Pipe Connection Device With Radially Movable Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe connecting devices for roof drainage systems are costly to produce due to sleeve expansions and reduce flexibility in assembly, requiring high effort for installation and alignment, especially with complex sealing mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A pipe connecting device featuring a cylindrical sleeve with a clamping element and a seal that can be actuated to reduce friction during assembly, allowing for easy insertion and alignment, with claws for tensile force absorption and a seal design that provides tightness and tensile safety in a single step.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal is arranged in the receiving opening to ensure tightness, then sealing reliability is improved, but the frictional force increases making insertion difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is designed to be movable relative to the receiving opening, transitioning from a retracted position during insertion to an engaged position for sealing. This dynamic arrangement allows the seal to avoid contact with the pipe during insertion (reducing friction) while providing sealing contact after insertion (ensuring tightness).
Solution Approach 2:
The seal is pre-positioned in a retracted state before the pipe insertion process begins. This preliminary positioning ensures the receiving opening maintains its full cross-sectional area during insertion, eliminating frictional resistance. The seal then moves to its sealing position after the pipe is properly inserted, achieving tightness without interfering with the insertion process.
2Reliability
If the seal extends completely around the longitudinal axis to provide 360-degree sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but the cross section of the receiving opening is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is arranged to rotate or move radially within the clamping element, allowing it to extend completely around the longitudinal axis for sealing while maintaining a retracted position relative to the receiving opening during insertion. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between complete sealing and opening clearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal is positioned in a different spatial dimension (radial direction within the clamping element) rather than directly in the path of the receiving opening. This dimensional separation allows the seal to provide 360-degree sealing coverage while the receiving opening maintains its full cross-sectional area for easy pipe insertion.
3Reliability
If complex sealing mechanisms are used to ensure tightness, then sealing reliability is improved, but the device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged with the clamping element structure. The seal is integrated into the clamping element rather than being a separate complex mechanism, simplifying the overall device while maintaining reliable sealing through the movement of the clamping element.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal utilizes the natural movement of the clamping element during operation to achieve sealing. As the clamping element moves to clamp the pipe, the seal automatically moves into its sealing position without requiring additional actuators or complex mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while ensuring tightness.
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 simplifies the assembly process by reducing the effort required for pipe insertion, enhancing alignment flexibility, and ensuring tightness and tensile safety without increasing production costs or complexity, making it more efficient and user-friendly for installers.
Implementation Method 1
the frictional force between the seal and the pipe is eliminated when it is plugged together
Implementation Method 2
the claws penetrate the surface of the pipe. The claws can provide a positive connection between the pipe and the pipe connecting element. The claws are used to absorb tensile forces
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
A pipe connection device (1) for connection to at least one pipe (2) comprising a cylindrical socket element (3) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) with a cylindrical receiving opening (4) for receiving the pipe (2), a clamping element (5) surrounding the socket element (3), and a seal (6) arranged in the clamping element (5) and extending around the longitudinal axis (L). The clamping element (5) can be actuated from a rest position to a clamping position when clamping, wherein, when the clamping element (5) is clamped, the seal (6) is radially movable relative to the longitudinal axis (L) and can be brought into contact with the surface of a pipe (2) projecting into the receiving opening (4). In its rest state, the seal (6) is recessed beyond the inner diameter of the receiving opening (4) with respect to the receiving opening (4), so that the cross-section of the receiving opening (4) is not reduced in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L). This facilitates easy connection to a pipe.