Pipe Joint Sleeve with Sprung Detents and Axial Toothing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for joining circularly cylindrical pipe ends with the same outside and inside diameters suffer from issues such as increased risk of corrosion, lack of visual inspection for correct fitting, need for tools, and potential misalignment of central axes, leading to inefficient torque transmission and hygiene concerns.
Innovation Solution
A secure joint system using a joint sleeve with sprung detents that prevent rotation and ensure correct alignment, featuring a unique toothing design with radial sections and protrusions to facilitate easy assembly and prevent misalignment, allowing for audible feedback during engagement and ensuring consistent angular position across multiple joints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clips or threaded parts are used to join pipe ends, then the pipe ends can be secured against separation, but hidden cavities and places where materials can be deposited are created, giving rise to bacterial propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The joint is divided into two separate components: a joint body and a separate closure element (cap or plug). This segmentation allows the closure element to seal the internal cavity, preventing material deposition and bacterial growth, while still providing secure mechanical fastening of the pipe ends.
Solution Approach 2:
A closure element (cap or plug) is introduced as an intermediary component that seals the internal cavity of the joint. This mediator prevents direct contact between the environment and the internal surfaces, eliminating hidden cavities where bacteria could propagate, while the joint body maintains the mechanical connection.
2Reliability
If tools are used for joining pipe ends, then secure connection can be achieved, but the process becomes complex and incorrect fitting is easily possible
Solution Approach 1:
The joint design incorporates self-aligning features such as guide surfaces, positioning ribs, and complementary shapes on the joint body and closure element. These features guide the components into correct alignment during assembly, enabling workers to achieve proper fitting through simple push-in or screw-on actions without requiring specialized tools or extensive training.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint body and closure element feature asymmetric geometries with specific positioning elements (such as offset ribs, non-circular cross-sections, or keyed interfaces) that allow only one correct orientation for assembly. This asymmetry prevents incorrect fitting while maintaining ease of operation, as the components naturally guide themselves into the correct position during simple assembly motions.
3Strength
If metal-to-metal contact surfaces are created in the joint, then mechanical strength is achieved, but moisture accumulation occurs, creating conditions for corrosion and weakening of the structure
Solution Approach 1:
The joint system employs composite material construction, combining metal components with corrosion-resistant materials such as coatings, platings, or polymer layers. This composite approach maintains the mechanical strength provided by metal-to-metal contact surfaces while protecting against moisture accumulation and corrosion through the protective material layer.
Solution Approach 2:
A closure element (cap or plug) serves as an intermediary that seals the internal cavity and prevents moisture from reaching the metal-to-metal contact surfaces. This mediator eliminates the corrosion pathway while preserving the mechanical strength of the metal connection, as the sealing element blocks moisture access without compromising the structural integrity of the joint.
4Strength
If pipe ends are inserted into a joint sleeve, then radial forces and bending moments can be absorbed, but the pipe ends may rotate relative to each other
Solution Approach 1:
The joint's angular position is segmented into discrete, predetermined orientations using features such as keyed interfaces, splines, or position-specific ribs. This segmentation allows the joint to absorb radial forces and bending moments while maintaining stable angular alignment, as the segmented features prevent rotation to any angle except the designated positions.
Solution Approach 2:
Asymmetric positioning features (such as offset keys, non-circular cross-sections, or angled ribs) are incorporated into the joint body and closure element to establish a unique, predetermined angular relationship between connected pipe ends. This asymmetry ensures that while radial forces and bending moments can be absorbed, rotation is restricted to the specific asymmetric configuration, maintaining angular alignment stability.
5Ease of manufacture
If conventional joint designs are used, then assembly can be achieved, but cavities and cracks that are difficult to reach are created, making visual inspection impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element (cap or plug) acts as an intermediary that seals and closes the joint cavity, eliminating hidden spaces where cracks or defects could form. This mediator allows the entire joint structure to be visually inspected from the outside, as there are no inaccessible internal cavities, while still enabling straightforward assembly through external fastening.
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 system provides a stable, corrosion-resistant, and easy-to-assemble joint that effectively transmits torque without rotating pipe ends, ensuring correct angular alignment and hygiene standards, particularly suitable for applications like animal feed systems.
Implementation Method 1
a sprung detent for each pipe end, which corresponds to a recess in the joint sleeve, into which the sprung detent is able to slide resiliently
Implementation Method 2
a toothing in the axial direction at one pipe end engages with a corresponding toothing in the axial direction at the other pipe end
Implementation Method 3
movements in the radial direction between pipe ends are prevented by frictional engagement between joint sleeve and each of the two pipe ends
Data Source
AI summary
A method for the separable joining and fastening of two circularly cylindrical pipe ends (2, 2A) with the same outside and inside diameters, in mutual non-rotatable extension of each other with coinciding central axes (3) is provided in which the pipe ends (2, 2A) are brought axially against each other and fastened radially, wherein a toothing (7) in the axial direction at one pipe end (2) engages with a corresponding toothing (7) in the axial direction at the other pipe end (2A) in a last section of the axial assembly for joining two pipe ends. Similarly, a system is provided with a joint sleeve and corresponding detent for keeping the pipe ends joined.