Tool-Free Pipe Socket With Angled Contact Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pipe sockets for electrical installation housings require a separate tool to break out the closing wall, which is inconvenient and prone to user error.

Innovation Solution

A pipe socket design where a tube contact element is integrated with a predetermined breaking point, allowing the wall to be broken out tool-free by transferring a moment as the pipe is inserted, with the contact surface angled relative to the inner wall to increase lateral forces and break the wall, ensuring consistent and automatic ejection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a separate tool is used to break out the closing wall, then the wall can be broken out, but the operation becomes inconvenient and prone to user error

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of breaking out wallVSAvoidneed for separate tool
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The breaking function is merged with the pipe insertion operation itself. The pipe contact element with its angled contact surface is integrated into the pipe socket structure, so that the act of inserting the pipe directly provides the breaking force through mechanical leverage, eliminating the need for a separate breaking tool.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pipe insertion process itself performs the breaking function. As the pipe is inserted and contacts the angled surface of the pipe contact element, the pipe's own insertion motion generates the lateral force needed to break the wall at the predetermined breaking point, making the system self-servicing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Force

If the pipe contact surface is angled relative to the inner wall, then lateral forces increase to break the wall, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral force on wallVSAvoidstructure of pipe contact element
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pipe contact element's contact surface is angled relative to the pipe socket's inner wall, introducing a dimensional transformation. This angular geometry converts the axial insertion force into lateral breaking force through mechanical leverage, efficiently achieving wall breakage without excessive structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Strength

If the pipe contact element extends further into the pipe receiving section, then more moment is transmitted to break the wall, but the risk of pipe damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoment transmission to wallVSAvoidrisk of pipe damage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pipe contact element has different geometric properties in different regions: the contact surface is angled to transmit breaking moment, while the tip region has a reduced radius and rounded geometry to minimize stress concentration and prevent pipe damage. This localized differentiation of geometric quality optimizes both breaking efficiency and pipe safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 easy, safe, and automatic removal of the break-out area without tools, ensuring the wall is always broken out when a pipe is inserted, enhancing user convenience and reducing the risk of forgetting to open the socket.

Implementation Method 1

the pipe contact element extends from the wall into the interior of the pipe receiving section and has a pipe contact surface facing the inner wall of the pipe receiving section, which is further away from the inner wall of the pipe receiving section with increasing distance from the wall, so that when a pipe is inserted into the pipe receiving section, a moment is transmitted to the breakable section of the wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical leverage: Lever

Data Source

PatentEP3442086B1Pipe socket of an electrical installation housing
Publication Date: 2020.02.19 GUNTHER SPELSBERG GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3442086B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3442086B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3442086B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~5b

AI summary

The invention relates to a pipe fitting of an electrical installation housing for receiving one end of a pipe (3), with a pipe receiving section (4) which is open on its side intended for the insertion of the pipe (3) and closed on its other side with a wall (5), wherein the wall (5) has a predetermined breaking point (6) so that a section of the wall (5) can be broken out, characterized in that a pipe contact element (7) is attached to the breakable section of the wall (5), which is designed such that the pipe contact element (7) extends from the wall (5) into the interior of the pipe receiving section (4) and has a pipe contact surface (9) facing the inner wall (8) of the pipe receiving section (4), which is further away from the inner wall (8) of the pipe receiving section (4) with increasing distance from the wall (5).so that when a pipe (3) is inserted into the pipe receiving section (4), a moment is transferred to the breakable portion of the wall (5), so that as the pipe (3) is inserted into the pipe receiving section (4), the breakable portion of the wall (5) is broken out and finally ejected from the pipe socket. In this way, such a pipe socket is provided for an electrical installation housing, the wall of which, closing an opening in the pipe socket, can be removed easily and safely without tools.