Threaded Drain-Pipe Interface for Protected Clog Servicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drain-pipes often become clogged due to hair, food particles, and other materials, leading to bacterial buildup, and servicing equipment can damage the pipes and expose personnel to waste water, posing health risks and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
A drain-pipe interface device that temporarily couples with the pipe via a threaded coupling, shielding the opening from damage, curtails wastewater egress, and removes waste particles using a lip and ribs on its inner surface, ensuring a leak-proof connection and safe handling of wastewater.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If servicing equipment is inserted into the drain-pipe to remove clogging, then the drain-pipe can be serviced and cleaned, but the opening of the drain-pipe may get damaged by the servicing equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an interface device as an intermediary component between the servicing equipment and the drain-pipe opening. This interface device includes a protective shield that covers the vulnerable edges of the opening, allowing servicing equipment to be inserted while preventing direct contact and potential damage to the drain-pipe opening threads and edges.
2Ease of operation
If the drain-pipe opening is left exposed during servicing, then servicing equipment can be easily inserted, but waste-water may egress through the opening and come into contact with servicing personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The interface device serves as a protective intermediary that includes a shield covering the opening. This shield prevents waste-water from egressing through the opening and contacting servicing personnel, while still allowing servicing equipment to be inserted through the protected opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface device includes a flexible membrane that can cover the opening to prevent waste-water egress. This membrane acts as a barrier that protects personnel from exposure to waste-water while maintaining the functionality of the drain-pipe system during servicing operations.
3Productivity
If servicing equipment is removed from the drain-pipe, then servicing can be completed, but waste-water and waste particles carried by the equipment may be discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The interface device includes a lip and ribs that are specifically designed to intercept and remove waste-water and waste particles from the servicing equipment as it is being removed from the drain-pipe. The ribs create turbulence and shedding effects that cause waste particles to be thrown off into a collection area, converting the potential harmful discharge into a controlled collection process.
4Reliability
If a threaded coupling is used to attach the interface device to the drain-pipe opening, then a secure connection is achieved, but the threading process may damage the opening threads
Solution Approach 1:
The interface device includes a protective shield that covers the vulnerable edges of the drain-pipe opening before the threading operation begins. This preliminary protection prevents the threading process from damaging the opening threads, while still allowing the threaded portion of the interface device to be securely attached to the opening.
Data Source
AI summary
A drain-pipe interface device is disclosed. The drain-pipe interface device may include a hollow profile defining a threaded portion located on an outer surface the hollow profile. The threaded portion is configured to engage with an opening associated with a drain-pipe, to couple the drain-pipe interface device with the opening. The drain-pipe interface device may further include a handle provided on the hollow profile. The handle may be used to rotate the drain-pipe interface device couple with the opening.