Pre-Assembled Pipe Coupling With Segmented Housing for Axial Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe coupling technologies face challenges in providing a pre-assembled solution that allows for easy insertion of pipe ends while ensuring a secure and fluid-tight seal.
Innovation Solution
A pre-assembled pipe coupling design featuring a gasket with annular base, central flange, and side flanges with sealing lips, housed within a segmented housing that can be manually manipulated to define an insertion boundary, allowing for axial insertion of pipe ends and secure sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pre-assembled pipe coupling is used to ensure secure sealing, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple components (gasket, housing segments, fasteners)
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple segments that can be assembled around the gasket separately and then joined together. This segmentation allows the complex sealing components to be manufactured and pre-assembled independently, then installed as a modular unit, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket is pre-assembled within the housing segments before final installation. The segments are prepared with mounting features and the gasket is positioned in advance, allowing for quality control and proper alignment before the coupling is installed on the pipe, ensuring reliable sealing while simplifying the installation process.
2Ease of operation
If multiple housing segments are used to allow manual manipulation and insertion, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into multiple sections that can be manufactured using standard molding processes and then joined together through simple fastening mechanisms. This segmentation enables easier manufacturing of each individual segment while allowing manual manipulation during installation to accommodate various pipe configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple housing segments are designed with complementary joining features that combine them into a unified structure during assembly. The segments integrate with each other through interlocking features or fasteners, creating a complete housing that encloses the gasket while maintaining ease of manual assembly and disassembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a segmented housing with multiple components is used, then adaptability is improved for different installation scenarios, but loss of time increases due to assembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket and housing segments are pre-assembled into a complete coupling unit before installation. This preliminary assembly ensures proper alignment and positioning of all sealing components, eliminating the need for time-consuming adjustments during field installation while maintaining adaptability to different pipe configurations through the segmented housing design.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented housing incorporates movable or adjustable features that allow the coupling to adapt to varying pipe diameters and alignment requirements. The segments can be manually positioned or adjusted during installation to accommodate different installation scenarios, providing versatility without requiring complex custom fabrication.
Data Source
AI summary
A pre-assembled pipe coupling includes a gasket, a housing surrounding the gasket, and a fastener. The housing has three segments sequentially coupled to each other to define an insertion boundary. A first segment includes a first mount extending lateral in a first direction from the wall and having a plurality of first lateral walls that define a first aperture, and a second mount extending laterally in a second direction from the wall, the second mount having a plurality of second lateral walls that define a second aperture. A second segment includes a first hook disposed in the first aperture and a first tab defining a first fastener aperture. A third segment includes a second hook disposed in the second aperture and a second tab defining a second fastener aperture. The fastener is disposed through the first fastener aperture and the second fastener aperture.