Flexible Pipe Coupler With Angled Strands for High Tensile Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pipe couplers lack sufficient tensile strength and watertight sealing, often requiring additional gripping rings or glue, which can be cumbersome and prone to dislodging under cement coverage, and fail to accommodate a wide range of pipe dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A tubular coupler with a first portion that can flex between relaxed and elongated states, featuring angled strands and a sealing portion, allowing for high tensile coupling and sealing of pipes with varying dimensions, and made from injection-molded plastic for efficient production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional couplers use additional gripping rings or glue to increase tensile strength, then coupling strength is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (gripping, sealing, and structural support) into a single integrated coupler body. The coupler body includes an internal gripping structure with teeth that directly engage the pipe, eliminating the need for separate gripping rings or adhesive applications while achieving high tensile strength coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupler body is designed with flexible material properties that allow it to deform during installation and maintain constant radial pressure on the pipe through elastic recovery. This flexibility enables the coupler to accommodate pipe dimension variations while maintaining secure engagement without additional components.
2Strength
If conventional couplers use additional gripping rings or glue to achieve secure coupling, then coupling strength is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to cumbersome application and susceptibility to dislodging
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler features self-gripping teeth that automatically engage the pipe surface upon insertion, and self-sealing mechanisms that maintain watertight seals through elastic deformation. The constant radial pressure is automatically maintained by the material's elastic recovery, eliminating the need for manual adjustment or additional fastening operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupler transitions from a flexible state during installation to a rigid locked state during operation. The dynamic deformation capabilities allow easy insertion and removal while maintaining secure coupling strength, providing operational ease without sacrificing coupling integrity.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional couplers are designed for specific pipe dimensions, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability worsens as they cannot accommodate a wide range of pipe sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler's material properties and structural parameters are designed to allow continuous adaptation to different pipe dimensions. The flexible material enables the coupler to deform and conform to various pipe outer diameters while maintaining precise engagement through the internal gripping teeth and constant radial pressure mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupler is designed as a universal fitting that can accommodate a wide range of pipe sizes within a specified range. The internal gripping structure and sealing mechanisms are configured to adapt to different pipe dimensions, allowing a single coupler design to serve multiple pipe size applications.
4Stability of the object's composition
If conventional couplers lack flexing capability, then structural stability is improved, but ease of operation worsens as insertion and removal become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler exhibits dynamic mechanical behavior, transitioning between flexible and rigid states. During installation, the flexible state allows easy deformation for insertion. During operation, the rigid locked state provides structural stability for load-bearing. This dynamic characteristic enables both ease of operation and structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupler body is constructed from flexible material that can elastically deform during installation and maintenance operations, yet maintains sufficient structural rigidity to provide stable coupling under operational loads. The flexible nature allows constant radial pressure and easy insertion/removal while the engineered structure ensures load-bearing capability.
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 coupler provides strong, secure, and watertight connections resistant to dislodging forces without additional components, accommodating a wide range of pipe sizes and allowing easy insertion and removal, while maintaining high tensile strength and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
the first portion can be flexed in an axial direction between a relaxed state and an elongated state
Implementation Method 2
during insertion, the pipe compresses the first portion into the compressed state due to friction
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
A coupler (10) for coupling to a pipe (20) comprises a body (100) comprising a tubular shaped first portion (110) with an opening (120) for receiving the pipe (20), the first portion (110) comprising a plurality of holes (132) on a surface of the first portion (110) such that the first portion (110) can be flexed in an axial direction between a relaxed state and an elongated state, wherein the first portion (110) has a first dimension (141) in the relaxed state, and a second dimension (142) in the elongated state, wherein the first and second dimensions (141, 142) are in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the second dimension is smaller than the first dimension; and a second portion (150) connected to the first portion (110) opposite the opening (120) and comprising a sealing portion (155) configured to seal an end of the pipe (20).