Flexible Joint Assembly With Sliding Sleeve for Seismic Pipe Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pipe lines are prone to damage from differential settlement, seismic activity, and thermal expansion due to stresses caused by these movements, leading to deformation, collapse, or joint failure.
Innovation Solution
A flexible joint assembly comprising a ring with a partial spherical segment and frustoconical segments, coupled with a sleeve and seals, allowing for axial and rotational movement to accommodate dynamic changes, reducing tensile stress and preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid joints are used to connect pipe elements, then structural strength is improved, but the pipe line becomes vulnerable to damage from differential settlement, seismic activity, and thermal expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The joint assembly incorporates a ring with a spherical segment surface that enables rotational movement, transforming the rigid connection into a dynamic joint that can adapt to differential settlement, seismic activity, and thermal expansion while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The joint assembly changes the degree of freedom parameter by introducing rotational capability through the spherical segment interface between the ring and sleeve, allowing the connection to accommodate movement rather than resist it rigidly
2Reliability
If flexible joints are introduced to accommodate movement, then reliability under dynamic conditions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The joint assembly is divided into distinct functional segments: the ring with spherical segment for rotation, the cylindrical sleeve for sealing and guidance, frustoconical segments for alignment, and groove-seal assemblies for containment, allowing each component to perform its specific function efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical segment surface on the ring provides a curved interface that naturally accommodates rotational movement and angular misalignment, simplifying the overall joint design by using geometry to enable flexibility rather than requiring complex mechanical mechanisms
3Adaptability or versatility
If the ring-sleeve interface allows rotational movement, then adaptability to seismic and settlement movements is improved, but sealing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal elements (such as O-rings or flexible membrane seals) installed in the grooves provide a flexible sealing interface that can deform to accommodate rotational and axial movements between the ring and sleeve while maintaining the seal, avoiding rigid sealing mechanisms that would prevent movement
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 joint assembly effectively accommodates differential settlement, seismic, and thermal movements, preventing pipe deformation and failure by allowing for sliding and rotational motion, thus protecting the pipe line.
Implementation Method 1
The sleeve has an inner surface slidably engageable with a section of the portion of the outer surface of the ring
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible joint is used to accommodate dynamic movement such as settlement, seismic and thermal movements. A portion of an outer surface of a ring is surrounded by a sleeve. A coupling attaches the sleeve to the ring. The sleeve is slidably movable on a section of the portion of the outer surface of the ring. The portion of the outer surface comprises first and second grooves, a partial spherical segment, a first frustoconical segment positioned adjacent the partial spherical segment and a second frustoconical segment positioned adjacent the partial spherical segment. The outer surfaces of the first and second frustoconical segments taper away from the partial spherical segment.