Pivotable Fitting Coupling for Precise Water Pipe Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flush-mounted sanitary fitting connection pieces have radially fixed water pipe connections, making precise alignment and connection of water pipes challenging during installation, leading to potential mechanical stresses and installation difficulties.

Innovation Solution

A fitting connection piece with pivotable swivel joints or ball joints allowing up to 120 or 90 degrees of rotation, enabling flexible alignment and connection of water pipes, and made from materials like brass, gunmetal, or stainless steel, with a base body designed for easy mounting of functional units such as mixing valves.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If radially fixed connection pieces are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but alignment precision and ease of connection deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidconnection structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection pieces are made pivotable rather than fixed, allowing them to rotate about mounting points. This dynamic capability enables precise alignment with water pipes during installation while maintaining structural simplicity through a standardized mounting mechanism. The pivotable design resolves the contradiction by introducing controlled mobility without complicating the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The connection pieces can change their angular position parameter relative to the base body, transitioning from a fixed orientation to an adjustable orientation. This parameter change allows the connection pieces to adapt to different pipe alignment requirements while maintaining a simple radial mounting structure, thus improving alignment precision without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If fixed radial connections are used, then structural stability is maintained, but ease of installation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installationVSAvoidstructural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The connection pieces transition from a completely fixed state to a pivotable state during installation, enabling easy adjustment and alignment. Once installed, the connection pieces maintain their position, providing structural stability. This dynamic capability during installation resolves the contradiction between ease of installation and structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The connection pieces are pre-mounted on the base body at standardized radial positions, but designed to be pivotable for preliminary alignment adjustments. This preliminary mounting with adjustment capability facilitates easy installation, while the standardized mounting points ensure structural stability is maintained after installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If pivotable connection pieces are used, then alignment flexibility is improved, but mechanical stress increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment flexibilityVSAvoidmechanical stress
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The pivotable connection pieces allow for alignment flexibility during installation by enabling rotation to match pipe positions. Once aligned and installed, the connection pieces maintain their position, preventing excessive mechanical stress. The controlled dynamics of the pivotable design provides adaptability without creating ongoing mechanical stress issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3914783B1Coupling for fitting
Publication Date: 2022.12.21 VIEGA SCHWEIZ AG
  • EP3914783B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3914783B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3914783B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a fitting connecting piece (1) comprising a main body (2) with pipe unions (3) for water conduits and a main body area with mating surfaces (4) for a functional unit, wherein each pipe union (3) is connected to one allocated port (6) in a mating surface (4) through channels (5) inside the main body (2), and a functional unit can be mounted on the main body area with the mating surfaces (4), the functional unit having ports arranged in a manner complementary to the mating surfaces, characterized in accordance with the invention in that the pipe unions (3) are mounted movably on in or on the main body (2). The invention also relates to the use of a corresponding fitting connecting piece (1) for sanitary installations.