Embedded Leak-Detection Wiring in Piping Assemblies
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Externally positioned leak-detection wires in water-cooling systems are prone to damage, rust, and corrosion, posing challenges in maintaining their effectiveness and longevity.
Innovation Solution
Embed leak-detection wires within a tube during the injection molding process, electrically connecting them to a monitoring device, ensuring that the exposure of the leak-detection wires to external forces and environmental factors is decreased, thereby extending their service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If leak-detection wires are positioned externally around the tube, then leak detection functionality is provided, but the wires are prone to damage, rust, and corrosion from external forces and environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The leak-detection wires are embedded within the tube structure during the injection molding process, placing the detection wires inside a protective housing (the tube) that shields them from external harmful factors while maintaining their leak detection functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The tube material acts as an intermediary protective layer between the leak-detection wires and external environmental factors, isolating the wires from direct exposure to harmful elements while allowing the system to detect leaks through electrical conductivity changes
2Object-affected harmful factors
If leak-detection wires are embedded within the tube during molding, then exposure to external forces and environmental factors is decreased, but the complexity of the manufacturing process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The leak-detection wires are integrated into the tube manufacturing process through injection molding, combining the tube formation and wire embedding into a single manufacturing step, which simplifies overall production despite the specialized molding 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 embedded design minimizes damage and corrosion risks, enhances the lifespan of leak-detection wires, simplifies maintenance, and improves leak-detection sensitivity while maintaining aesthetic appeal and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the open circuit changes to the closed state when a rupture occurs in the tube and liquids create a conductive path, forming a closed circuit through the first leak-detection wire, the second leak-detection wire, the monitoring device and the liquids
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A piping assembly includes a tube having a first end and a second end, a first leak-detection wire and a second leak-detection wire that are embedded within the tube during a molding process and are electrically isolated from one another during normal operations , and a monitoring device that is electrically connected to first ends of the leak-detection wires to form an open circuit and is configured to monitor the open circuit for a change from an open state to a closed state. The open circuit changes to the closed state when a rupture occurs in the tube and liquids create a conductive path, forming a closed circuit through the first leak-detection wire, the second leak-detection wire, the monitoring device and the liquids.