Embedded Metal Sleeve Reinforcement for Crack-Resistant Irrigation Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Irrigation valve inlets and outlets made of hard plastic are prone to cracking due to over-tightening and high water pressure, and external metal bands fail to provide adequate reinforcement due to differing coefficients of expansion.
Innovation Solution
Embedding a metal reinforcement sleeve between the outer and inner diameters of the inlet and outlet ports within the valve body, allowing for expansion and preventing gaps, while being retained through apertures or adhesive in the plastic material during or after injection molding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If hard plastic material is used for valve body, then manufacturing cost is reduced and weight is decreased, but the inlets and outlets are prone to cracking under over-tightening and high water pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines hard plastic material for the valve body with a metal reinforcement band embedded in the inlets and outlets. This composite structure allows the valve body to maintain low cost and light weight while the metal band provides the necessary strength and crack resistance at critical stress points.
2Strength
If external metal band is fitted around the plastic body, then reinforcement is provided, but the differing coefficient of expansion causes gaps to form between the band and the inlet/outlet ports
Solution Approach 1:
The metal reinforcement band is embedded within the plastic material of the inlets and outlets, with the band nested inside grooves formed in the plastic. This nested structure ensures that the band and plastic move together as a unified composite, eliminating gaps that would form with external bands while maintaining reinforcement.
3Stability of the object's composition
If metal reinforcement band is embedded in the plastic material, then consistent support is provided without gaps, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process merges the steps of forming grooves in the plastic material, placing the metal band, and injecting plastic material into a single integrated injection molding process. This combining of operations achieves the secure embedded connection while minimizing the increase in manufacturing complexity.
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
Prevents cracking of inlets and outlets by providing consistent support and maintaining a secure connection under varying pressure conditions, enhancing the structural integrity of the valve components.
Implementation Method 1
such type of external metal band surrounding the plastic body tends to have a coefficient of expansion that is different from plastics, which can result in expansion or contraction of the annular ring or band relative to the inlet/outlets
Data Source
AI summary
A metal reinforcement band is embedded around the inlets and outlets of a valve to help prevent cracking the plastic bodies of the inlets and outlets. This metal band is embedded in between an outer diameter and a threaded inner diameter of the inlets and the outlets of a valve by an injection molding process.