Deformable Pipe Joint Covering for Leak-Tight Environmental Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Firefighting pipe joints in installations like sprinkler systems are prone to damage from environmental influences and cleaning agents, leading to compromised sealing integrity and mechanical stability over time, especially due to exposure to air, water, and aggressive substances.
Innovation Solution
A pipe arrangement featuring a deformable hollow body that encloses the pipe ends and mechanical connections, providing a snug, sealing barrier against external influences, which can be thermally or chemically deformed to fit over existing joints, and optionally includes additional sealing materials and leakage monitoring systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pipe joints are exposed to environmental influences and cleaning agents, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but sealing integrity and mechanical stability deteriorate over time
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe system is segmented into exposed sections (for cleaning) and protected sections (for joint integrity). The hollow body creates a distinct protected zone around the joint, separating it from cleaning agents while allowing the rest of the pipe to remain accessible for cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable hollow body acts as an intermediary barrier between cleaning agents and the pipe joint. It allows cleaning to proceed effectively on exposed surfaces while preventing harmful substances from reaching the joint, thus mediating between cleaning requirements and protection needs.
2Reliability
If pipe joints are protected from environmental influences, then sealing integrity is improved, but cleaning accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Protection is applied locally only to the joint region rather than the entire pipe system. The hollow body creates a localized protected zone around the joint, leaving the rest of the pipe surface exposed and accessible for cleaning, thus providing protection where needed without compromising overall accessibility.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If deformable hollow body is added to protect pipe joints, then durability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A deformable hollow body (flexible shell) is used to protect the pipe joint. This hollow body can be made of flexible material that conforms to the joint geometry, providing protection without requiring complex rigid structures. The flexibility allows for easier installation and adaptation to different joint configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow body undergoes parameter changes (deformation) during installation to achieve a snug fit around the joint. This deformability simplifies the installation process and allows the same component to adapt to various joint sizes and shapes without requiring multiple specialized parts.
4Ease of manufacture
If mechanical joints are used to connect pipe ends, then assembly ease is improved, but vulnerability to environmental damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow body is installed over the mechanical joint before exposure to environmental conditions and cleaning processes. This preliminary protective action ensures that the joint is shielded from harmful factors from the outset, preventing damage before it occurs while maintaining the ease of mechanical assembly.
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 deformable hollow body enhances the durability and sealing integrity of pipe joints, protecting them from environmental and cleaning-related damage, allowing for easier maintenance and extended service life while preventing medium leakage and facilitating cleaning processes.
Implementation Method 1
the hollow body (4) is thermally or chemically deformable
Implementation Method 2
the pipe joint itself and thus the pipe at its joint itself is sealed and thus there is no possibility of escape of the medium in the pipe at the joint location
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a pipe arrangement comprising a protective device for protecting against environmental influences, the pipe arrangement comprising:a) a pipe joint which includes at least two pipe ends (1, 2) which are fixed together by means of a mechanical joint (3) and in which the pipe ends (1, 2) and also the mechanical joint are closed with a deformable hollow body (4),orb) a pipe (1) with a pipe opening (14), for example a leak, through which a medium which is disposed within the pipe can escape, wherein the pipe (1) is enclosed by a deformable hollow body where the pipe opening (14) is and wherein the pipe (1) is covered by the hollow body (4) in a predetermined portion on both sides of the opening (14),orc) a pipe having a pipe opening on which a sprinkler of a sprinkler installation is mounted, wherein the pipe (1) and also the sprinkler outlet is enclosed by a deformable hollow body (4) where the sprinkler is fixed to the pipe so that the hollow body (4) surrounds both the pipe end (1) and also the sprinkler outlet and a part of the sprinkler,ord) a pipe of a pipe system, wherein the pipe (1) is formed from two pipe portions which are connected together in positively locking relationship, for example by a welding process, a soldering process, a gluing process or the like, and wherein in the region of the positively locking connection the pipe is enclosed or covered by a deformable hollow body,ore) a pipe of a pipe system, wherein the pipe is enclosed by a deformable hollow body and where the hollow body (4) encloses the pipe (1) the pipe is carried by a suspension (13) which preferably has a material different from the material of the pipe.