Retrofittable Pipe-End Cap With Integrated Pressure Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe cap assemblies lack the capability to detect conditions such as pressure, force, or temperature within pipes effectively, which is essential for monitoring and maintaining pipeline integrity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cap with a built-in sensor module that can be retrofitted to existing pipe ends, featuring a screw thread fitting for a fluid-tight seal, and a removable sensor module with a piezoresistive sensor for detecting conditions like pressure, force, or temperature, connected to a processing unit for data analysis and wireless communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard cap is used to seal pipe ends, then fluid-tight sealing is achieved, but the capability to detect pressure, force, or temperature conditions within the pipe is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing function and sensing function into a single integrated cap assembly. The sensor is housed within the cap body, allowing the cap to simultaneously provide fluid-tight sealing and detect pressure, force, or temperature conditions within the pipe without requiring separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides fluid-tight sealing like a standard cap, while also incorporating sensing capabilities to detect various pipe conditions. This multi-functional design eliminates the need to choose between sealing and detection capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If a sensor is integrated into the cap, then detection capability is improved, but the complexity of the cap assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is nested within the cap housing, with the sensor chamber integrated into the cap body structure. This nesting approach allows the sensor to be housed within the existing cap geometry, minimizing additional space requirements and reducing overall assembly complexity compared to external sensor mounting.
3Ease of repair
If the sensor module is made removable, then ease of repair and replacement is improved, but the sealing reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The removable sensor module is pre-configured with its own sealing elements (O-rings, gaskets, or sealed chambers) that engage with corresponding features in the cap housing. This preliminary preparation of sealing interfaces ensures that when the module is installed, fluid-tight sealing is automatically achieved without requiring additional assembly steps or compromising sealing reliability.
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
Enables real-time monitoring and detection of changes in pipe conditions, facilitating predictive maintenance and improving pipeline management by providing accurate data on pressure, force, or temperature within pipes without requiring alterations to existing infrastructure.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor, the sensor being configured to detect one or more conditions within a pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A cap for fitting to a pipe end may be configured with components to detect one or more conditions within a pipe. For example, the cap may comprise a sensor for detecting a change in pressure, force, or temperature within a pipe.