Grip Elements With Segmented Teeth For Pipe Clamps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe clamps and couplings with grip rings face challenges in securely gripping both metal and plastic pipes, particularly in preventing axial withdrawal and maintaining tooth integrity under varying material conditions.
Innovation Solution
The grip elements feature elongate teeth that extend over at least half the width of the wedging surface, with optional gaps and strengthening ribs on the underside, and are manufactured using non-stamped methods like metal injection molding, ensuring enhanced strength and resistance to collapse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If stamped grip elements with teeth formed through the entire thickness are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but tooth strength is reduced and collapse resistance is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The teeth are segmented to extend only over a portion of the wedging surface thickness rather than through the entire thickness. This segmentation allows the teeth to be reinforced by the remaining material behind them, improving strength while maintaining manufacturability through forming processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip element exhibits local quality variation where the teeth have different depths at different locations. The teeth extend over a controlled portion of the wedging surface thickness, creating areas of varying material distribution that optimize both strength and gripping function.
2Reliability
If larger teeth are used to penetrate plastic pipe surfaces, then axial withdrawal is prevented, but the teeth collapse more easily under load
Solution Approach 1:
The tooth geometry parameters are optimized by controlling the extent to which teeth extend through the wedging surface thickness. By adjusting this parameter, the teeth achieve sufficient penetration depth for plastic pipes while maintaining adequate material behind them for strength and collapse resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip element utilizes composite construction with teeth formed from the same material as the wedging surface but with controlled depth variation. This creates a composite structure where the tooth portion provides penetration while the supporting material behind provides strength.
3Strength
If smaller, stronger teeth are used for metal pipes, then tooth collapse resistance is improved, but penetration of plastic pipe surfaces becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The tooth depth parameter is adjusted to provide optimal performance across different pipe materials. The teeth extend over a controlled portion of the wedging surface thickness, providing sufficient penetration for plastic pipes while maintaining the strength characteristics needed for metal pipes.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip element design achieves universality by creating teeth with optimized depth that can effectively grip both plastic and metal pipes without requiring adjustment. The partial-depth teeth provide a balance between penetration capability and structural strength that works across different material types.
4Area of stationary object
If teeth extend over the entire wedging surface width, then gripping coverage is maximized, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of forming teeth over the entire wedging surface thickness, the invention uses partial action by limiting tooth extension to a controlled portion of the thickness. This reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining sufficient gripping coverage through optimized tooth distribution and depth.
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 improved grip elements provide stronger, more resistant teeth that securely grip pipes with reduced pressure, suitable for both metal and plastic materials without adjustment, and maintain structural integrity by hiding teeth on the underside, enhancing gripping strength and durability.
Implementation Method 1
The sharp edges of all teeth face outwards. The large teeth 3 project from the surface 2 further than the small teeth 4. Small teeth 4 are shaped as a cluster of pointed barbs... The larger teeth penetrate the surface of a plastic pipe to a depth sufficient to prevent axial withdrawal.
Data Source
AI summary
A grip element has a wedge shape including a wedging surface. One or more sets of elongate teeth are on the wedging surface. Another set of teeth with pointed corners are spaced from the elongate teeth in the circumferential direction. The grip element may be non-stamped.