Flexible Pipe-Restraint Gasket for High-Pressure Pipe Couplings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional pipe-fittings are cumbersome to install and inadequate for high-pressure fluid flow, and they are not easily adaptable to pipes made of different materials such as PVC or PE, unlike ductile iron.
Innovation Solution
A pipe-fitting design featuring a coupling with a flexible pipe-restraint gasket assembly, including an annular body, discrete gripping members, and an extension portion that defines a collapsible pocket, allowing for secure attachment and adaptation to various pipe materials, including PVC and PE, while accommodating high-pressure fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional pipe-fittings are used to join metallic pipes, then the connection is structurally sound, but the installation is cumbersome and not adaptable to different pipe materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible gasket made of elastomeric material that can conform to different pipe materials (PVC, PE, ductile iron) through its inherent flexibility. The gasket includes a collapsible pocket structure that allows it to adapt to varying pipe tolerances and materials while maintaining sealing effectiveness, eliminating the need for material-specific fittings.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket design incorporates a collapsible pocket that changes its dimensional parameters during installation. The pocket can collapse to accommodate different pipe outer diameters and tolerances, allowing the same gasket design to work across multiple pipe materials and specifications without requiring precise pre-matching.
2Stress or pressure
If traditional pipe-fittings are used for high-pressure fluid flow, then structural integrity is maintained, but the fittings are inadequate for high-pressure applications
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket features a dynamic collapsible pocket structure that can deform and adjust under pressure conditions. The pocket is configured to collapse in a controlled manner to distribute pressure evenly around the pipe circumference, preventing point loading and maintaining sealing reliability under high-pressure fluid flow conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric gasket material provides flexibility that allows the sealing surface to conform and maintain contact under varying pressure conditions. This flexible membrane structure distributes hydraulic pressure uniformly, preventing leakage while accommodating the dynamic stress states encountered in high-pressure applications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid gasket structure is used, then manufacturing precision is easier to achieve, but the gasket cannot accommodate pipes with varying tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket utilizes a flexible elastomeric construction with a collapsible pocket design that inherently accommodates dimensional variations in pipe tolerances. The flexibility of the thin-walled pocket structure allows it to deform and conform to different pipe outer diameters without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or precise manufacturing tolerances in the gasket itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsible pocket is designed to dynamically adjust its shape and size during installation to match the specific pipe dimensions encountered. This dynamic adaptation capability allows a single gasket design to accommodate a range of pipe tolerances without requiring multiple size variants or complex machining operations.
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 design facilitates easy installation and secure sealing of pipes made of different materials, ensuring reliable fluid flow under high pressure without point loading or distortion, and is adaptable to pipes with varying tolerances.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one extension portion is configured to collapse thereby reducing the width of the pocket. The flexible pipe-restraint gasket assembly is disposed within the inner recess... ensuring reliable fluid flow under high pressure without point loading or distortion
Implementation Method 2
The body and the at least one extension portion are made of an elastomeric material... The at least one extension portion is configured to collapse thereby reducing the width of the pocket
Implementation Method 3
The plurality of gripping members are made of a metallic material... teeth extend from the bottom surface of each gripping member... opposing sides of each gripping member are curved
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe-fitting includes a coupling and a flexible pipe-restraint gasket. The coupling includes a bell that defines a pipe insertion mouth at an end of the coupling and an inner recess. The flexible pipe-restraint gasket assembly is disposed within the inner recess and includes an annular body, a plurality of discrete gripping members and at least one extension portion. The plurality of gripping members are disposed around an outer periphery of the body. The at least one extension portion extends from the body and is disposed between a pair of the plurality of gripping members. The at least one extension portion defines a pocket.