Corrugated Conduit Coupling With Clip Teeth and Hermetic Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing couplings for corrugated conduits fail to prevent slipping due to mechanical traction, vibrations, and water hammers, allow contamination ingress, and are not weather-resistant, making them unreliable and costly.
Innovation Solution
A coupling design featuring a main body with a sealing element and an elastic clip element with extraction-preventing teeth that securely engages with corrugated conduits, ensuring a hermetic seal and easy assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing couplings are used for corrugated conduits, then assembly is simple, but the conduit slips out due to mechanical traction, vibrations, and water hammers
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling is divided into two functional parts: a main body for receiving and sealing the conduit end, and a separate clip element for gripping and preventing slippage. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining ease of assembly through simple attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip element extends beyond the main body with extraction-preventing teeth that protrude into the conduit, providing excessive gripping action that ensures the conduit cannot slip out even under severe mechanical stress, vibrations, or water hammer conditions.
2Device complexity
If existing couplings are used for corrugated conduits, then structure is simple, but contaminants infiltrate from the outside environment
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is nested within the main body and envelops the conduit end, creating a hermetic seal that prevents contaminant infiltration. This nested configuration provides effective sealing without adding significant external complexity to the coupling structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing couplings are used for corrugated conduits, then initial cost is low, but they fail to withstand adverse environmental and weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling combines different materials with complementary properties: the main body and clip element are made of rigid material (such as polypropylene or metal) for structural strength and weather resistance, while the sealing element is made of elastomeric material for flexible sealing. This composite approach ensures durability under adverse conditions while remaining cost-effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip element is designed with elastic properties that allow it to deform during assembly and then maintain constant gripping force under varying environmental conditions including temperature changes, ensuring reliable performance without increasing manufacturing complexity.
4Reliability
If a secure grip is provided to prevent slippage, then reliability improves, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic clip element dynamically adapts during assembly, deforming to allow conduit insertion and then automatically springing back to provide secure gripping force. This dynamic behavior ensures reliable prevention of conduit extraction without requiring complex assembly procedures or additional fastening steps.
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 coupling provides a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective solution that prevents conduit slippage and contamination while withstanding adverse conditions, ensuring easy assembly and high operational guarantees.
Implementation Method 1
the clip element (5), advantageously elastic, has a substantially circular C-like shape adapted to externally envelop the main body (2)
Implementation Method 2
a sealing element (4) accommodated inside the main body (2) in such a way as to envelop the corrugated conduit or the like (3) creating a hermetic mating
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
A coupling (1), particularly for corrugated conduits and the like, which comprises: - a main body (2) shaped to engage with an outer body and to receive at least partially the end of a corrugated conduit or the like (3), - a sealing element (4) accommodated inside the main body (2) in such a way as to envelop the corrugated conduit or the like (3), creating a hermetic mating, and - a clip element (5, 5a) associated with the main body (2) and shaped so as to grip the corrugated conduit or the like (3), preventing it from slipping out of the main body; - the clip element (5, 5a) has a substantially circular C-like shape adapted to externally envelop the main body (2) and comprises a series of extraction-preventing teeth (6, 6a) which protrude on its innermost side in the direction of the inner volume of the main body (2); - the main body (2) has a hollow and substantially axially symmetric geometry with an outer groove (7) adapted to receive the clip element (5, 5a). There is furthermore, along the outer groove (7), a series of windows (8) adapted to allow the passage of the extraction-preventing teeth (6, 6a) in such a manner as to allow the retention of the corrugated conduit or the like (3).