Grooved Pipe Fitting Dry-Fit Injection Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing piping systems, particularly those made of thermoplastic materials like PVC and CPVC, face challenges in efficient and cost-effective joining and repair, as traditional methods require wet surfaces and can be time-consuming and expensive for maintenance and repairs.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that involve pre-forming grooves in the surfaces of pipes and fittings, allowing for dry-fitting and subsequent injection of pipe joining material through pre-drilled passages, ensuring a complete seal and durable connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional cement joining methods are used, then pipes and fittings can be joined together, but the surfaces must be softened and kept wet during the process, which is time-consuming and requires precise timing
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is pre-formed in the fitting during manufacturing, and the passage is pre-drilled to provide a pathway for cement injection. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for softening surfaces and maintaining wet conditions during assembly, allowing dry-fitting followed by controlled cement injection through the passage into the groove, significantly reducing joining time
Solution Approach 2:
The cement injection process is extracted from the traditional surface-application method. By drilling a passage through the fitting wall and injecting cement directly into the groove from the interior, the process separates the mechanical insertion step from the bonding step, allowing components to be positioned first and then bonded without time-critical surface preparation
2Strength
If a tight fit is used between pipe and fitting, then mechanical strength is improved, but there is insufficient space for cement between the facing surfaces, preventing complete sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention moves the cement placement from the external gap dimension to the internal groove dimension. By forming a groove within the fitting and injecting cement into this internal cavity through a passage, the system creates a dedicated bonding chamber that is accessible from the interior, allowing complete cement filling of the groove while maintaining the tight external fit between pipe and fitting surfaces
3Ease of repair
If repair work is performed on installed piping systems, then leaks can be fixed, but the process is time-consuming and expensive due to the need to access and reassemble components
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting is pre-formed with an internal groove and a passage through its wall during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation enables future repair operations to proceed by simply injecting cement through the passage into the groove to seal leaks or reinforce connections, eliminating the need for complex disassembly and reassembly procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting structure itself provides the repair mechanism through its built-in groove and passage. The groove serves as the bonding chamber and the passage serves as the injection pathway, allowing the fitting to self-repair leaks by enabling cement injection from the interior without requiring external access to the bonding interface
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses of joining a first pipe and a second pipe by injecting a pipe joining material into an interstitial space between abutting surfaces are provided. The methods and apparatuses may use a hollow fitting into which pipe ends may be inserted.