Double-Walled Support Ring for Polymer Pipe Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing support rings for sealing rings in polymer pipes face challenges with manufacturing tolerances, leading to unreliable seating and increased risk of leaks or loss due to insufficient support and stiffness, making it difficult to insert and maintain the support ring within the bead.

Innovation Solution

A double-walled support ring design with an annular space open on one side, allowing radial deflection and flexibility for insertion, and a beveled surface to enhance seating, combined with webs for stability and a specific material with appropriate elasticity, ensures secure positioning and increased pull-out strength without compromising insertability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the support ring is made stiffer and more resistant to deformation, then the pull-out strength is improved, but the ease of insertion into the bead deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepull-out strengthVSAvoidease of insertion
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support ring is divided into two separate walls (first wall and second wall) with an annular space between them, creating a segmented structure that allows independent deformation of each wall during insertion while maintaining overall structural integrity for pull-out resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The double-walled construction with annular space enables dynamic deformation during insertion, where the walls can flex and deflect radially to navigate the bead geometry, then stabilize to provide rigid support against pull-out forces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the support ring is made stiffer to increase resistance to deformation, then the sealing ring support is improved, but the difficulty of introducing the support ring into the bead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing ring supportVSAvoidintroduction difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The thin-walled construction with annular space creates a flexible structure that can deform radially during insertion to conform to the bead geometry, while maintaining sufficient stiffness to provide reliable support for the sealing ring against push-out forces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of manufacture

If the bead width has manufacturing tolerances of a few millimeters, then the manufacturing flexibility is improved, but the reliability of sealing ring seating deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebead manufacturing flexibilityVSAvoidsealing ring seating reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support ring's double-walled structure with annular space allows it to adapt to varying bead widths within tolerance ranges by deforming radially, maintaining reliable sealing ring seating across different bead dimensions without requiring precise manufacturing control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution provides improved resistance against the sealing ring being pushed out while allowing easier insertion and maintaining a secure, leak-proof connection, optimizing the balance between insertability and pull-out strength.

Implementation Method 1

the possibility of radial deflection of the outer annular wall relative to the inner annular wall is created, so that a corresponding flexibility for introducing the support ring into the bead is achieved

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

due to the possibility of inward springing of the outer annular wall a kind of jamming of the support ring in the bead is effected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical interlocking: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP2360406B1Tube with a connection socket having a support ring
Publication Date: 2019.01.02 PIPELIFE AUSTRIA
  • EP2360406B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4

AI summary

The pipe has a coupler, which has a crimp (2) with a back-up ring (3) inserted into the crimp. The outer circumference surface of the back-up ring and the inner surface of the crimp interacting with the outer circumference surface regarding a tubing axle (14) are cylindrically formed. The outer diameter of the back-up ring and the inner diameter of crimp are coordinated in such a manner that the back-up ring is held with a radial pre-loading in the crimp. The back-up ring is made of polymer material, particularly polypropylene, polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride.