Pivot-Anchored Tube Housing Cover for One-Handed Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cover systems for sewage-carrying pipe container housings require two hands to secure the cover, making them difficult to use in hard-to-reach locations and increasing the risk of incorrect assembly and overpressure situations.

Innovation Solution

A cover system with a pivot anchoring device and a rotatable locking lever that allows for one-handed operation, featuring a locking system with a lever that can be rotated between locked and unlocked positions, ensuring secure closure and easy operation, even in confined spaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the cover system uses a traditional two-point anchoring method requiring two hands for secure fastening, then the cover can be firmly anchored to the housing, but the system becomes difficult to operate in hard-to-reach locations and increases the risk of incorrect assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cover operationVSAvoidreliability of cover assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The anchoring function is segmented into two independent components: a pivot anchoring device for initial positioning and a locking system with a locking lever for secure fastening. This segmentation allows the cover to be initially positioned with one hand using the pivot anchor, while the locking lever provides automated secure fastening without requiring a second hand, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and assembly reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking system incorporates a self-latching mechanism where the locking lever automatically engages with the locking system upon insertion, securing the cover without requiring manual fastening at multiple contact points. This self-service feature eliminates the need for two-handed operation while maintaining secure assembly, addressing both ease of operation and assembly reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the cover system requires simultaneous use of two hands for secure fastening, then the cover can be reliably anchored, but accessibility to the cover becomes critical and operation becomes difficult in confined spaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of cover anchoringVSAvoidaccessibility requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The anchoring function is segmented into two independent components: a pivot anchoring device for initial positioning and a locking system with a locking lever for secure fastening. This segmentation allows the cover to be initially positioned with one hand using the pivot anchor, while the locking lever provides automated secure fastening without requiring a second hand, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and assembly reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking lever acts as an intermediary tool that mediates between the operator and the cover housing system. By providing a single gripping point that controls both positioning and secure fastening, the locking lever eliminates the need for direct two-handed manipulation of the cover itself, thereby improving accessibility while maintaining anchoring reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the cover system uses multiple contact points for fastening, then the cover can be securely locked to the housing, but the complexity of the fastening process increases and operation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity of cover lockingVSAvoidcomplexity of fastening process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking system merges multiple fastening functions into a single integrated mechanism. The locking lever simultaneously performs positioning, engagement, and secure locking actions that would traditionally require multiple separate fastening operations at different contact points. This consolidation maintains secure locking while reducing operational complexity and steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking system incorporates a self-latching mechanism where the locking lever automatically engages with the locking system upon insertion, securing the cover without requiring manual fastening at multiple contact points. This self-service feature eliminates the need for two-handed operation while maintaining secure assembly, addressing both ease of operation and assembly reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If the cover system requires precise manual positioning and sequential latching, then the seal between cover and housing can be maintained, but the risk of incorrect assembly due to tilting increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseal integrity between cover and housingVSAvoidrisk of incorrect assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot anchoring device performs preliminary positioning action automatically when the cover is inserted, establishing the correct orientation and position before the locking lever is engaged. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual positioning adjustments and prevents tilting that could compromise the seal, while the subsequent locking lever engagement secures the pre-positioned cover, maintaining seal integrity and reducing assembly errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3348880B1Closure system for tube container housing
Publication Date: 2022.03.23 KESSEL AG
  • EP3348880B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3348880B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3348880B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Cover system (1, 58) for tool-free, repeatable closing and opening of a pipe tank housing (22, 59) for wastewater, in particular a backflow preventer housing, comprising a cover (6) which can securely close a cover opening (48) of a pipe tank housing (22, 59) by pressing the cover (6) against a cover seat (49) of the cover opening (48), and a pivot anchor device (2) arranged on the cover (6) which can position the cover (6) on a contact area (17) of a pipe tank housing (22, 59) and rotatably anchor it on and around this contact area (17), and a locking system (3) arranged on the cover (6) and spaced apart from the pivot anchor device (2), comprising a rotatable locking lever (23) and a locking system (24) acting in conjunction with the locking lever for locking and Unlocking the lid (6) on the pipe container housing (22, 59),wherein the locking lever (23) is rotatable back and forth between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the locking system (3) enables a secure closure of the lid opening (48) of the pipe container housing (22, 59) by holding and manipulating the lid system (1, 58) solely by means of the locking lever (23). The invention further relates to a pipe container for wastewater with a lid opening and with a lid system as described above.