Proofing Manifold Air Jet for Innerduct Obstruction Checks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Buried innerduct/microducts often have obstructions post-installation, necessitating a quick and efficient method to determine their integrity.

Innovation Solution

A proofing manifold and method involving a proofing air jet with a hollow elongated body, pressurized air inlet, and string inlet, where pressurized air is used to blow a string through the innerduct/microduct to check for obstructions, with the air outlet opposing the suction inlet and a connector for the innerduct/microduct.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If traditional manual inspection methods are used to check innerduct/microduct integrity, then the inspection process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive, but the equipment complexity and cost are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection timeVSAvoidproofing device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs pneumatic principles by using pressurized air to blow string through the innerduct/microduct. The proofing air jet device delivers high-velocity air streams that propel the string through the duct system, enabling rapid integrity verification without complex mechanical or electronic inspection equipment. This pneumatic approach dramatically reduces inspection time while keeping the device relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The string acts as an intermediary object that carries information about duct integrity. By blowing the string through the duct using pressurized air, the system indirectly tests for obstructions and integrity issues. The string's passage (or failure to pass) provides evidence of the duct's condition without requiring direct measurement or complex sensing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If pressurized air is used to blow string through the innerduct/microduct, then obstruction detection speed increases, but the risk of damaging the duct or string increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproofing speedVSAvoidduct damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The proofing air jet device uses dynamic, adjustable pressurized air streams rather than static high pressure. The air pressure and flow rate can be controlled and modulated to match the specific requirements of different duct sizes and lengths. This dynamic approach allows rapid string propulsion while maintaining pressure levels that minimize damage risk to the duct and string.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system adjusts key parameters such as air pressure, flow rate, and jet duration based on the specific innerduct/microduct being tested. By optimizing these parameters for each testing scenario, the system achieves high productivity in proving duct integrity while keeping harmful effects to a minimum through controlled, rather than maximum, force application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a simple proofing device is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to clear obstructions and verify integrity effectively is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproofing device structureVSAvoidobstruction clearance effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The relatively simple proofing air jet device leverages pneumatic power to achieve effective obstruction clearance. The high-velocity pressurized air streams generated by the device are sufficient to propel string through even obstructed ducts, demonstrating that simple pneumatic mechanisms can maintain high reliability for integrity verification without requiring complex mechanical clearing tools or multiple device components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

Facilitates rapid and effective clearance of obstructions by ensuring the string can penetrate the entire length of the innerduct/microduct, indicating its integrity and readiness for further installations like optical fiber placement.

Implementation Method 1

a pressurized air inlet into the body between the air outlet and the suction inlet, the pressurized air inlet being angled with respect to the hollow elongated body to flow pressurized air in a direction from the pressurized air inlet to the air outlet and provide a suction at the suction inlet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressurized air flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11608234B2Method of proofing an innerduct/microduct and proofing manifold

Publication Date: 2023.03.21 CCIIP LLC

AI summary

A proofing air jet having a hollow elongated body having an air outlet and a suction inlet, the air outlet opposing the suction inlet, a pressurized air inlet into the body between the air outlet and the suction inlet, the pressurized air inlet being angled with respect to the hollow elongated body to flow pressurized air in a direction from the pressurized air inlet to the air outlet and provide a suction at the suction inlet, the air outlet having an innerduct/microduct connector for connecting to an opening of the innerduct/microduct, and the suction inlet having a string inlet configured to accept string. A plurality of the proofing air jets can be connected to a manifold.