Elastic Drain Pipe Connector for Stress-Free Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connecting devices for drain pipes in air conditioners suffer from stress concentration, poor sealing due to dimensional tolerance issues, and risk of water leakage, leading to potential breakage and inefficiency in heat preservation.
Innovation Solution
A connecting device comprising a fixed portion, a clamp portion, and a connecting portion made of stainless steel, featuring an elastic connector with a clamp hook and fixed ring, which eliminates stress concentration and ensures a tight seal by using a bow-shaped, S-shaped, or P-shaped structure to securely connect the drainage pipe tie-in and head, preventing undesired dis-engagement and facilitating easy assembly and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rotatable locking connection with L-shaped slots is used to connect the drainage pipe tie-in with the drainage pipe head, then the connection can be assembled and fixed, but stress concentration occurs in the slots and groove leading to potential breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting device is divided into three functional segments: a fixed portion connected to the drainage pipe head, a clamp portion connected to the drainage pipe tie-in, and a connecting portion linking them. This segmentation distributes mechanical stress across multiple components rather than concentrating it in single slots or grooves, eliminating the stress concentration problem while maintaining assembly functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting portion acts as an intermediary element between the fixed portion and clamp portion. It includes a connecting groove and connecting protrusion that engage with each other, serving as a stress-distributing mediator that prevents direct stress concentration in the drainage pipe head and tie-in while enabling reliable connection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dimensional tolerances of the drainage pipe tie-in and material properties of the inner rubber ring are not controlled, then assembly is flexible, but proper contact cannot be ensured leading to poor sealing and water leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The inner rubber ring is pre-installed on the drainage pipe tie-in before final assembly with the drainage pipe head. This preliminary action ensures that the sealing element is already in position and properly oriented, compensating for dimensional tolerances and material variations. The elastic deformation capability of the rubber ring allows it to adapt to slight dimensional variations while maintaining reliable sealing contact.
3Temperature
If the snakeskin drain pipe is used for heat preservation, then the drain pipe can preserve heat, but dew is formed easily due to insufficient heat preservation performance
Solution Approach 1:
The drain pipe system uses a composite structure combining the snakeskin pipe material with an additional heat preservation layer. This composite material approach enhances the thermal insulation performance beyond what the snakeskin pipe alone can provide, raising the surface temperature above the dew point and preventing dew formation while maintaining the heat preservation function.
4Strength
If the clamp hook has a small opening for tight external connection, then outside stress is eliminated, but internal stress may concentrate
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp hook is designed with non-uniform cross-sectional properties: the region experiencing external bending loads has enhanced section modulus for high external stress resistance, while the internal contact region has optimized geometry to distribute internal stresses uniformly. This local quality differentiation allows the same component to excel at both external load resistance and internal stress distribution without compromise.
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 a reliable and safe connection that prevents breakage, ensures effective sealing, and enhances heat preservation by reducing stress concentration and ensuring proper contact between the drainage pipe tie-in and inner rubber ring, thus minimizing water leakage and dew formation.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic connector made of stainless steel... the clamp portion has a clamp hook... after it is fitted in place, the clamp hook is tight for outside but loose for inside, which eliminates stress concentration
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
A connecting device for drain pipes comprises an elastic connector (3) for connecting a drainage pipe tie-in (1) with a drainage pipe head (2), said elastic connector (3) comprises a clamp portion (30), a connecting portion (31) and a fixed portion (32), and said clamp portion (30) is connected with said drainage pipe tie-in (1), said fixed portion (32) is connected with said drainage pipe head (2), said clamp portion (30) and said fixed portion (32) are connected via said connecting portion (31).