Polymeric Panel Concrete Wall for Angled Watertight Pipe Passages

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for creating passageways through concrete walls for underground piping are slow, costly, and inflexible, requiring precise drilling at 90-degree angles and separate sealing rings to prevent water penetration.

Innovation Solution

A wall structure comprising a polymeric panel integrated with a cementitious material portion, allowing for easy formation of openings at various angles and providing a watertight connection using pre-welded sockets or spigot ends, eliminating the need for separate sealing rings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If drilling openings through concrete walls at 90 degrees, then passageways can be formed, but the process is slow and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation speedVSAvoidtime for drilling operations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The polymeric panel is pre-formed with openings at various angles before being integrated into the concrete wall. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site drilling operations, allowing installers to simply connect pipes to the pre-formed openings, thereby dramatically reducing installation time and increasing productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of forming openings in the concrete wall after construction (the conventional approach), the invention inverts the sequence by first creating the polymeric panel with openings, then integrating it into the wall. This reversal transforms a post-construction drilling operation into a pre-fabricated solution, significantly improving installation efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If drilling openings at 90 degrees against the wall, then passageways can be formed, but flexibility for different angles is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangle flexibility for piping connectionsVSAvoidease of forming openings
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the angular parameter of openings from the conventional fixed 90-degree orientation to multiple angles (including 45 degrees and other custom angles) by forming openings in the polymeric panel at various orientations before integration. This parameter change provides adaptability for different piping configurations while maintaining ease of connection through simple pipe insertion into the pre-formed openings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If using rubber sealings for pipe connections, then water tightness can be achieved, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater tightness of pipe connectionsVSAvoidcomplexity of sealing installation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the sealing function with the connection structure by integrating a sealing ring directly into the polymeric panel at the opening location. This combination eliminates the need for separate sealing operations and complex assembly steps, allowing pipe connections to be made quickly while maintaining water tightness through the integrated sealing mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3088617B1Wall with a passageway and a method for the production thereof
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 UPONOR INFRA OY
  • EP3088617B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3088617B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wall of a structure comprising moulded cementious material and a method of producing the same. The wall comprises a first portion formed by a panel of a polymeric material, wherein said panel has a passageway formed therein. The first portion is coupled to a second portion of the wall, consisting of the cementitious material. The present passageways can be formed into concrete distribution chambers, wells and culverts. Openings are much more readily formed into the thermoplastic panels than into concrete walls by simple drilling allowing for ease of coupling to underground piping running from and to buildings, such as fresh water pipes, sewage pipes, drainage pipes and septic pipes.