Pre-Assembled Pipe Coupling for Axial Insertion and Seal Positioning

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pipe coupling systems require assembly during installation, which can be cumbersome and may not ensure a fluid-tight seal due to the need for deformation of coupling segments for effective installation.

Innovation Solution

A pre-assembled pipe coupling system featuring a gasket with sealing lips and a housing with interconnected segments, including clamp segments and a bridge segment, that forms an insertion boundary for axial receipt of pipe ends, utilizing adjustable fasteners and interlocks to secure the gasket and create a fluid-tight seal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pipe coupling segments are deformed during installation to ensure effective sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket is pre-assembled within the housing before installation, with the sealing surfaces already positioned and configured. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for complex deformation operations during installation, as the sealing components are ready in their final positions. The pre-assembly ensures proper alignment and configuration of sealing elements before the coupling is installed on the pipes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling housing is divided into multiple segments that can be assembled separately and then joined together. This segmentation allows for simpler installation where segments are attached to form the complete housing around the pre-positioned gasket, avoiding the need to deform a single complex piece. The segmented design maintains sealing reliability while reducing installation complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If pipe coupling segments are deformed during installation to ensure effective sealing, then fluid-tight seal is improved, but installation time and labor increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid-tight sealVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket is pre-assembled within the housing before installation, with the sealing surfaces already positioned and configured. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for complex deformation operations during installation, as the sealing components are ready in their final positions. The pre-assembly ensures proper alignment and configuration of sealing elements before the coupling is installed on the pipes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-assembled gasket and housing configuration allows the coupling to self-seal through its inherent design features. The gasket is positioned to automatically engage with the pipe surfaces when the housing segments are attached, creating the fluid-tight seal without requiring additional deformation operations or specialized installation tools. The design makes the sealing process self-executing during normal installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If coupling segments are deformed for effective installation, then seal effectiveness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal effectivenessVSAvoidinstallation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket is pre-assembled within the housing before installation, with the sealing surfaces already positioned and configured. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for complex deformation operations during installation, as the sealing components are ready in their final positions. The pre-assembly ensures proper alignment and configuration of sealing elements before the coupling is installed on the pipes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of deforming the coupling segments during installation to achieve sealing, the invention inverts the approach by pre-positioning the gasket in its final sealing position within the housing. The housing segments are then attached around the pre-positioned gasket, allowing the seal to form naturally without deformation. This inversion of the traditional approach simplifies the installation operation while maintaining seal effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11692653B2Pre-assembled pipe coupling with an insertion boundary for axial receipt of pipe ends

Publication Date: 2023.07.04 TYCO FIRE PRODUCTS LP

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 bridge segment has a first mount extending lateral from the wall and having a plurality of first lateral walls defining a first aperture and a second mount having a plurality of second lateral walls defining a second aperture. A first clamp segment has a first hook disposed in the first aperture. A second clamp segment has a second hook disposed in the second aperture. The fastener is disposed through the first fastener aperture and the second fastener aperture. The fastener has an adjusted length at which the first clamp segment grips the gasket, and the second clamp segment grips the gasket to locate the first sealing lip and the second sealing lip within the insertion boundary.