Double Flange Pipe Splice for Thermal Expansion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing piping splicing systems fail to maintain watertightness when pipes expand or contract due to temperature changes, leading to potential leaks and instability at the spliced area.

Innovation Solution

A double flange system with two fastening elements connected by rods is used, ensuring that the watertight connecting flange remains within a fixed limit, preventing excessive movement and maintaining watertightness by locking the position of the fastening elements through connecting rods and pressure screws.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single flange/fastening device is used to splice two pipes, then the splicing operation is simple and the structure is compact, but the flange moves excessively when pipes expand or contract due to temperature changes, causing loss of watertightness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesplicing structureVSAvoidwatertightness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The single flange/fastening device is divided into two separate fastening elements that act independently on each pipe end. Each fastening element is secured by connecting rods to a fixed reference point, creating two independent constraint systems that together prevent excessive movement while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting rods are pre-installed and secured to fixed reference points on the pipe structure before the flange assembly is put into service. This preliminary anchoring ensures that when temperature changes cause pipe expansion or contraction, the flange movement is immediately constrained by the pre-positioned rods, preventing watertightness loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the flange is allowed to move freely to accommodate pipe expansion and contraction, then the piping system maintains flexibility and reduces stress, but the flange moves beyond safe limits causing leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal expansion accommodationVSAvoidfluid leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting rods act as intermediary elements between the movable flange assembly and the fixed pipe structure. These rods transmit and limit the movement of the flange, allowing controlled accommodation of thermal expansion while preventing excessive displacement that would cause leakage. The rods serve as mechanical mediators that balance flexibility and constraint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the movement parameter of the flange from uncontrolled to controlled by introducing the connecting rods as mechanical constraints. The rods establish a maximum displacement limit for the flange, transforming the parameter of flange movement from a free variable to a bounded variable that accommodates thermal changes without exceeding safe limits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If multiple fastening points are added to prevent flange movement, then watertightness is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovewatertightnessVSAvoidnumber of fastening components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting rods serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as structural support elements, movement constraints, and alignment guides for the flange assembly. By making the rods multi-functional, the design achieves reliable watertightness without adding excessive components, as each rod performs several critical functions in one element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the functions of movement constraint and structural support into the connecting rods, which are integrated with the fixed reference points of the pipe structure. This consolidation reduces the number of separate fastening components needed, as the rods combine multiple fastening and constraint functions that would otherwise require separate elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 system effectively prevents leaks and maintains stability by limiting the movement of the watertight connecting flange, ensuring continuous watertightness during both expansion and contraction of the pipes.

Implementation Method 1

the phenomenon of expansion/contraction due to changes in temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

the phenomenon of expansion/contraction due to changes in temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal contraction: Thermal Contraction

Data Source

PatentUS8070190B2Security splicing system of aligned pipes, against the expansion and/or contraction thereof

Publication Date: 2011.12.06 UNIONES APROL SA

AI summary

A security splicing system of aligned pipes against an expansion and/or contraction thereof due to variations in temperatures, has a flange unit providing a stability and watertightness of a splice, and including a double flange with two identical fastening elements gripping an outer face of an end area of two previously spliced pipes with a watertight connecting flange, so that an accidental displacement of the watertight connecting flange is prevented in an event that dimensions of the end area of the pipes vary due to an expansion or contraction.