Pipe rodding guide tool with deflector for angled junctions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible cleaning rods, or 'snakes,' face difficulties navigating pipe junctions with angled or curved connections, often requiring intrusive methods to access blocked pipes, and existing guide tools are cumbersome, restrictive, and prone to clogging.

Innovation Solution

A pipe rodding guide tool with a deflector and hinge mechanism that allows the rod to bend and direct the snake into desired pipe junctions, allowing for easy insertion and removal while maintaining flexibility and preventing clogging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible snake is used to clean pipes, then it can navigate curved pipes, but it cannot effectively navigate acute angled junctions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to navigate different pipe configurationsVSAvoidsuccess rate of entering desired pipe junction

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A rigid guide tool with a deflector is introduced as an intermediary device to help the flexible snake navigate acute angled junctions. The guide tool is inserted first to create a rigid path with the deflector pointing toward the desired junction, then the snake is fed through it. This mediator provides the directional control that the flexible snake alone cannot achieve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If an encapsulating guide tool is used to direct the snake, then the snake can be directed to the desired junction, but the tool becomes clogged and difficult to clean

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of directing snake to junctionVSAvoidmaintainability and cleaning of the tool

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The deflector is extracted from an encapsulating structure and made as a separate, standalone component. This allows the deflector to be easily removed from the guide tool for cleaning or replacement. The open structure prevents clogging while maintaining the ability to direct the snake accurately to the desired junction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If a rigid guide tool is used to create a path, then the snake can be directed accurately, but the tool cannot traverse long lengths of pipe

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of directing snake to junctionVSAvoidtraversable distance of the guide tool

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The guide tool is designed as a segmented or modular system where the rod can be assembled in sections to achieve the required length for traversing long pipe runs. The deflector remains a key component that can be attached to different rod positions, maintaining directional precision while extending the overall reach of the tool.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Stability of the object's composition

If the guide tool remains in the pipe during snake operation, then it maintains the path, but it encumbers the snake and complicates the work

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of the path for the snakeVSAvoidease of performing cleaning work

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guide tool with deflector is used to create the desired path and direction in advance, then is removed before the snake performs the cleaning operation. The preliminary action of establishing the path eliminates the need for the guide tool to remain during snake operation, preventing encumbrance while maintaining path stability during the critical directional phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250018446A1Pipe rodding guide tool

Publication Date: 2025.01.16 PASQUESI JOHN

AI summary

A pipe rodding guide tool which directs a flexible cleaning rod or snake in a selected direction at a pipe junction or series of pipe junctions, wherein the pipe rodding guide tool comprises a rod for a user to hold and a deflector for directing the flexible cleaning rod or snake in the direction of the bend or deflector.