Molded Piping Assembly With Embedded Leak-Detection Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water-cooling systems face issues with fluid leakage due to externally positioned leak-detection wires being prone to damage, rust, or corrosion.
Innovation Solution
Leak-detection wires are embedded within the tube during the injection molding process and electrically connected to a resistor, minimizing exposure to external forces and environmental factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If leak-detection wires are positioned externally around the tube, then leak detection function is achieved, but the wires are prone to damage, rust, or corrosion from external forces and environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The leak-detection wires are embedded within the tube structure during the injection molding process, nesting the sensitive detection elements inside the protective tube housing. This positioning protects the wires from external mechanical damage, rust, and corrosion while maintaining their leak-detection functionality through the tube wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The tube material acts as an intermediary protective layer between the leak-detection wires and the external environment. The wires remain embedded within the tube, using the tube material as a barrier against harmful external factors such as mechanical forces, moisture, and corrosion, while still enabling leak detection through the tube structure.
2Reliability
If leak-detection wires are embedded within the tube during molding, then protection from external factors is improved, but the manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process merges the tube formation and wire embedding into a single injection molding operation. The leak-detection wires are positioned and embedded within the tube during the molding process itself, combining what would otherwise be separate manufacturing steps into one integrated process, thereby reducing overall manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The leak-detection wires are pre-positioned and prepared before the injection molding process begins. This preliminary arrangement of the wires allows them to be seamlessly embedded during molding without requiring complex post-processing or assembly steps, simplifying the overall manufacturing workflow.
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
This design extends the service life of leak-detection wires, simplifies maintenance, enhances aesthetics, reduces safety hazards, and improves leak-detection sensitivity by embedding the wires within the tube.
Implementation Method 1
monitoring device electrically connected to second ends of the leak-detection wires to monitor a resistance of a leak detection circuit formed by first leak-detection wire, the resistor, and the second leak-detection wire
Data Source
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AI summary
A piping assembly includes a tube having a first end and a second end, a first leak-detection wire and a second leak-detection wire that are embedded within the tube during a molding process, a resistor electrically connected between first ends of the leak-detection wires, and a monitoring device electrically connected to second ends of the leak-detection wires to monitor a resistance of a leak detection circuit formed by first leak-detection wire, the resistor, and the second leak-detection wire.