Pipe Coupling Locking Assembly for Fluid-Tight Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pipe coupling methods, such as those using clay tile or corrugated plastic piping, face challenges like susceptibility to cracking, labor-intensive installation, and the need for special geometrical constructions like spigot and bell configurations, which can lead to leaks and increased costs due to high friction and deflection issues during insertion.
Innovation Solution
A pipe coupling assembly utilizing a cord and locking mechanism that provides a fluid-tight connection without the need for special end configurations, using a partially hollow cylindrical body with separate cord paths and tabs that flex in response to force thresholds to secure the connection, allowing for flexible attachment and sealing of pipe sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spigot and bell configurations are used to form fluid-tight seals between pipe sections, then sealing capability is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase due to special geometrical constructions required at pipe ends
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling assembly is divided into separate components: a coupling body with a sealing surface, and pipe sections with standardized ends. The sealing function is segmented from the pipe ends themselves and transferred to the coupling body, eliminating the need for complex spigot and bell configurations at the pipe ends.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling assembly acts as an intermediary component between pipe sections. It provides the sealing surface and geometric complexity required for fluid-tight seals, while the pipe sections themselves can have simpler, standardized ends. The intermediary coupling body absorbs the complexity of the sealing mechanism.
2Reliability
If elastomeric gaskets are used around spigots to provide fluid-tight sealing, then sealing capability is improved, but friction force increases making insertion difficult and causing gasket displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling body provides localized sealing at a specific interface between the coupling and pipe section. Rather than relying on friction between the gasket and the entire spigot surface, the sealing is concentrated at a well-defined sealing surface on the coupling body, reducing the overall friction force during insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing the gasket on the spigot (male end) as in conventional designs, the sealing surface is provided on the coupling body itself. This reverses the traditional approach where the pipe section provides the sealing surface, and instead the coupling assembly provides it, reducing friction during insertion.
3Ease of operation
If bells are designed with inner diameter greater than spigot outer diameter to allow insertion, then ease of installation is improved, but the bell deflects away from the gasket during insertion creating leak paths
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling body has a curved sealing surface that conforms to the pipe section end. This curved geometry allows the coupling to deflect in a controlled manner during insertion while maintaining contact with the sealing surface, preventing the deflection-induced leaks that occur with conventional bell designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling body is designed with inherent flexibility and compliance that allows it to accommodate insertion forces without creating gaps. The material and geometric design provide a cushioning effect that maintains seal integrity during the insertion process, preventing the bell from deflecting away from the gasket.
4Reliability
If clay tile sections are used for drainage applications, then drainage capability is achieved, but installation becomes labor-intensive and sections are prone to cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling assembly uses composite construction combining rigid structural components with flexible sealing elements. The coupling body provides structural strength to prevent cracking, while elastomeric sealing surfaces provide the drainage sealing function, replacing the brittle clay tile sections with a more durable composite structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from rigid clay tile sections to a coupling system that incorporates flexible materials and adjustable geometric parameters. The coupling body can be manufactured from durable materials resistant to cracking, and the flexible sealing surfaces adapt to various pipe section conditions, improving both reliability and ease of installation.
Data Source
AI summary
A locking mechanism for use with a coupler assembly for sealing pipe is described herein. The locking mechanism comprises a partially hollow cylindrical body having a first end opposite a second end along a common axis, the body defining a first cord path connecting the first end to a first arcuate opening defined in the body and a second cord path connecting the second end to a second arcuate opening defined in the body, wherein the first cord path and the second cord path comprise separate paths. The locking mechanism further comprising first and second caps that are slidably attachable to the first and second ends of the body, respectively and a cord having a first end portion located within the first cord path and a second end portion located within the second cord path.