Pipe Fitting Assembly With Injected Bonding and Coaxial Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for joining pipes and fittings, such as solvent cementing, welding, and adhesive bonding, require skilled labor and often result in VOC emissions or leakage, and existing adhesives are not strong enough for harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
A pipe fitting design with a tubular member, centering device, and removable clamp that ensures coaxial alignment and uniform bonding agent application, eliminating the need for secondary seals and allowing for reuse of the clamp.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional permanent jointing methods (solvent cementing, welding, heat fusion) are used, then strong bonds are achieved, but skilled labor is required and VOC emissions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical joining methods (welding, solvent cementing) with an injection-molded bonding agent system. The bonding agent is injected under pressure into the joint cavity, eliminating the need for skilled manual application methods while achieving strong bonds through controlled injection molding parameters rather than operator skill.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulic or pneumatic injection systems to deliver the bonding agent into the joint cavity. The injection mold uses pressure-driven flow to ensure complete and uniform filling of the bonding agent, replacing manual application techniques and reducing dependency on operator expertise.
2Ease of manufacture
If brush application of bonding agent is used, then bonding agent can be applied, but excess adhesive may drip or deposit into piping water-way
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a centering device and alignment features that are pre-installed in the fitting before the bonding agent injection. These features ensure the pipe is properly positioned and the joint cavity is correctly formed before bonding agent injection, preventing misalignment issues that would cause excess adhesive leakage or contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual brush application with an automated injection molding system. The injection mold precisely controls the bonding agent delivery, injecting it directly into the predefined joint cavity under controlled pressure, eliminating the imprecision of brush application and preventing excess adhesive from entering the piping water-way.
3Reliability
If injection application with clamps and sealing devices is used, then bonding agent injection is enabled, but cumbersome equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the alignment, centering, and sealing functions into an integrated injection mold assembly. The mold itself provides the sealing action during injection, eliminating the need for separate clamps and secondary sealing devices. The centering device is built into the mold structure, merging multiple functions into a single tooling system.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection mold serves multiple functions simultaneously: it centers the pipe, seals the joint cavity, delivers the bonding agent under pressure, and defines the bonding interface. This multi-functional tooling replaces multiple separate devices (clamps, seals, injection equipment) with a single universal system.
4Strength
If pipe stop with sufficient radial length is used, then hoop strength is improved, but socket complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials for the pipe stop, combining reinforcement fibers (such as glass, carbon, or aramid) with a polymer matrix. This composite construction provides enhanced hoop strength and structural integrity without requiring increased radial length or complex socket geometries. The reinforcement fibers carry the circumferential stresses, allowing a simpler socket design.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe fitting includes a tubular member having first and second sockets, each configured to receive an end of a pipe section such that a gap exists between an outer surface of each pipe section and an inner surface of the sockets. A pair of ports extend through the tubular member in each socket and are in fluid communication with each gap. Each socket may include one or more annular sealing members therein.