Frangible Strip Tear-Out Test Plug for Plumbing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing test plugs for plumbing installations that use sealing discs with grooves for leak testing often require manual force to tear out, which can be cumbersome and may not efficiently remove the plug without leaving remnants.
Innovation Solution
A tear-out test plug design featuring a cylindrical body with a frangible strip extending from the open end to the closed end, allowing for controlled removal by tearing along a scored line, facilitating easy extraction without leaving parts behind.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sealing disc with grooves is used and manual force is applied to tear it out, then the plug can be removed from the plumbing installation, but the process becomes cumbersome and may leave remnants behind
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is segmented into two distinct parts: a resilient body that remains in the plumbing installation and a frangible strip that is designed to break and be removed. This segmentation allows the resilient body to stay sealed in place while the frangible strip can be easily pulled away, eliminating the need to manually tear out the entire plug and preventing remnants from being left behind.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible strip is extracted as the removable component of the plug system. By designing this specific portion to be breakable and separable, the system allows for easy extraction of the testing component while leaving the sealing function intact through the resilient body that remains in the plumbing installation.
2Productivity
If manual force is exerted to tear the sealing disc along grooves, then the plug can be removed, but the operation becomes cumbersome and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible strip is pre-formed with a breakable design that anticipates the removal action. The strip is already configured to break along predetermined lines when pulled, eliminating the need for manual tearing efforts. This preliminary preparation of the breakable structure significantly improves both the efficiency and ease of plug removal.
3Reliability
If a frangible strip is added to extend from the open end down the sidewall and across the end wall, then complete removal without remnants is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible strip is merged with the resilient body in such a way that it forms an integrated yet separable structure. The strip is attached to the resilient body and extends along its sidewall and across the end wall, combining the sealing function with the removal mechanism into a single unified component that can be easily separated when needed.
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
Enables efficient and complete removal of the test plug from plumbing installations, reducing manual effort and ensuring no residual components are left in the system, thus simplifying the testing process and maintaining system integrity.
Implementation Method 1
A frangible strip extends from the open end, down the peripheral sidewall, and across at least a portion of the end wall
Data Source
AI summary
A tear out test plug for plumbing installations includes a cylindrical body having a peripheral sidewall, a closed end and an open end. A positioning flange extends outwardly from the peripheral sidewall at the open end. An end wall closes the closed end. A frangible strip extends from the open end, down the peripheral sidewall, and across at least a portion of the end wall.