Plastic Exhaust Socket Pipe with Plug-In Ring for Tight Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing plastic exhaust sleeve pipes for building heating systems face challenges in manufacturing complexity and high costs due to difficult demouldability in injection molding, and they often suffer from poor sealing efficiency and centricity issues, leading to compromised tightness and assembly difficulties.

Innovation Solution

A multi-part plastic exhaust sleeve pipe design featuring a plug-in ring with a circumferentially closed state secured by latching means, which supports the lip seal radially outside the groove base, preventing flexing and enhancing centricity, and includes a labyrinth seal for improved tightness, with lugs and additional sealing lips to secure the connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the inner peripheral groove is formed entirely by a one-piece tubular body, then the structure is simple, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to difficult demouldability in injection molding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity and cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust sleeve pipe is divided into two separate components: a tubular body and a plug-in ring. The plug-in ring is inserted into the tubular body to form the complete socket section, allowing each part to be manufactured separately with easier demouldability while maintaining structural functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The plug-in ring is nested within the tubular body, where the plug-in ring is inserted into the tubular body to form the socket section. This nested structure allows both components to work together as a unified system while enabling separate manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If a plug-in ring is used to simplify manufacturing, then demouldability improves, but assembly work increases and centricity/roundness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedemouldabilityVSAvoidassembly work
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The plug-in ring is pre-formed with a slightly enlarged insertion end section that facilitates automatic centering and alignment during insertion. This preliminary preparation of the insertion geometry eliminates the need for complex assembly operations while ensuring proper centricity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The insertion end section of the plug-in ring is designed to self-center during insertion into the tubular body. The enlarged geometry automatically guides alignment and ensures proper positioning without requiring external alignment tools or complex assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the plug-in ring is positioned without exact positioning, then assembly is easier, but the sealing effect deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidsealing effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The plug-in ring is pre-formed with a slightly enlarged insertion end section that facilitates automatic centering and alignment during insertion. This preliminary preparation of the insertion geometry eliminates the need for complex assembly operations while ensuring proper centricity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The insertion end section of the plug-in ring is designed to self-center during insertion into the tubular body. The enlarged geometry automatically guides alignment and ensures proper positioning without requiring external alignment tools or complex assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Quantity of substance

If the wall thickness in the groove base area is reduced, then material usage decreases, but the structural strength and sealing support deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial usageVSAvoidstructural strength and sealing support
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust sleeve pipe is divided into two separate components: a tubular body and a plug-in ring. The plug-in ring is inserted into the tubular body to form the complete socket section, allowing each part to be manufactured separately with easier demouldability while maintaining structural functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The socket section is formed as a composite structure combining the tubular body and the plug-in ring. This composite design provides enhanced structural strength and sealing support at the groove base area while optimizing material distribution and reducing overall material usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3614029B1Plastic tube for exhaust gas as well as heating system and method
Publication Date: 2021.12.01 BACHLE DIETER
  • EP3614029B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3614029B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3614029B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a plastic exhaust gas socket pipe for the exhaust gas routing of building heating systems, comprising a pipe body (2) and an end socket section (4) for receiving a pipe section of a further exhaust gas pipe to produce an exhaust gas socket pipe connection, wherein in the socket section (4) a ring seal designed as a lip seal (6) for sealing contact on the outer circumference of the pipe section which can be inserted into the socket section (4) in an insertion direction (E) is received in a groove base formed by a groove base section of the pipe body (20) and a first and a second groove wall (21, 25) extending at an angle thereto, an inner circumferential groove (5) open radially inwards.