Cold-Expansion Pipe Fitting for Fast Sealing in Low Temperatures
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Solution Overview
Problem
The formation of a secure sealing in pipe connections using cold expansion techniques is often slow in cold conditions due to the temperature-dependent shrinkage performance of pipe materials, which can affect the efficiency and productivity of plumbing work.
Innovation Solution
A pipe fitting with a tubular connecting part and radially movable outer spreading surfaces that form circumferential grooves, leaving intact sealing regions, and radially extending sealing barbs to engage with these regions during shrinkage, ensuring rapid sealing formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cold expansion is used to form pipe connections, then a secure sealing connection is achieved, but the formation speed becomes slow in cold conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe end section is pre-expanded by the expanding tool head before the pipe fitting is inserted. This preliminary expansion creates the space needed for the fitting and ensures that when the fitting is inserted, the memory properties of the pipe material immediately trigger rapid shrinkage back to original dimensions, forming the sealing connection quickly even in cold conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The expanding tool head creates localized intact sealing regions on the inner surface of the pipe end section at specific positions. These localized regions with different properties (intact vs. expanded) enable the sealing barbs to engage at precise locations, ensuring rapid and reliable sealing formation
2Reliability
If the pipe material shrinks back to original shape to form sealing, then a secure connection is achieved, but the process becomes undesirably slow in cold conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe end section is pre-expanded to a controlled degree before fitting insertion, so that when the fitting is inserted, the stored elastic energy is immediately released, triggering rapid shrinkage. This preliminary preparation ensures the shrinkage process starts immediately and completes quickly, reducing time loss even in cold conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The expanding tool head controls the expansion parameters to create specific intact sealing regions at defined positions on the pipe end section. By controlling the expansion degree and positioning the intact regions, the system optimizes the shrinkage behavior to achieve rapid sealing formation
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
Facilitates rapid formation of sealed connections even in low temperatures by ensuring simultaneous engagement of sealing barbs with intact regions, enhancing the efficiency and speed of plumbing operations.
Implementation Method 1
The memory properties of the pipe material make the initially expanded pipe end shrinkage back towards its original shape and dimensions, whereby it is pressed on the connecting part of the fitting
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe fitting (100) includes a tubular connecting part (101); the tubular connecting part being configured to be inserted into an expanded pipe end section (111) of a pipe (110) having a first circumferential intact sealing region (113) on the inner surface (112) of the pipe end section (111); the tubular connecting part comprising a first radially outwards extending circumferential sealing barb (105′) positioned for engaging, when in use, with the first circumferential intact sealing region during shrinkage of the pipe end section for forming a sealing between the pipe fitting and the pipe.