Pipe sealing device and methods of using the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for sealing shower drain pipes during flood tests and drain replacement projects are inefficient, requiring manual intervention, external tools, and often necessitate multiple people, especially when dealing with high water levels or inaccessible areas.
Innovation Solution
A pipe sealing device comprising a bar with screw threads, a compressible gasket sandwiched between adaptors, and a coupling with a handle, which allows for easy installation and removal by translating a sleeve to compress the gasket, creating a watertight seal without the need for external inflation or manual immersion in water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an inflatable ball connected to an access chain is used to plug the drain, then the drain can be sealed for flood testing, but the user must put his hand in the standing water to access the chain when the water level is high
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the release mechanism (chain) accessible from below the water line, the invention inverts the approach by providing a T-shaped handle that extends above the water line, allowing the user to operate the sealing device from above the water surface, thereby avoiding hand immersion in contaminated water.
2Measurement precision
If an inflatable ball design is used, then the drain can be plugged, but the water depth must be recorded on the surface of a shower which can be easily disturbed or removed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a T-shaped handle as an intermediary element that serves dual purposes: it provides mechanical leverage for operating the sealing device and simultaneously functions as a measurement reference. The handle's position relative to the shower surface provides a stable, non-disturbing method for recording water depth that cannot be easily removed or altered.
3Productivity
If current methods are used to seat the drain pipe properly, then the drain pipe can be installed, but it requires pushing up from a crawl space or removing a portion of the ceiling which is time-consuming and typically requires more than one person
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device is designed with a T-shaped handle that serves multiple functions: it acts as a lever for pushing the drain pipe into place during installation, and subsequently serves as the operational handle for sealing and releasing the drain during flood testing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate installation tools and procedures, allowing one person to complete both installation and testing operations.
4Ease of operation
If an inflatable ball is used, then the drain can be sealed, but an external pump is required for inflation during use
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the external pump requirement by redesigning the sealing mechanism to use a mechanically operated T-shaped handle system. The sealing force is applied directly through mechanical leverage rather than through inflation, removing the need for external power sources and complex inflation/deflation procedures.
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
Enables precise water level measurement and efficient sealing of drain pipes during testing and installation, reducing the need for additional tools and personnel, and allows for safe operation by keeping hands out of standing water, facilitating single-person operations and minimizing structural damage.
Implementation Method 1
advancement of the coupling over the bar external threads translates the sleeve towards the bar second end, which compresses the gasket between the first and second adaptors
Data Source
AI summary
The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to an apparatus for releasably sealing a pipe. Particularly, the apparatus comprises a bar that includes an interior, an exterior, a first end that includes external threads, and a second end that includes a stop. The device further comprises a sleeve positioned over a portion of the bar, and a coupling comprising internal threads that couple to the bar external threads. The device includes a compressible gasket sandwiched between first and second adaptors. Advancement of the coupling over the bar external threads increases pressure on the sleeve, which compresses the gasket between the first and second adaptors.