Pipe Insulation End Marking for Visible Product Differentiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pipe insulation products are difficult to distinguish from one another by visual inspection, especially when they are stored in containers that obscure the indicia, leading to challenges in identifying variations in size, thickness, and properties.

Innovation Solution

The use of indicia, such as alphanumeric characters, symbols, or colors, applied directly to the insulating material on the ends of the pipe insulation, providing information on properties like diameter, thickness, and R-value, allowing for easy differentiation without moving the products.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If indicia are printed on the jacket or flap of the pipe insulation, then information about pipe insulation properties is provided, but the indicia may be obscured when products are stored in containers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of indiciaVSAvoidease of identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The indicia are positioned on the end surface of the pipe insulation, which is a different spatial dimension compared to conventional placement on the jacket or flap. This end-surface positioning ensures the indicia remain visible and accessible even when products are stacked or stored in containers, eliminating the obscuration problem while maintaining information delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple pipe insulation products with different properties are produced, then various insulation requirements are met, but visual differentiation between products becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct varietyVSAvoidvisual differentiation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The indicia on the end surface of the pipe insulation utilize color variations to encode different product properties. By assigning specific colors or color combinations to represent different insulation types, thicknesses, or properties, the system enables rapid visual differentiation between various pipe insulation products without requiring physical inspection or movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If pipe insulation products are stored in containers for protection and organization, then products are protected, but the indicia become completely obscured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct protectionVSAvoidindicia visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The indicia are pre-positioned on the end surface of the pipe insulation during manufacturing, which is a preliminary action that ensures visibility regardless of subsequent storage or handling. This proactive placement strategy guarantees that product information remains accessible even after the insulation is packaged in containers, eliminating the need to move or open packaging to identify products.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10948122B2Systems for and methods of differentiating pipe insulation

Publication Date: 2021.03.16 OWENS CORNING INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL LLC

AI summary

Pipe insulation includes indicia thereon to facilitate differentiating the pipe insulation from other pipe insulation, even when a majority of the pipe insulation is not visible to a user.