Concertinaed Composite Pipe Coating for End Exposure Without Bulging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional corrugated pipes cannot be deformed to expose the end portion of the inner pipe body without impairing their appearance, and existing solutions fail to prevent deformation-induced deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A composite pipe with a concertinaed coating layer featuring alternating annular ridge and valley portions, where the ridge portion is 1.2 times or more the length of the valley portion, and the thickness of the ridge portion is less than the valley portion, allowing for easy deformation while maintaining the appearance, along with an intermediate layer to prevent adhesion and facilitate movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the coating layer is deformed to expose the end portion of the pipe body, then the connection operation becomes possible, but the appearance of the coating layer deteriorates due to bulging or distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The coating layer is designed with non-uniform thickness, where the ridge portion has smaller thickness and the valley portion has larger thickness. This local variation in thickness allows the ridge portion to deform more easily during shortening operations while the thicker valley portion maintains structural integrity and resists bulging, thus preserving the overall appearance while enabling connection operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The concertinaed structure with alternating ridges and valleys provides dynamic deformation characteristics. When axial force is applied to shorten the coating layer, the structure progressively deforms through controlled buckling of ridge portions, allowing smooth exposure of the pipe body end while maintaining aesthetic appearance through the progressive, controlled nature of the deformation.
2Ease of operation
If the axial length of the ridge portion is increased to facilitate deformation, then the ease of shortening improves, but the complexity of the coating layer structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coating layer employs asymmetric design where the ridge portion axial length is specifically set to be 1.2 times or more the valley portion axial length. This asymmetric proportion creates optimal deformation characteristics - the longer ridge portions provide sufficient material for easy buckling and shortening, while the asymmetry itself becomes a simplifying feature by establishing a clear, repeatable pattern that reduces manufacturing complexity compared to more complex symmetric or irregular designs.
3Ease of operation
If the thickness of the ridge portion is reduced to enable easy deformation, then the ease of shortening improves, but the strength of the coating layer decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The coating layer is designed with non-uniform thickness, where the ridge portion has smaller thickness and the valley portion has larger thickness. This local variation in thickness allows the ridge portion to deform more easily during shortening operations while the thicker valley portion maintains structural integrity and resists bulging, thus preserving the overall appearance while enabling connection operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The concertinaed structure with alternating ridges and valleys provides dynamic deformation characteristics. When axial force is applied to shorten the coating layer, the structure progressively deforms through controlled buckling of ridge portions, allowing smooth exposure of the pipe body end while maintaining aesthetic appearance through the progressive, controlled nature of the deformation.
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
Enables the suppression of appearance deterioration while deforming the coating layer to expose the inner pipe body end portion, ensuring easy deformation and maintaining the pipe's appearance.
Implementation Method 1
when force is applied to the coating layer in a direction in which the coating layer is shortened in the axial direction, the ridge portion is first deformed so as to bulge outward in the radial direction, and subsequently, an inflection part between a ridge portion and a valley portion is deformed such that adjacent ridge portions get close to each other
Data Source
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AI summary
The composite pipe 10 has a tubular pipe body 12 and a tubular coating layer 20. The coating layer 20 has a concertinaed shape by forming an annular ridge portion 22, which covers the outer circumference of the pipe body 12 and is convex outward in the radial direction, and an annular valley portion 24, which has a length in the axial direction S shorter than the ridge portion 22 and has a concave outer side in the radial direction, alternately in the axial direction S of the pipe body 12. The coating layer 20 can be shortened in the axial direction S while being guided by the outer circumference of the pipe body 12.