Liner-Supported Pipe Joint for Stable Flexible-to-Rigid Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe joints for connecting flexible and rigid pipes face issues such as high manufacturing costs, deformation of flexible pipes leading to narrowed flow channels, and instability in connections, which affect fluid flow and energy loss.
Innovation Solution
A pipe joint with a joint body featuring a cavity channel for flexible pipe insertion, an outer hole channel for rigid pipe insertion, and a liner pipe with a bulging connection section to ensure stable contact and prevent deformation, along with a filter screen to prevent blockages, facilitating a simple and cost-effective connection method.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bushing with inverted teeth or threaded sleeve is used to connect flexible and rigid pipes, then the connection stability is improved, but the flexible pipe deforms and the internal flow channel narrows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bushing as an intermediary component between the flexible pipe and the threaded sleeve. This bushing with inverted teeth prevents the flexible pipe from deforming during the screwing process, while still allowing the threaded sleeve to provide secure connection. The intermediary bushing absorbs the mechanical stress that would otherwise cause pipe deformation, resolving the contradiction between connection stability and pipe shape integrity.
2Reliability
If a bushing with inverted teeth is used to prevent joint loosening, then the connection stability is improved, but special molds are needed increasing manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The bushing component serves multiple functions: it provides the inverted teeth structure for preventing joint loosening, acts as a protective element during assembly, and maintains the flexible pipe's shape. By consolidating these functions into a single standardized component that can be produced with existing molding capabilities, the patent reduces the need for special-purpose molds and special joints, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining connection reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the bushing or threaded sleeve is thin-walled to reduce material usage, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the flexible pipe becomes more concave during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The bushing with inverted teeth is installed on the threaded sleeve before the flexible pipe is inserted. This preliminary installation creates a protective framework that prevents the flexible pipe from deforming during the subsequent insertion and screwing processes. The inverted teeth structure provides mechanical support that distributes the insertion forces, preventing concave deformation even when using thin-walled components to reduce material usage and cost.
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 solution provides a stable and sealed connection between flexible and rigid pipes, maintaining flow channel integrity, reducing energy loss, and enhancing the pipe joint's ability to withstand high pressures while being easy to manufacture and use.
Implementation Method 1
a filter screen being provided at the communication opening
Implementation Method 2
the connection section is provided with at least one bulging part... squeezing to deform the joint body, and compressing the flexible pipe so that an outer wall of the flexible pipe closely contacts with a side wall of the cavity channel
Implementation Method 3
fixing the rigid pipe by circumferential welding to complete connection of the rigid pipe and the flexible pipe
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A pipe joint and a method for using the same are provided. The pipe joint comprises a joint body (1) within which a cavity channel (11) and an outer hole channel (12) are provided, the cavity channel forms at one end of the joint body a first outer insertion opening (13) for insertion of a flexible pipe (2) to be connected, the outer hole channel forms at the other end of the joint body a second outer insertion opening (14) for insertion of a rigid pipe (3) to be connected; an inner hole channel (15) is further communicated between the cavity channel and the outer hole channel, the inner hole channel forms an inner insertion opening (16) at an innermost end of the cavity channel; an liner pipe (4) is provided in the cavity channel, one end of the liner pipe is inserted into the inner hole channel through the inner insertion opening, and the other end of the liner pipe is provided with a connection section to be inserted into the flexible pipe, and the connection section is provided with at least one bulging part (41). Compared with pipe joints in the prior art, the pipe joint in the invention improves the connection stability between a flexible pipe and a rigid pipe, and also solves the problem that an internal flow channel is narrowed due to inward concave of the flexible pipe; in addition, the pipe joint has a simple structure and low production cost, and is easy to use.