Hydrant Shoe Harness Assembly for Fast Pipe Restraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrant shoe assemblies require a separate mechanical joint connection, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive to install, and often involves multiple components.
Innovation Solution
A hydrant shoe assembly with an integrated harness system that includes an arcuate spine with protuberances and fastener lugs, which engages with the pipe to restrain it from axial and rotational movement, eliminating the need for a separate restraint device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate mechanical joint connection is used to connect the hydrant shoe to the pipeline, then the connection reliability is improved, but the installation time and labor intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The harness is integrated directly into the hydrant shoe body, combining the connection function and restraint function into a single unified structure. This eliminates the need for separate mechanical joint connections while maintaining connection reliability, thereby reducing installation time and labor requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrant shoe assembly is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides both the connection interface and the pipe restraint mechanism through its integrated harness structure. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the installation process.
2Reliability
If a separate mechanical joint connection with multiple components is used, then the connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions (connection and restraint) are merged into a single integrated harness structure that is part of the hydrant shoe body. This reduces the total number of separate components from multiple discrete parts to a unified assembly, simplifying the overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If a separate restraint device is used to secure the pipe, then the pipe restraint reliability is improved, but the installation labor intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint function is merged with the connection structure by integrating the harness into the hydrant shoe body. This eliminates the need for separate restraint devices and reduces installation labor intensity since the restraint mechanism is already in place as part of the main assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated harness automatically provides pipe restraint as part of the normal installation process. The structure is designed to self-restrain the pipe through its geometry and engagement features without requiring additional separate restraint components or complex installation procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Example aspects a hydrant shoe assembly and a method for assembling a hydrant shoe assembly are disclosed. The hydrant shoe assembly can comprise a shoe body defining a shoe body outer surface and a shoe body inner surface, the shoe body inner surface defining a void, the void defining an inlet end and an outlet end, an opening extending from the shoe body inner surface to the shoe body outer surface, the opening oriented proximate to the inlet end; a harness received in the void, the harness defining a harness inner surface and a harness outer surface, a protuberance extending radially outward from harness outer surface, the protuberance engaging the opening; and a pipe extending into the void through the inlet end, the harness inner surface engaging the pipe.