Adjustable Fluid Coupler Seal for Faceplate Pipe Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid couplers face challenges in providing a secure and adjustable seal between plumbing fixtures and pipes, with limitations in flexibility and ease of installation, leading to potential leaks and misalignment issues.
Innovation Solution
A gasket design with radially extending mounting elements and pockets that accommodate fasteners, allowing for adjustable positioning and secure attachment to a mounting flange, combined with a fluid coupler featuring a curved transition pipe for improved fluid flow and alignment, along with a support system for wall-mounted carrier assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional gasket design is used without pockets, then the gasket can be easily removed, but it cannot securely hold the outlet connector to the faceplate
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is segmented into a planar body and multiple pockets that can independently receive portions of the mounting flange. This segmentation allows the pockets to provide secure attachment while the planar body maintains the sealing surface, resolving the contradiction between secure attachment and ease of removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The pockets are designed to be manually bent or deformed to receive the mounting flange, providing dynamic adaptability. This allows the gasket to transition from a removable state to a securely held state, balancing reliability and ease of operation.
2Reliability
If the pocket is designed to securely receive the mounting flange, then the gasket is firmly attached, but it requires manual bending to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The pocket is designed as a flexible thin-walled structure that can be manually bent or deformed. This flexibility allows the pocket to securely receive the mounting flange while maintaining simplicity in design, resolving the contradiction between firm attachment and device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the inlet opening is made larger to accommodate the fluid coupler, then the fluid coupler can be installed to maximum insertion depth, but the pipe portion becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe portion includes a curved transition section that allows the inlet opening to be larger while maintaining a compact overall volume. The curvature enables the fluid coupler to be installed to maximum insertion depth without proportionally increasing the pipe portion size, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and volume.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid coupler for providing fluid communication between a faceplate and a pipe includes a primary segment for coupling to a downstream pipe, a secondary segment including a flanged end for coupling to the faceplate, and an inlet in the flanged end for providing fluid communication with an outlet of the faceplate. The flanged end includes mounting slots that correspond to mounting apertures of the faceplate for securing the fluid coupler to the faceplate. The fluid coupler is adjustably secured to the faceplate such that it forms a water-tight seal therewith.