Pipe Gland Assembly With Integrated Joint Restraint Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical joint pipe connections lack a positive retention mechanism, leading to potential seal failure and pipe deformation under high tension forces, and the manufacturing of glands often requires costly cores that are prone to damage and have limited lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A gland assembly with a joint restraint assembly featuring a gripper and spring mechanism that engages the pipe's outer surface to prevent removal, along with a core-less manufacturing process for the gland, reducing costs and material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a joint restraint mechanism is incorporated to provide positive retention, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The joint restraint mechanism is nested within the gland structure itself. The gripper is positioned inside the gland bore, and the restraint mechanism integrates with the gland's internal geometry, allowing the retention function to be embedded within the existing connection structure rather than adding external components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the sealing function and retention function into a single integrated gland assembly. The gasket provides sealing while the gripper and restraint mechanism provide positive retention, both operating within the same gland structure to prevent pipe withdrawal under tension.
2Manufacturing precision
If cores are used in the casting process to produce internal cavities, then manufacturing precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the core from the casting process entirely. The gland is designed with external cavities and reentrant angles that can be formed directly by the mold geometry without requiring removable cores, thereby extracting the core-related cost and complexity from the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using internal cores to create internal cavities, the patent inverts the approach by forming external cavities and reentrant angles directly through the mold structure. This reverses the traditional casting methodology where cores are必需的 for creating complex internal geometries.
3Manufacturing precision
If cores are used in the casting process, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the core production and handling steps from the manufacturing process. By designing the gland without requiring cores, the time-consuming activities of core fabrication, insertion, positioning, and removal are completely eliminated, significantly reducing total manufacturing cycle time.
Solution Approach 2:
The mold geometry is pre-designed to directly form the required cavities and reentrant angles without needing auxiliary cores. This preliminary design approach eliminates the need for subsequent core-related operations, streamlining the manufacturing process from the outset.
4Manufacturing precision
If cores are used in the casting process, then manufacturing precision is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to core damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates cores from the manufacturing process, thereby removing the source of potential defects such as core breakage, displacement, or improper positioning. This ensures consistent product quality without the reliability risks associated with core usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the fragile, limited-life core with a durable, reusable mold structure. The mold directly forms the cavities and angles without requiring consumable or wear-prone core components, ensuring long-term manufacturing consistency.
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 provides a secure pipe retention mechanism that prevents seal failure and deformation, while also reducing manufacturing costs and material requirements by eliminating the need for cores.
Implementation Method 1
a spring comprising a retention tab and an engagement leg, the engagement leg configured to engage the gripper
Implementation Method 2
the gland is tightened by a series of bolts, which draw the gland towards the female socket, thereby compressing the gasket. Compression of the gasket causes the gasket to engage an outer surface of the plain end of the pipe length, thereby forming a seal
Implementation Method 3
typical mechanical joint pipe connections do not provide for a positive retention mechanism other than friction of the gasket acting on the plain end of the length
Data Source
AI summary
A method for using a gland assembly includes sliding a gland assembly over an end of a pipe, the pipe defining an outer surface, the gland assembly comprising a gland, a joint restraint assembly, and a gasket, the joint restraint assembly comprising a gripper and a spring, the spring configured to engage the gripper and the gasket; inserting the end of the pipe into a socket of a piping element; fastening the gland to the piping element; disabling a deactivation mechanism of the joint restraint assembly; and engaging the joint restraint assembly with the outer surface of the pipe to prevent removal of the pipe from the piping element.