Pipe Sealing Assembly With Wedge Locking and In-Line Leak Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe plugging and connecting methods require separate work tools and are time-consuming, and air-tightness tests are typically conducted after pipeline completion, making them inefficient and difficult, especially for pipelines with PVC pipes.
Innovation Solution
A pipe sealing device with a first and second part having inclined portions that gradually increase or decrease in diameter, allowing for tool-free plugging and connection, and incorporating features like elastic members and fluid inlets for air-tightness testing at any point during construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional pipe sealing device is used, then the sealing function is provided, but the device is cumbersome and difficult to install and remove
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe sealing device is divided into two separate half-cylindrical components: a first half-cylinder and a second half-cylinder. These segments can be independently manipulated and installed on opposite sides of the pipe, allowing for easier installation and removal while maintaining effective sealing when combined.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is nested within the half-cylinder components, specifically positioned between the curved surface of the half-cylinder and the pipe surface. This nesting arrangement allows the sealing function to be integrated within the structural components without adding external complexity.
2Reliability
If a traditional pipe sealing device is used, then sealing is achieved, but damage to the pipe is likely during installation and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is made of a flexible material that can deform to conform to the pipe surface and the half-cylinder components. This flexibility allows the sealing element to adapt to slight variations in pipe geometry without requiring excessive force during installation or removal, thereby preventing pipe damage while maintaining reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The half-cylinder components are designed to be movable relative to each other, allowing dynamic adjustment during installation and removal. The first and second half-cylinders can be positioned, adjusted, and removed independently, providing operational flexibility that reduces the risk of damaging the pipe while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional pipe sealing device is used, then sealing is provided, but the device is not adaptable to different pipe diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is designed with non-uniform properties: it has a first portion with a first hardness and a second portion with a second hardness different from the first. This local variation in hardness allows different regions of the sealing element to perform different functions - one region may conform to the pipe surface while another provides structural support, enabling adaptation to various pipe diameters while maintaining precise sealing contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element utilizes changes in material properties, specifically hardness variations between its first and second portions. This parameter change allows the sealing element to adapt its mechanical characteristics to match different pipe diameters and surface conditions, achieving reliable sealing across a range of pipe sizes without compromising manufacturing precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention includes: a first part (11) which has a hollow cylindrical shape and circumscribes or is inscribed in a pipe (26); and a second part (15) which has a cylindrical shape and circumscribes or is inscribed in the first part (11), wherein inclined portions (23), which have inclination angles that can hinder the second part (15) from retreating from the first part (11), are formed between the first part (11) and the second part (15) so as to correspond to each other. That is, when a pipe sealing device is mounted to the pipe and the second part (15) is retreated from the pipe (26), the inclined portion (23) of the first part (11) and the second part (15) push against each other, the first part (11) is pressed against and fixed to the pipe, and the second part (15) can no longer retreat from a limited line due to inclination angles. Connecting or closing pipes typically involves making screws or welding, and thus requires many tools and consumes much time. In contrast, such work can be conveniently performed using the pipe sealing device of the present invention. Also, a fluid inlet and outlet portion (43) is provided, and thus a pipe sealing test can be easily performed for each section.