Elastic Ring Fastening for Pipe Heating Device Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating devices for pipes, which use glass cloth belts with fasteners, face issues such as belt cutting and fastener detachment during repeated attachment and detachment, requiring labor-intensive fitting and poor workability.
Innovation Solution
A covering member and heating device featuring a surrounding member with a heat insulating material, a heat generating member, and a fixing unit comprising a ring with a hook made of heat-resistant elastic material, where the ring is held by a bag-shaped holding member and secured with a receiving metal fitting, allowing easy attachment and detachment without damaging the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glass cloth belts with fasteners are used to secure the heating device, then the heating device can be attached to the pipe, but the belts may be cut or fasteners may detach during repeated attachment and detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fastening function from the heating device body into a separate, replaceable engagement member. This allows the fastening system to be independently replaced when worn, extending the overall service life without replacing the entire heating device.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system is segmented into multiple independent components (engagement members with rings and hooks) distributed along the heating device. This segmentation allows individual fasteners to be replaced without affecting others, maintaining reliability while extending service life.
2Reliability
If glass cloth belts with fasteners are used for securing, then the heating device can be fixed to the pipe, but the fitting process requires much labor and has poor workability
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement members are designed to automatically engage with the pipe through their elastic rings and hooks, reducing the manual labor required for fitting. The elastic material provides self-adjusting tension that secures the device without complex fastening operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses elastic material for the rings, which changes its physical parameters (expands and contracts) to automatically secure the heating device to the pipe. This eliminates the need for manual tightening and complex fastening procedures.
3Reliability
If the entire heating device is replaced when fasteners fail, then reliability is maintained, but maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating device is segmented into a permanent heating element and replaceable engagement members. When fasteners fail, only the engagement members need replacement, significantly reducing maintenance costs while maintaining overall device reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows the engagement members to be discarded and replaced independently while recovering and reusing the main heating device body. This extends the service life of the expensive heating element and reduces overall maintenance costs.
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 excellent pipe coverage with reduced maintenance costs, as only the broken ring needs replacement rather than the entire device, enhancing workability and reducing labor and material expenses.
Implementation Method 1
an engagement member (12) including: a ring (23) comprising a heat resistant elastic material; and a hook (22) fitted to the ring (23)
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a covering member including: a surrounding member including a heat insulating material and having a heat generating member or a heat insulating function, the surrounding member being wound from an open state so as to cover an object; and a fixing unit including: an engagement member including: a ring including a heat resistant elastic material; and a hook fitted to the ring; a holding member disposed on one end of the surrounding member, the holding member fastening the ring of the engagement member to hold the engagement member; and a receiving member disposed on one end of the surrounding member so as to correspond to the holding member, the receiving member including a receiving metal fitting to be engaged with the hook of the engagement member.