Conduit Adaptor and Drill Guide for Safe Sidewall Fluid Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for supplying fluids into conduits, such as condensate drain lines of air conditioning systems, through access point openings face challenges in establishing a reliable and efficient fluid connection.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize an installation guide device to create an access point opening through the sidewall of a conduit section, and an adaptor device to establish a fluid connection between a fluid supply source and the conduit interior through the access point opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an access point opening is created in the conduit sidewall to supply fluid into the conduit interior, then fluid delivery capability is improved, but the risk of improper drilling depth and potential conduit damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an installation guide device as an intermediary tool between the drill bit and the conduit. This guide device includes a guide body with a guide opening that receives and guides the drill bit, ensuring precise drilling at the intended location and depth. The guide device acts as a mediator that translates the operator's drilling action into controlled, safe drilling operation, preventing both improper location drilling and excessive depth penetration that could damage the conduit.
2Ease of operation
If a drill bit is used to create an access point opening through the conduit sidewall, then fluid access to conduit interior is enabled, but the risk of drilling too deep and damaging the conduit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The installation guide device is designed with a pre-determined drill depth stop feature that limits the maximum drilling depth before the access point opening is created. This preliminary depth limitation is built into the guide device structure, preventing the drill bit from penetrating too deeply into the conduit wall. By establishing the depth constraint in advance (before drilling begins), the system eliminates the risk of over-drilling damage while still enabling effective fluid access.
3Manufacturing precision
If the drill bit protrudes beyond the guide opening to ensure complete penetration, then access point opening completeness is improved, but the risk of conduit wall damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The installation guide device serves as an intermediary that precisely controls drill bit protrusion and penetration depth. The guide opening in the guide body is designed with specific dimensions that allow the drill bit to protrude only to the required extent to create a complete access point opening through the conduit sidewall. This intermediary structure ensures that the drill bit does not protrude excessively beyond what is needed, thereby preventing damage to the conduit wall while still achieving complete penetration for proper fluid access.
Data Source
AI summary
Adaptor devices, installation guide devices, and methods provide a fluid connection into a conduit section interior of a conduit section of a conduit through a sidewall thickness of a conduit section sidewall of the conduit section. A method includes coupling an installation guide device to the conduit, operating a drill bit device while the installation guide device is coupled to the conduit to cause the drill bit device to move longitudinally to a protrusion distance that is equal to or less than a particular protrusion distance defined by a protrusion stop structure to drill through the sidewall thickness of the conduit to form an access point opening through the sidewall thickness of the conduit into a conduit interior of the conduit, and coupling an adaptor device to the conduit section at the exposed access point opening, to establish fluid communication into the conduit section interior through the adaptor device.