Flexible Flange with Modular Spacers for Offset Pipe Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water closet flanges are rigid and insufficient for accommodating misaligned or angled connections between plumbing fixtures and waste drainpipes, leading to leakage and inefficiencies, and are often incompatible with multiple types of piping.
Innovation Solution
A flexible flange apparatus with a modular spacer system and a corrugated flexible sleeve that can accommodate various angles and pipe sizes, eliminating the need for separate seals and allowing for adjustable installation without additional equipment or materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional rigid water closet flanges are used, then structural strength and stability are maintained, but flexibility and adaptability to misaligned or angled connections are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is divided into multiple segments including a rigid outer flange portion and a flexible inner sleeve portion. This segmentation allows the outer flange to maintain structural stability while the inner flexible sleeve accommodates misaligned or angled connections through elastic deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the flange have different mechanical properties: the outer flange is made of rigid material (cast iron, PVC, or ABS) for structural strength, while the inner sleeve is made of flexible material that can elastically deform. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between rigidity and flexibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional rigid flanges are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but compatibility with multiple piping types and configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-structure flange design serves multiple functions: the rigid outer flange provides structural support and mounting capability, while the flexible inner sleeve provides adaptability to various pipe configurations and materials. This multi-functionality allows a single flange design to work with multiple piping types (cast iron, PVC, ABS) and configurations (aligned, misaligned, angled).
3Reliability
If separate seal elements (wax seals) are used, then sealing function is provided, but installation complexity and potential for leakage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged into the flexible inner sleeve itself. The flexible material of the sleeve provides both the sealing function and the adaptability to misaligned connections, eliminating the need for separate wax seals or gaskets. This integration reduces the number of components and potential failure points while improving sealing reliability.
4Ease of operation
If conventional flanges are used, then installation simplicity is maintained for aligned connections, but flexibility for offset or angled configurations is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The inner sleeve is designed to be dynamically flexible, allowing it to deform elastically during installation to accommodate offset or angled pipe configurations. This dynamic flexibility enables easier installation in various configurations while maintaining seal integrity, as the flexible material can conform to the actual pipe positions without creating gaps or stress concentrations that would compromise sealing.
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 flange apparatus provides a reliable, leak-proof connection between plumbing fixtures and waste drainpipes, accommodating misaligned or angled configurations and multiple piping types, while simplifying installation and reducing the risk of leaks.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible sleeve includes at least one corrugated portion to aid the desired flexibility while preventing kinking of the flexible sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to improved water closet flanges and methods for installing such water closet flanges. In one exemplary embodiment, an improved water close flange apparatus includes a modular spacer system for raising an upper surface of the outer surface above a finish flooring surface installed on top of a ground slab in order to improve the ease of installation. In one embodiment, an improved water closet flange apparatus includes an outer flange and a flexible conduit portion (i.e. sleeve) extending downwardly therefrom. The flexible sleeve has a sufficient degree of flexibility to accommodate connection between offset, misaligned, angled, or otherwise incongruous plumbing fixture discharges and waste drain pipe outlets. In one embodiment, the flexible sleeve includes at least one corrugated portion to aid the desired flexibility. An upper portion of the flexible sleeve may include an inwardly extending lip portion to accommodate the desired seal between the plumbing fixture discharge and the flange apparatus. Related methods for installing the disclosed flange apparatus between plumbing fixture discharges and waste drainpipes are also described. Embodiments of flange systems with modular spacers are also disclosed.