Two-Stage Pipe Coupling for Ground Settlement Movement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional double wall corrugated and ribbed pipes face challenges in maintaining structural integrity and flow efficiency due to rigid male/female connectors that do not accommodate movement or partial withdrawal, leading to potential gaps and fluid flow disturbances.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage male/female connector system with an elongate spigot and stepped cuff portions that allow for limited movement and partial separation, maintaining structural integrity and flow efficiency by providing a range of overlap and overlap reduction, while accommodating ground settlement and other site changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional rigid male/female connectors are used to join pipe sections, then structural strength is improved, but adaptability to movement and ground settlement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector transitions from a rigid fixed-position design to a dynamic system that allows limited axial movement. The male connector can move within the female connector along the longitudinal axis while maintaining connection, enabling the joint to adapt to ground settlement and thermal expansion without compromising structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector design changes the positional parameter of the male connector relative to the female connector. By allowing the male connector to move from a fixed bottomed-out position to a range of positions within the female connector, the system maintains strength while adapting to dimensional changes in the installed pipe system.
2Strength
If full insertion of male connector is required to maintain connection strength, then structural strength is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to installation complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring full insertion of the male connector to the bottom of the female connector, the design accepts partial insertion as sufficient for maintaining connection strength. This partial action approach simplifies installation while still achieving the necessary structural performance through the overlapping corrugated sections.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional connectors do not allow partial withdrawal, then structural integrity is maintained, but adaptability to site changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector system becomes dynamic by allowing the male connector to move axially within the female connector. This movement capability enables the joint to accommodate ground settlement, thermal expansion, and other site changes while maintaining connection integrity through the overlapping corrugated structure that remains engaged throughout the range of motion.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe connection used in corrugated pipe includes a male/female connection that is configured to accommodate movement of the male connector in the female connector after installation of the pipe. The ability to maintain a satisfactory pipe connection throughout a desired and designed range of movement is helpful in applications where the pipe may be exposed to changing conditions such as ground settling, ground shifting, earthquake or other conditions. The male connector and the female connector for receiving the male connector are oversized to allow additional insertion of the male connector or partial withdrawal of the male connector while maintaining the pipe connection throughout the range of movement. The pipe connection can also be used to provide an effective two stage male/female connection between reinforced plastic pipe sections.