Elastic Pipe Connector Structure for Offset and Angular Misalignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe connectors often experience leaks and misalignment issues when connecting pipes, especially if the pipes are not precisely aligned, leading to inefficiencies in vapor removal from kitchens or other systems.
Innovation Solution
A pipe connector with a flexible area made from a deformable, elastic material that allows for translational and rotational shifts between the first and second recording sections, thereby improving the seal against leakage and accommodating pipe offsets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If pipes are rigidly connected with fixed alignment, then connection stability is improved, but adaptability to misalignment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows component introduces dynamic flexibility to the pipe connection system. It allows the rigid pipe sections to accommodate misalignment through controlled deformation of the bellows, enabling both stability of connected pipes and adaptability to positioning errors simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows acts as a flexible element between rigid pipe sections. Its corrugated structure provides both flexibility for misalignment compensation and structural integrity for maintaining connection stability, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and adaptability.
2Strength
If rigid connection structure is used, then structural strength is improved, but sealing performance under misalignment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows provides a flexible sealing element that can deform to accommodate pipe misalignment while maintaining the overall structural strength of the connection. This allows the connection to remain strong while adapting to positioning variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows changes its physical parameters (shape, volume) in response to misalignment, allowing the sealing performance to be maintained despite variations in pipe positioning. The flexible structure adapts its geometry to ensure continuous sealing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flexible material is used for the bellows, then adaptability to misalignment is improved, but structural rigidity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows uses a flexible material with specific structural design (corrugated geometry) that provides sufficient rigidity for structural support while maintaining the flexibility needed for misalignment accommodation. The structure balances both requirements through its geometric configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows may use composite material structures or combinations of materials with different properties to achieve both flexibility for adaptation and sufficient rigidity for structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between these opposing requirements.
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 flexible area effectively prevents tension at the connecting point, reduces the likelihood of loosening or disconnecting, and enhances the seal against leakage, allowing for the connection of pipes with angular misalignment or offset without compromising the seal.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible region arranged between the first and the second insertion opening and made of a deformable, compressible or expandable and/or elastic material, so that the first receptacle can be displaced translationally and/or rotationally relative to the second receptacle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a pipe connector (100) for connecting at least two pipes (112), wherein the pipe connector (100) has a first receptacle (114) with a first insertion opening for inserting a pipe (112) and a second receptacle (115) with a second insertion opening for inserting a pipe (112), wherein the pipe connector has at least one, preferably circumferential, stop (103) arranged between the first and the second insertion opening on an inner surface (118) of the pipe connector (100), which determines a maximum insertion depth of a pipe (112) into the first and/or second receptacle (114, 115), wherein the pipe connector has at least one, preferably circumferential, sealing lip (102) arranged on the inner surface (118) of the pipe connector between the first and/or the second insertion opening and the stop (103), characterized in thatthat the pipe connector (100) has a flexible area (106) arranged between the first and the second insertion opening, made of a deformable, compressible, stretchable, and/or elastic material, such that the first receptacle (114) is translationally and/or rotationally displaceable relative to the second receptacle (115). The invention further relates to corresponding arrangements of a pipe connector (100) with at least two pipes (112) connected thereto.