Pipe Coupling Parting Line Offset Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pipe coupling technologies face challenges in providing a reliable and efficient method for joining pipe elements, particularly in ensuring proper alignment and preventing gasket pinching during assembly, which can lead to sealing failures.

Innovation Solution

The pipe coupling design features a coupling segment with a parting line offset from the top surface of fastener pads, allowing for deformation under tightening pressure, and includes a tongue and groove mechanism to prevent gasket pinching, along with a manufacturing method using a mold with a border line to facilitate easy removal and reduce friction during casting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the parting line is positioned at the top surface of fastener pads, then the coupling segment can be easily removed from the mold, but the fastener pads may deform under tightening pressure causing misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of removal from moldVSAvoidalignment precision of fastener pads

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling segment is designed with a parting line that segments the fastener pad structure, creating a stepped configuration where the top surface is separated from the main body. This segmentation allows the mold to be easily opened and the segment removed while maintaining the structural integrity and alignment precision of the fastener pads during tightening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The parting line is pre-positioned offset from the top surface of the fastener pads during the manufacturing process. This preliminary action ensures that the fastener pads maintain their precise alignment and structural integrity before the tightening operation, preventing deformation while still allowing easy mold removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the coupling segment is tightly fitted to ensure secure joining, then the seal reliability improves, but the risk of gasket pinching increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal reliabilityVSAvoidgasket pinching

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A tongue structure acts as an intermediary element between the coupling segment and the gasket. This tongue prevents the gasket from being pinched during tightening by providing a protective protrusion that guides the gasket into proper position and prevents it from being compressed between the coupling segment and the pipe element, thus maintaining seal reliability while eliminating the pinching hazard.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The tongue structure provides beforehand protection against gasket pinching by being positioned in advance to prevent the harmful compression. This prior cushioning ensures that the gasket is protected from pinching forces before they can occur during the tightening process, maintaining both seal reliability and preventing damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Manufacturing precision

If the mold cavity has sharp edges for precise casting, then the coupling segment geometry is accurate, but friction during removal increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegeometric accuracy of coupling segmentVSAvoidease of removal from mold

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The parting line is designed with curved transitions instead of sharp edges at the boundaries of the coupling segment. This curvature reduces the friction between the casting and the mold walls during removal, allowing the segment to be easily extracted while maintaining precise geometric accuracy in the critical fastener pad and tongue regions through controlled curvature profiles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

This design enhances the reliability of the pipe coupling by ensuring proper alignment and preventing gasket pinching, leading to a more secure seal and reduced risk of failure, while also simplifying the manufacturing process through reduced friction and easier removal from the mold.

Implementation Method 1

The material solidifies within the mold, and the formed coupling segment is then removed from the mold.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolidification: Freezing

Implementation Method 2

allowing for deformation under tightening pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentUS10207320B2Coupling with extending parting line

Publication Date: 2019.02.19 ASC ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS LLC

AI summary

A method of manufacturing a coupling segment including: obtaining a mold having an interior and an exterior, the interior defining an interior surface, the interior surface defining a cavity, the cavity including a border line at an outermost edge of the cavity; placing a material in liquid form into the cavity in the mold; and removing a coupling segment from the mold, the coupling segment formed from the material, the coupling segment including an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end, a second end, and a parting line extending along the border line of the cavity of the mold prior to removal of the coupling segment from the mold, the parting line offset from a top surface of each end.