Plastic Fitting Rounded Transition Edge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fittings suffer from significant fluidic losses due to the shape of the angled transition area, which is not optimally accessible during manufacturing, and previous solutions either compromise durability or are overly complex to produce.

Innovation Solution

A fitting design with a housing wall that includes an insert to form a rounded transition edge, allowing for easier access and optimization of the flow channel during production, reducing fluidic losses and simplifying the manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the fitting is designed with a conventional angled transition shape, then the manufacturing process is simple, but large fluidic losses occur due to suboptimal flow channel design

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluidic lossesVSAvoidmanufacturing accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the manufacturing process by creating a breakthrough opening that allows tool access during production. The rounding tool is inserted through this opening to form the optimized curve in the angled transition area, which would otherwise be inaccessible. This resolves the contradiction by enabling complex flow optimization without compromising manufacturing simplicity.

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

2Loss of energy

If the fitting is divided like a shell to access the angled transition area, then the flow channel can be optimized, but the durability is reduced due to large separating surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluidic lossesVSAvoiddurability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the manufacturing process into two stages: first forming the housing wall with a breakthrough opening, then inserting the rounding tool through this opening to create the optimized curve. This segmentation allows flow optimization without dividing the fitting into separate shells, thereby maintaining durability while reducing fluidic losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of energy

If a flow guide body is inserted into the flow channel to improve flow, then the fluidic losses are reduced, but the production complexity becomes extreme

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluidic lossesVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the flow optimization function directly into the housing wall by forming the rounded curve as an integral part of the angled transition area. This eliminates the need for separate flow guide bodies and their complex insertion processes, thereby reducing production complexity while still achieving reduced fluidic losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3012084B1Fitting
Publication Date: 2018.12.12 GEBERIT INT AG
  • EP3012084B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3012084B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3012084B1 patent drawingFigure 4I~5V

AI summary

A fitting (1), in particular made of plastic, for diverting or branching media flowing in pipelines, comprises a housing wall (2) that defines a flow channel (3) extending at least from a fitting inlet (4) to a fitting outlet (5). The flow channel (3) comprises a first channel section (6) extending along a first central axis (M6) and a second channel section (7) extending along a second central axis (M7), wherein the two central axes (M6, M7) are inclined at an angle to each other, in particular at right angles, and the two channel sections (6, 7) are arranged such that their central axes (M6, M7) intersect, and wherein in the area of ​​the transition (8) between the first channel section (6) and the second channel section (7) an inner transition edge (9) is formed from the first channel section (6) to the second channel section (7), which transition edge (9) is rounded with a radius (10).With regard to the flow channel (3) opposite the transition edge (9), an insert (11) is inserted into the housing wall (2), which insert (11) is materially connected to the housing wall (2), wherein the insert (11) is designed such that the transition edge (9) with the rounding (10) is accessible during manufacturing through an opening (12) of the fitting which is covered by the insert (11).