Pipe Fitting Segmented Sleeve and Ring Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of metal pipe fittings often results in high material loss due to the need for extensive machining to create symmetrically centered intermediate parts, which complicates the process and increases material usage.
Innovation Solution
A fitting design that separates the support sleeve and a ring element, allowing for a thinner-walled pipe to be used, reducing material loss by eliminating the need for a protruding center segment, and enabling the ring element to be made of a different material, simplifying production and reducing stress during injection molding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a single-piece support sleeve with a protruding middle segment is used, then the fitting structure is simple, but material loss is high due to extensive machining required
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting is divided into two separate components: a support sleeve and a ring element. The support sleeve has a substantially uniform diameter without a protruding middle segment, while the ring element is separately formed and attached to the support sleeve. This segmentation eliminates the need for extensive machining of the support sleeve, significantly reducing material loss while maintaining the structural functionality of the fitting.
2Loss of substance
If a thicker-walled pipe is used for the support sleeve, then structural strength is sufficient, but material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the support sleeve from the ring element, the support sleeve can be made from a thinner-walled pipe with sufficient structural strength. The ring element, which provides the necessary structural reinforcement, is attached separately to the support sleeve. This allows the support sleeve itself to use less material while the overall assembly maintains required strength through the combined structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single-piece fitting is produced, then manufacturing process is straightforward, but stresses in plastic increase during injection molding
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting is produced as two separate components: the support sleeve and the ring element. The support sleeve can be manufactured using injection molding with a uniform diameter, avoiding the high stresses that would occur if a protruding middle segment had to be formed in the same molding process. The ring element is then separately attached to the support sleeve, eliminating molding stresses while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
4Productivity
If extensive machining is performed to create a symmetrically centered intermediate part, then the fitting functionality is achieved, but production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the fitting into a support sleeve and a separate ring element, the need for extensive machining to create a symmetrically centered intermediate part is eliminated. The support sleeve can be produced with a uniform diameter through simpler processes, and the ring element is attached separately. This segmentation significantly reduces production time and improves manufacturing efficiency while maintaining all necessary fitting functionalities.
Data Source
AI summary
A fitting, particularly for connecting two pipes, comprising: a support sleeve (1), having a first connection segment (11a) at a first end, and having a second connection segment at an opposite second end, wherein at least the first connection segment (11a) is formed so that a pipe segment (70) can be pushed onto it and having a middle segment (12) disposed between the first and the second connection segment (11a, 11b), wherein the middle segment (12) comprises a fixing element (32, 34) extending at least partially around the support sleeve and having a separable ring element (20) having an inner diameter substantially corresponding to an outer diameter of the middle segment (12) and designed for being placed on the support sleeve (1) and being retained by the fixing element (32, 34) in the middle segment (12) in a fixed position.