Thermally Expandable Sleeve for Plastic Pipe Transit Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pipe transit systems for thermally weakenable pipes in conduits face challenges in maintaining watertightness before and after exposure to fire, especially under high water pressures, due to limitations in flexibility and response to varying plastic pipe materials, leading to potential leaks and compromised sealing integrity.
Innovation Solution
A pipe transit system featuring unconnected, customizable sealings and a thermally expandable sleeve that expands radially to ensure watertightness, with the option to choose materials and dimensions optimal for specific plastic pipes, allowing for early response to heat and minimizing axial air gaps to prevent pressure buildup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a thermally expandable device is used to seal the conduit, then fire resistance is improved, but maintaining watertightness under high water pressure before fire exposure becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into two distinct functional components: a separate thermally expandable device for fire resistance and a separate sealing mechanism (sealings engaging with the pipe and conduit) for watertightness. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermally expandable device acts as an intermediary element positioned between the pipe and the conduit walls. When exposed to fire, it expands to fill the annular space, providing fire resistance while allowing the separate sealings to maintain watertightness through their engagement with the pipe and conduit structures.
2Shape
If the thermally expandable device is constrained in axial direction, then radial expansion is facilitated for sealing, but the device becomes more complex to install and position
Solution Approach 1:
The thermally expandable device is designed to automatically self-constrain in the axial direction through its interaction with the sealings and conduit structure. The device itself provides the constraint mechanism through friction engagement and geometric fitting, eliminating the need for external complex positioning or additional constraint components.
Solution Approach 2:
The axial constraint function is merged into the overall assembly structure where the thermally expandable device, sealings, and conduit work together as an integrated system. The constraint is achieved through the combined geometry and interaction of these components rather than through separate dedicated constraint mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If customizable sealings and sleeve dimensions are used, then adaptability to different plastic pipes is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves adaptability through parameter changes in the thermally expandable device and sealings, such as diameter, length, and expansion characteristics. These parameters can be adjusted to match different pipe specifications while maintaining the same basic design and installation procedure, thus providing versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermally expandable device and sealings are designed with universal applicability to accommodate different plastic pipe types and dimensions. A single design approach can be adapted to various pipe specifications through parameter adjustment, making the system multi-functional across different applications without requiring fundamentally different designs.
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 system maintains watertightness before and after fire exposure, even under high water pressures, with the thermally expandable sleeve effectively sealing the conduit by expanding radially and inhibiting axial expansion, ensuring sealing integrity and preventing leaks.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally expandable sleeve (5) surrounding the pipe (2) and also having an axial length (L1)
Implementation Method 2
Each pipe is a, relatively, thermally weakenable pipe. The pipe is usually of plastic
Data Source
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AI summary
A pipe transit system for plastic pipes comprising: a conduit (1) having an axial direction and at least one thermally softenable pipe (2) extending therethrough; at least two sealings (3), each sealing (3) being sealingly positioned between an inner wall of the conduit (1) and the at least one pipe (2); at least one rubberlike thermally expandable sleeve (5) surrounding the at least one thermally softenable pipe (2), the at least one rubberlike thermally expandable sleeve (5) in axial direction being situated between the at least two sealings (3), each of the at least one sleeve (5) and the at least two sealings (3) being an unconnected separate entity even though in axial direction also being adjacent one of the at least two sealings (3) and the at least one sleeve (5).