Pipe Coupling Sleeve Recess for Secure Clamp Ring Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling systems for pipes face issues with deformation or damage during installation of metal restrain rings due to the need to bend them through a narrow opening, leading to potential off-centering and reduced performance or damage to the system and pipe, especially in self-mounting designs where correction is difficult.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a sleeve with an extended recess portion that allows the clamping element to be positioned closer to the opening, reducing the need for significant bending and accommodating a larger cross-section area, which minimizes the risk of deformation and damage, and features a sloped surface to generate a gripping force on the pipe, ensuring secure engagement without external mounting elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the restrain ring is designed to fit within the sleeve's recess, then the clamping performance is improved, but the installation process becomes difficult and may cause deformation or damage to the restrain ring
Solution Approach 1:
The recess is extended toward the opening of the sleeve before the restrain ring is installed. This preliminary structural modification creates a larger initial space, allowing the restrain ring to be inserted without excessive bending or force, thereby preventing deformation during installation while maintaining the intended clamping performance once positioned
2Device complexity
If the sleeve is designed as self-mounting with an integrally formed hollow cylinder, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to correct improper installation of the restrain ring is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The recess is designed with non-uniform cross-sectional area along its length, creating a localized enlarged section near the opening. This local quality variation allows the restrain ring to be inserted more easily during installation while maintaining the overall integral structure of the self-mounting sleeve, thus preserving both structural simplicity and installation flexibility
3Ease of manufacture
If the recess has a constant cross-section, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the clamping element cannot generate sufficient gripping force on the pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The recess is designed with a non-constant cross-sectional area that varies along its length, creating specific geometric features such as enlarged sections or tapered portions. This local variation in cross-section allows the restrain ring to be compressed to the appropriate degree at specific locations, generating sufficient gripping force on the pipe while keeping the overall recess structure relatively simple to manufacture
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
This solution reduces the risk of deformation and damage to the clamping element during installation, ensures proper alignment, and maintains the system's integrity by allowing easier and secure engagement of the pipe, even in self-mounting configurations, while preventing fluid flow between connected pipes.
Implementation Method 1
The sidewall of the recess has a slope. When a pull force F is applied to the pipe 102, the restrain ring 103 initially moves together with the pipe until the restrain ring hits the sidewall of the recess. The slope of the sidewall will then reduce the size of the restrain ring, so that the restrain ring grips the pipe and stops the movement.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
An apparatus for connecting a pipe end. The apparatus has a sleeve (201) to be mounted on a pipe, and has a C-shaped metal clamping element (203). The sleeve defines an elongated hollow for the pipe (202) and an opening. A portion of the clamping element is arranged in a recess of the surface of the sleeve (201). This recess has a sloped portion (210), arranged to engage with a sloped surface (211) of the clamping element, to generate a gripping force on the pipe (202) when the pipe moves toward the opening. The recess has an extended portion (204), extending to a position less than 5mm from the opening.