Plastic Sprinkler Adapter With Gasket Chamber for Low-Torque Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire protection sprinklers face issues with forming a fluid-tight seal and maintaining flow characteristics due to over-torquing or under-torquing, which can damage threads or compromise the seal, especially when plastic fittings are used without metal reinforcements.
Innovation Solution
A self-supporting plastic sprinkler adapter with internal straight threads and a gasket chamber design that allows for infinite rotational orientation of the sprinkler, maintaining a fluid-tight seal and flow characteristics without the need for metal inserts or collars, using a monolithic plastic construction and a gasket that maintains its geometry under load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sprinkler is over-torqued to form a fluid tight seal, then the seal reliability is improved, but the sprinkler threads or body may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
A gasket is introduced as an intermediary element between the sprinkler and the plastic fitting. The gasket chamber is designed to compress the gasket axially when the sprinkler is torqued into place, creating a fluid-tight seal without requiring excessive torque on the sprinkler threads themselves. This mediator absorbs the sealing function, protecting the sprinkler threads from damage while ensuring reliable sealing.
2Strength
If the sprinkler is under-torqued to protect the threads, then the thread strength is preserved, but the fluid tight seal may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket serves as a mediator that achieves sealing at lower torque levels. The gasket chamber geometry is specifically designed to compress the gasket effectively when the sprinkler is torqued within safe limits, ensuring the seal forms before thread damage can occur. This allows the system to achieve reliable sealing without exceeding the torque capacity of the sprinkler threads.
3Reliability
If a gasket is compressed laterally inwardly to form a seal, then the fluid tight seal is improved, but the flow characteristics through the fitting are negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket compression is localized to specific sealing surfaces within the gasket chamber, rather than compressing the entire gasket cross-section. The gasket chamber geometry is designed to compress the gasket axially at the sealing interfaces while leaving the central flow passage open. This localized compression approach maintains fluid-tight seals at the interfaces without restricting the flow characteristics through the fitting.
4Ease of manufacture
If plastic fittings are used without metal reinforcements, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability of threaded engagement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The threaded engagement design is optimized for plastic material properties. The threads are designed with appropriate pitch, depth, and engagement length to achieve reliable connection in plastic without requiring metal reinforcement. The gasket chamber and sealing surfaces are also designed to accommodate plastic material behavior under compression, ensuring reliable sealing while maintaining the simplicity of all-plastic construction.
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
The adapter ensures a reliable fluid-tight seal and maintains rated flow characteristics, withstanding high pressures and allowing for proper sprinkler orientation while preventing thread damage, thus enhancing the performance and durability of plastic sprinkler installations.
Implementation Method 1
the gasket is compressed axially without inward distortion so as to maintain the geometry and/or the internal diameter of the gasket
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A two member plastic pipe fitting adapter for installing a threaded sprinkler head. The members are coupled together to form a chamber for housing an annular gasket. The gasket chamber includes an expansion void and bearing surfaces for the gasket. The adapter includes a receptacle with an internal thread for engagement with a sprinkler head to load the gasket and form a fluid tight seal. The engagement between the sprinkler and the adapter is formed by dissimilar threads to minimize the outward radial forces on the adapter.