Pipe Connection Device with Tilting Toothed Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe connection devices are limited by the need for precise angular cuts in pipeline ends and are not suitable for pipelines with less dimensional stability, as they are sensitive to radial retaining forces and tolerances, leading to insertion issues and high manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A connection device featuring a toothed ring with axially limited freedom of movement and a tilting edge, allowing for seesaw-like swiveling and elastic deformation during insertion, combined with a support sleeve for radial support and improved flow characteristics, enabling secure connection of pipelines with varying angles and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the toothed ring is mounted with complete freedom of movement in its outer circumferential area, then the peripheral connection sections can elastically deform to accommodate insertion, but the line end must be cut at an exact right angle and diagonally cut pipes cause tilting and insertion problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mounting parameters of the toothed ring by introducing axially opposed contact sections that define a specific degree of freedom. This allows the outer circumferential area to move axially while remaining constrained radially, enabling the ring to accommodate diagonally cut pipes without complete freedom of movement that would cause tilting.
2Reliability
If the outer circumferential area of the retaining element is mounted without axial clearance, then elastic deformation occurs only in the retaining teeth area, but the manufacturing cost becomes very high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different degrees of freedom to different parts of the toothed ring. The outer circumferential area is mounted with axial clearance to allow movement, while the retaining teeth area maintains constrained mounting for controlled elastic deformation. This selective approach avoids the high cost of completely clearance-free mounting while ensuring reliable deformation control where needed.
3Device complexity
If the toothed ring is mounted with complete freedom of movement, then the design is simple, but the device is only suitable for stable pipelines with intrinsic dimensional stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic characteristics by allowing the outer circumferential area of the toothed ring to move axially within defined limits during insertion. This dynamic mounting approach enables the device to adapt to various pipeline types including less dimensionally stable ones, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure compared to completely constrained mounting systems.
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 provides improved insertion behavior, tolerance insensitivity, and automatic centering of the pipeline, supporting both stable and less dimensionally stable pipelines, while maintaining effective flow characteristics and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic bending deformation subsequently occurs in the area of the retaining teeth protruding radially inward in the area of the tilting edge
Implementation Method 2
the support section has a wall thickness configured for the radial support of the line end against the radio retaining force
Data Source
AI summary
A connection device for pipe lines includes a connection element that has a receiving opening for a pipe line and a retainer element that stops the pipe line from being pulled out. The retainer element is designed as a spring-elastic toothed ring that has teeth distributed across a circumference and which extend radially inward at an incline and act against the pipe line. The toothed ring is mounted to have limited axial play. At the transition region between an outer circumferential region and the retainer teeth, the toothed ring interacts with a circumferential tilt edge such that the toothed ring can pivot about the tilt edge out of a position in which its outer circumferential region is pressed against a first, lower contact section and a second, upper contact section. The retainer teeth being able to be elastically deformed by bending.