Pipe Fitting Tool Expanding Socket Mouth for Damage-Free Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe fitting arrangements face difficulties in handling, as they can damage the pipe surface during assembly and disassembly, leading to potential leaks, and require complex tools like pressure rings and swivel nuts to ensure a fluid or gas-tight connection.
Innovation Solution
A method and tool that expand the socket mouth diameter using a tool to insert and remove pipes without damaging the pipe, utilizing elastically deformable grip ring teeth and a handle-actuated mechanism to ensure secure engagement and disengagement without direct contact between teeth and pipe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the teeth of the grip ring directly engage the pipe during assembly, then the pipe can be retained in the socket, but the pipe surface may be damaged leading to potential leaks
Solution Approach 1:
A tool with a support surface is introduced as an intermediary between the grip ring teeth and the pipe during assembly. The support surface prevents direct contact between the teeth and pipe, eliminating surface damage while still allowing the teeth to engage the pipe for retention through the elastic deformation mechanism
2Volume of moving object
If the socket mouth diameter is kept small for compactness, then the fitting arrangement is compact, but the pipe cannot be inserted without damaging the pipe surface
Solution Approach 1:
The socket mouth is designed with an elastic grip ring that can dynamically deform. During assembly, the grip ring teeth elastically deform outward to accommodate the pipe without damaging it, then return to their original position to provide retention. This dynamic behavior allows a compact socket design while preventing pipe damage
3Reliability
If complex tools like pressure rings and swivel nuts are used to ensure fluid-tight connection, then seal reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grip ring is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides mechanical retention through tooth engagement, ensures fluid-tight sealing by compressing the sealing ring, and prevents pipe damage through elastic deformation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate pressure rings and swivel nuts, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability
4Force
If the grip ring teeth are made rigid for strong engagement, then retention force is improved, but pipe surface damage occurs during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The grip ring teeth are designed with elastic properties rather than being rigid. This parameter change allows the teeth to deform elastically during pipe insertion, avoiding surface damage, while still providing sufficient retention force through the elastic recovery mechanism. The elastic modulus and geometry of the teeth are optimized to balance retention force with damage prevention
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution prevents pipe damage and ensures a fluid or gas-tight connection by expanding the socket mouth diameter with a tool, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly while maintaining the integrity of the pipe fitting arrangement.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing elastically deformable grip ring teeth and a handle-actuated mechanism to ensure secure engagement and disengagement without direct contact between teeth and pipe
Implementation Method 2
The internal teeth are configured to engage the pipe in a deformation-free state of the grip ring, whereas the free end is configured to engage the pipe in an elastically deformed state of the grip ring
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
The present invention refers to a method for inserting a pipe into a socket for obtaining a pipe fitting arrangement in which the pipe is retainable arranged within the socket by teeth of a grip ring placed within the socket and for removing the pipe out of the socket by making usage of a tool, characterized by the following steps for pipe insertion: a) inserting the tool at least partly into the socket mouth into which the pipe is to be inserted, b) extending the internal diameter of the socket mouth at least over a part of its circumference being smaller than the external pipe diameter when inserting the tool, and/or extending the internal diameter of the grip ring at least over a part of its circumference being smaller than the external pipe diameter when inserting the tool, with at least one internal first tooth, preferably two opposing teeth, of the grip ring substantially preventing the insertion of the pipe without the use of the tool, c) inserting the pipe into the socket mouth through a tool opening, d) withdrawing the tool out of the socket, and e) disengaging the tool from the pipe; as well as a tool for assembling or disassembling a pipe fitting arrangement with such a method.