Pipe Joint Gasket Trough Shears Bead to Limit Radial Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe joint gaskets fail to prevent the separation and fracturing of interconnected pipes during fluid over-pressurization due to excessive axial thrust forces causing destructive radial loads, which lead to pipe end failure.
Innovation Solution
A gasket with metal segments having a trough that can shear or deform the retainer bead instead of over-rotating, reducing the axial thrust force required to prevent pipe separation and fracturing by creating a second load path with a lower radial load component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal segments pivot about retainer bead to allow insertion and prevent withdrawal, then pipe separation is prevented under high pressure, but excessive axial thrust force causes over-rotation and destructive radial loads during over-pressurization
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is pre-assembled with metal segments positioned in a neutral orientation within the bell end before pipe insertion. This preliminary configuration ensures that during normal operation, the segments remain stationary and do not exert radial loads on the pipe ends, while still providing the necessary anti-slip function.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal segments are designed to dynamically respond to insertion forces by pivoting about the retainer bead during spigot insertion, allowing easy assembly. However, during over-pressurization, the segments are constrained from over-rotating by engaging the front wall of the bell end, thus preventing excessive radial loads while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of operation
If metal segments are designed to prevent pipe separation through rotation about retainer bead, then anti-slip function is achieved, but the same mechanism causes fracturing during over-pressurization
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket and metal segments are pre-configured in the bell end with the segments in a neutral, non-engaged position. This preliminary setup allows for easy pipe insertion by simply pivoting the segments about the retainer bead, while ensuring that during normal operation the segments remain stationary and do not compromise pipe end strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The front wall of the bell end acts as an intermediary constraint that limits the rotation of metal segments during over-pressurization. This intermediary structure prevents the segments from over-rotating and generating destructive radial loads, thereby protecting the pipe ends from fracturing while still allowing the segments to perform their anti-slip function during insertion.
3Stability of the object's composition
If axial thrust force is increased to prevent pipe separation during over-pressurization, then pipe joint stability is improved, but radial loads increase causing pipe fracture
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is pre-assembled with metal segments in a neutral orientation and the retainer bead positioned to allow controlled rotation. This preliminary configuration ensures that during over-pressurization, the segments can rotate sufficiently to engage the spigot and prevent separation, but the front wall constraint prevents further over-rotation that would generate harmful radial loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The front wall of the bell end serves as an intermediary constraint that mediates between the need for axial thrust force to prevent pipe separation and the need to limit radial loads. By physically constraining the maximum rotation of metal segments, the front wall allows sufficient rotation to engage the spigot and stabilize the joint, while preventing excessive rotation that would generate fracturing radial loads.
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 solution effectively reduces the likelihood of pipe joint failure by decreasing the radial loads exerted on the pipe ends during over-pressurization, ensuring the gasket maintains a secure seal without causing excessive damage.
Implementation Method 1
a compressible body having a sealing portion and foot portion
Implementation Method 2
The metal segments pivot about a retainer bead in the bell end of the other pipe to allow the spigot end to be inserted into the bell end
Implementation Method 3
the teeth of the metal segment to engage the outer surface of the spigot... the wedging action of the segment between the retainer bead and the spigot
Data Source
AI summary
A gasket for preventing separation of interconnected pipes without damaging the pipes. The gasket includes a compressible body having a plurality of metal segments partially embedded therein. Each of the metal segments includes a row of exposed teeth configured for engaging a spigot end of a pipe and a trough configured for pivotably engaging a bead on a bell. The trough is further configured for shearing or deforming the bead and inhibiting over-pivoting of the segment about the bead when the pipes are partially withdrawn away from one another, for example, during over-pressurization of the pipes.