Offset Vacuum Pipe Coupling for Misalignment and Uniform Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum system pipe couplings face challenges with non-aligned pipes, as metal bellows deformation is limited, prone to failure under stress and vibration, and ineffective heating due to corrugated surfaces, leading to potential blockages and condensation issues.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves a vacuum system pipe coupling with offset end portions and a securing mechanism that allows relative rotation of coupling members to align axes, eliminating the need for flexible couplings and ensuring even heating across the pipe surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a metal bellows is used to connect non-aligned pipes, then lateral deformation can compensate for misalignment, but the degree of compensation is limited and the bellows is stressed causing potential failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompensation for pipe misalignmentVSAvoidbellows failure risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling member incorporates an offset mechanism that allows dynamic adjustment of the connection axis. The offset portion enables the coupling to adapt to misaligned pipes through controlled movement and repositioning, rather than relying on elastic deformation of a bellows structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The offset portion acts as an intermediary element between two pipe sections. It provides a transition zone that accommodates misalignment without transmitting stress to the bellows, thereby protecting the bellows from failure while still enabling connection of non-aligned pipes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If lateral deformation of bellows is used to compensate for non-alignment, then pipe misalignment is accommodated, but the bellows is stressed causing flanges to twist and joints to be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of pipe non-alignmentVSAvoidflange alignment and joint integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling member allows dynamic repositioning of the connection axis through its offset mechanism. This enables the system to accommodate non-aligned pipes while maintaining proper flange alignment, preventing twist and preserving joint integrity during installation and operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Temperature

If pipe heaters are used on bellows, then heating is applied to prevent condensation, but the corrugated surface limits heat conduction effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of condensationVSAvoidheating effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the corrugated bellows surface with a substantially smooth cylindrical surface. This smooth surface provides optimal contact area for pipe heaters, enabling effective heat conduction across the entire surface area of the coupling member, thereby preventing condensation reliably.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Adaptability or versatility

If corrugated bellows are used, then flexible connection is achieved, but debris collects in corrugations causing blockages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexible connection capabilityVSAvoiddebris accumulation and blockage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the corrugated structure from the coupling member design, replacing it with a smooth cylindrical surface. This eliminates the corrugations where debris would accumulate, preventing blockages while maintaining the flexible connection capability through the offset mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 allows for greater compensation of pipe misalignment without deformation stress, reduces the risk of leaks, and ensures uniform heating, preventing condensation and blockages, thus enhancing the reliability and efficiency of vacuum system connections.

Implementation Method 1

A pipe heater may comprise a flexible substrate carrying one or more electric resistance heating elements... This limits heat conduction into the bellows

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3710703B1Vacuum system pipe couplings

Publication Date: 2022.09.28 EDWARDS LTD

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AI summary

A vacuum system pipe coupling includes a first coupling member (36) defining a through passage, a second coupling member (38) defining a through passage and a securing unit (40). The first coupling member (36) has a first end portion (42) having a first lengthways extending axis (44), a second end portion (46) having a second lengthways extending axis (48) that is laterally offset with respect to the first lengthways extending axis and a first connecting portion (50) connecting the first and second end portions. The second coupling member (38) has a third end portion (52) having a third lengthways extending axis (54), a fourth end portion (56) having a fourth lengthways extending axis (58) that is laterally offset with respect to the third lengthways extending axis and a second connecting portion (60) connecting the third and fourth end portions. The securing unit (40) is configured to secure the first end portion (42) to the third end portion (52) with the first and third lengthways extending axes (44, 54) in alignment.