Pipe Clamp Groove Structure for Leak-Tight Flue Gas Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exhaust pipe systems for heating systems face challenges in achieving optimal tightness and secure axial positioning of combustion air pipe connections, with previous pipe clamps failing to ensure sufficient axial alignment and stability during assembly and operation.
Innovation Solution
A pipe clamp with a circumferentially continuous groove on its inner surface allows for improved axial positioning and securing, maintaining tightness by interacting with pipe end flanges and featuring an inlet bevel for self-centering and cone sealing, while being flexible to accommodate different diameters and radial heights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pipe clamp is designed with a smooth inner surface to ensure tightness of the joint, then sealing performance is improved, but axial positioning and securing capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe clamp features a circumferential groove on its inner surface that creates localized interaction points with pipe end flanges. This groove structure provides axial positioning and securing functionality at specific locations while the remaining smooth inner surface maintains sealing contact with the pipe, thus resolving the contradiction between tightness and positioning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The inner surface of the pipe clamp is segmented into a grooved region for positioning and a smooth sealing region for tightness. The circumferential groove divides the contact surface into distinct functional zones, allowing the clamp to simultaneously achieve axial securing through flange engagement and joint tightness through continuous sealing contact
2Manufacturing precision
If a pipe clamp is designed with additional features for axial positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circumferential groove on the inner surface serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides axial positioning through engagement with pipe end flanges, enables self-centering during assembly, and contributes to sealing. This multi-functionality achieves precise axial positioning without adding separate positioning components, thus avoiding increased device complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If a pipe clamp is designed to be flexible for accommodating different pipe diameters, then adaptability is improved, but structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe clamp is designed as a flexible plastic component that can elastically deform to accommodate different pipe diameters and radial heights. The material flexibility allows the clamp to conform to various pipe sizes while maintaining sufficient clamping force, and the elastic recovery ensures consistent sealing pressure without requiring multiple clamp sizes
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a pipe clamp (1) for gripping a circumferential joint (22) between two axially adjacent combustion air pipes (20, 21) of an exhaust pipe system of a heating system, with a contact ring (2) for bearing against the outer surfaces (13, 14) of both combustion air pipes (20, 21), which can be clamped around the combustion air pipes (20, 21) by means of fixing means (15), wherein the contact ring (2) has a first and a second free end region (3, 4) for opening the contact ring (2) for assembly purposes, and wherein, in the assembled state, an end-side overlapping section (5) of the first end region (3) radially overlaps an end-side tongue (6) of the second end region (4) in the circumferential direction, wherein, in the assembled state, the overlapping section (5) extends over the tongue (6) in both axial directions (7, 8) and has a contact surface on each of the axial sides of the tongue (6). (11, 12) shows,to be supported axially next to the tongue (6) on both sides of the joint (22) with a contact surface (11, 12) on the outer shell surfaces (14) of the combustion air pipes (20, 21), wherein an inner surface (30) of the contact ring (2) has a groove (16) in the circumferential direction at least partially, which serves to engage circumferentially extending pipe end flanges (17, 18) formed at least partially at the joint (22) of the combustion air pipes (20, 21).