Grooved Pipe Coupling With Grip Ring for Misalignment Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Grooved pipe couplings fail to maintain a watertight seal when pipe elements are not perfectly collinear, leading to stress and compromised integrity under high pressure and dynamic flow conditions.
Innovation Solution
A pipe coupling design incorporating a grooved coupling at one end and a grip ring assembly at the opposite end, featuring clamp members with inclined surfaces and wedge-shaped grippers connected by flexible elements, which applies a radially-inward clamping force to maintain a seal even with deviations from perfect alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a grooved coupling is used to join pipe elements, then mechanical restraint and coupling strength are improved, but the seal integrity deteriorates when pipe elements are not perfectly collinear
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is divided into two independent coupling mechanisms: a grooved coupling for mechanical restraint and a grip ring assembly for seal maintenance. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function independently, resolving the contradiction between coupling strength and seal integrity under misalignment conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The grip ring assembly acts as an intermediary component between the pipe elements, providing a compliant sealing mechanism that accommodates misalignment. The flexible grip ring mediates the stress between rigid pipe elements, maintaining seal integrity without compromising the mechanical restraint provided by the grooved coupling
2Force
If a rigid grooved coupling structure is used, then mechanical restraint under high pressure is improved, but adaptability to alignment deviations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system separates the mechanical restraint function (rigid grooved coupling) from the alignment accommodation function (flexible grip ring). This segmentation allows the rigid structure to provide necessary mechanical restraint while the flexible component provides adaptability to alignment deviations
Solution Approach 2:
The grip ring assembly changes its physical parameters (shape, position) in response to alignment deviations, allowing the rigid grooved coupling to maintain mechanical restraint while the system as a whole adapts to misalignment through the compliant grip ring
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 grip ring assembly effectively maintains a watertight seal and withstands deviations from perfect alignment, ensuring the coupling remains secure and leak-proof under dynamic flow conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the grip ring assembly includes wedge-shaped grippers arranged for sliding and abutting against the annular inclined surface
Implementation Method 2
the wedge-shaped grippers are connected to one another by flexible elements
Implementation Method 3
an elastomeric seal member received in an annular channel defined by an annular portion of the clamp members
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe coupling includes a pipe housing formed with an annular groove spaced axially from a first end of the pipe housing, a grooved coupling including a ring member that includes a coupling key received in the annular groove, and a grip ring assembly positioned at a second end of the pipe housing opposite to the first end. The grip ring assembly includes two clamp members arranged to be fastened and tightened towards each other by a fastener.