Pipe Connector Assembly With Angled Ball Gripping Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional pipe end connector assemblies require precise cutting and alignment of pipe ends to engage with an inner shoulder, increasing labor and cost, and may not effectively seal under high pressures found in pipelines.
Innovation Solution
A pipe end connector assembly that uses angled passageways and balls to grip the pipe without requiring end abutment with an inner shoulder, allowing for a positive lock and seal through swaging, enabling the connector to be mounted anywhere along the pipe length and providing a radially-inward gripping force to secure the connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pipe ends are cut precisely to length to abut an inner shoulder for gripping, then the gripping mechanism can activate properly, but labor and cost increase due to high precision requirements
Solution Approach 1:
A positioning shoulder is introduced as an intermediary element between the pipe end and the gripping mechanism. The positioning shoulder engages with the pipe end to provide proper positioning, while the gripping mechanism acts on the pipe body rather than requiring precise end abutment. This intermediary structure enables reliable gripping without demanding high pipe cutting precision.
2Force
If a traditional mechanical connector requires pipe end abutment with an inner shoulder, then a reaction force can be provided, but the pipe must be cut precisely which increases labor and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into distinct functional zones: a positioning shoulder for engagement with the pipe end, and a gripping mechanism that acts on the pipe body. This segmentation allows the positioning function and gripping function to be separated, enabling the gripping mechanism to provide reaction force without requiring precise pipe end positioning, thus reducing preparation time.
3Reliability
If the gripping mechanism applies force directly to the pipe end, then gripping can occur, but the pipe end face may degrade
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning shoulder serves as an intermediary that receives the pipe end and distributes the gripping force. Instead of the gripping mechanism applying force directly to the pipe end face, the force is transmitted through the positioning shoulder structure, which protects the pipe end face from degradation while still enabling effective gripping.
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 reduces the precision required for pipe cutting, lowers labor and cost, and ensures a secure, leak-free connection under high pressures by using a radially-inward gripping mechanism that forms tear drop depressions for a positive lock, preventing axial and torsional movement.
Implementation Method 1
The gripping mechanism may comprise a ball gripping mechanism wherein balls are held by a cage and are moved relative to the gripping device by the cage, and move up ramp formations in the gripping device thereby being urged into contact with the pipe
Implementation Method 2
providing a radially-inward gripping force to secure the connection
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A pipe end connector assembly (10) and a method of mounting a pipe end connector assembly (10). The connector assembly may include a first connector (14) configured to selectively mount to an outer surface of a pipe (400); and a second connector (18) connected to the first connector (14) and configured to selectively mount to the outer surface of the pipe (400), the first connector (14) and the second connector (18) being operable to apply opposing and negating axial forces to mount the connector assembly (10) to the pipe (400).