, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking structure is segmented into multiple discrete locking lugs spaced circumferentially around the tubular portion. Each locking lug independently engages with a corresponding feature on the waste pipe, providing distributed axial restraint while keeping each individual locking element simple in design
Data Source
AI summary
A toilet assembly comprises a mounting surface defining an opening in which a waste pipe is located. The waste pipe has an end at a location no higher than flush with the mounting surface. A toilet having a drain aligned with the waste pipe is also provided. A ring gasket (e.g., a wax seal) has at least a portion situated around the drain of the toilet. A closet flange has a tubular portion having a proximal end and a distal end and a flange portion located at the proximal end of the tubular portion. The flange portion is connected to the mounting surface. The end of the waste pipe is received in the tubular portion of the closet flange such that an outer surface of the waste pipe is adjacent to an inner surface of the tubular portion. A seal ring is disposed between the inner surface of the tubular portion and the outer surface of the waste pipe. A locking structure is carried by the tubular portion of the closet flange, the locking structure including a plurality of inner edge portions spaced circumferentially about the inner surface of the tubular portion and engaging the outer surface of the waste pipe so as to inhibit axial separation of the closet flange and waste pipe.