Pipe Joint Retainer Gland for Uniform Axial Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical pipe joints require significant additional work to actuate radial engagement members, which is difficult in limited access conditions and leads to non-uniform force distribution and potential pipe deformation.
Innovation Solution
A retainer gland with an outer securement ring and inner gripper ring, featuring evenly spaced fastener flanges and gripper fingers, allows for securement and sealing through T-bolts and nuts without needing to actuate radial engagement members, providing uniform radial pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radial engagement members are used to retain the pipe axially, then the pipe joint can be secured, but significant additional work is required to actuate them which is difficult in limited access conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the radial engagement members (c-clip or snap ring) from the mechanical joint assembly. By extracting this component, the invention eliminates the need to actuate radial engagement members, thereby resolving the contradiction between joint security and ease of operation in limited access conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer gland is designed to be self-securing through the interaction between the gland body, pipe socket, and pipe. The T-bolts and nuts tighten the gland against the pipe socket, creating friction and mechanical interference that automatically retain the pipe without requiring additional actuation of radial engagement members.
2Reliability
If radial engagement members are used to retain the pipe, then axial retention is achieved, but non-uniform force distribution leads to potential pipe deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer gland distributes the retaining force uniformly around the entire circumference of the pipe through its annular gland body. This eliminates the localized, non-uniform force concentration that occurs with discrete radial engagement members, thereby preventing pipe deformation while maintaining axial retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The gland body contacts the pipe socket and pipe along a continuous homogeneous surface, distributing the clamping force evenly around the pipe circumference. This homogeneous force distribution prevents the non-uniform stress concentrations that cause pipe deformation in traditional mechanical joints.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple radial engagement members are spaced circumferentially, then equal force distribution is improved, but additional excavation is still required to access and actuate them
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the radial engagement members entirely from the assembly. This removes the need for any additional excavation or access work to actuate these members, while the retainer gland's continuous gland body provides uniform force distribution through its inherent design.
4Reliability
If a traditional retainer gland design with radial engagement members is used, then the joint can be secured, but the device complexity increases due to multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the retainer gland with the gland body, eliminating the need for separate radial engagement members. The gland body itself performs both the sealing function (compressing the rubber gasket) and the mechanical retention function (securing the pipe axially), thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining joint security.
Data Source
AI summary
A retainer gland to secure the connection and seal of a pipe joint includes an outer securement ring and an inner gripper ring. The outer securement ring has a periphery and a plurality of fastener flanges in spaced relation about the periphery, each of the fastener flanges having a mounting hole therethrough. The inner gripper ring is configured to be disposed within the outer securement ring. The inner gripper ring has a base and a plurality of gripper fingers disposed circumferentially about the base and extending from the base.