Bulged Irrigation Pipe Wall for Drip Emitter Reinforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Relative thin-walled irrigation pipes are susceptible to damage due to wear and tear during use, particularly at areas of bonding and connection to drip emitters, leading to potential failure and reduced durability.
Innovation Solution
The incorporation of bulge members with increased thickness along the pipe wall, which can be ribbed and extend radially, providing localized reinforcement and protection at vulnerable areas such as the base portion and locations where drip emitters are mounted, thereby enhancing the pipe's resistance to damage and friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If thin-walled irrigation pipes are used, then material cost and flexibility are improved, but strength and resistance to wear and tear deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating bulge members at specific locations along the pipe wall where strength is needed, rather than uniformly thickening the entire pipe. The bulge members create localized thickness variations with greater thickness at strategic positions and reduced thickness at other positions, allowing the pipe to maintain overall strength while reducing total material consumption.
2Ease of operation
If thin-walled irrigation pipes are used, then ease of installation and flexibility are improved, but durability and resistance to damage deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The bulge members provide localized reinforcement at critical areas such as bonding zones and connection points, enhancing durability where needed most. The variable thickness design maintains flexibility in non-critical areas, preserving ease of installation while improving overall reliability through strategic strengthening.
3Strength
If wall thickness is increased, then strength and resistance to damage are improved, but material cost and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than uniformly increasing wall thickness throughout the pipe, the invention uses bulge members to concentrate material only where structural strength is required. This localized approach achieves the necessary resistance to damage while minimizing overall material consumption, as thin-walled sections are maintained in areas where full thickness is not critical.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional uniform thickness concept to a three-dimensional variable thickness profile with bulge members protruding from the pipe wall. This dimensional change allows strategic placement of material in specific zones, achieving strength enhancement without proportionally increasing total material usage.
4Ease of manufacture
If uniform thickness pipe wall is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but localized strength at critical areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by implementing local quality through bulge members that can be integrated into the extrusion process. While the base pipe wall maintains uniform thickness for manufacturing simplicity, the bulge members are formed at specific locations during extrusion, providing localized strength enhancement without requiring complex post-manufacturing operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An irrigation pipe that extends along an axis and has a pipe wall with a base portion (55) and a plurality of bulge members (1, 2) that extend away from the base portion.