Restrained Pipe Coupling With Dynamic Gripper Units for Thrust Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing restrained couplings for pipes face issues with limited thrust load resistance, working range, and anti-rotation performance, leading to potential leakage and pipe failure due to shifting pipe walls and misalignment.
Innovation Solution
A restrained pipe coupling with a restraining gland assembly featuring radially extendible gripper units and a flanged center sleeve, where the gripper units have angled sliding surfaces and a mechanism to constrain movement, allowing for adjustable positioning and improved grip on the pipe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If radially-extending gripping means are used to grip the pipe wall, then axial resistance to thrust forces is improved, but the device cannot adapt to pipe wall shifts after installation
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping means are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically adjust their position radially in response to pipe wall shifts while maintaining continuous contact and grip force
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping means are divided into multiple independent gripping elements that can move individually, allowing each to adapt to local pipe wall conditions while collectively providing distributed axial resistance
2Device complexity
If gripping means are set in a fixed position at installation, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to pipe diameter variations and shifts is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping means incorporate movable elements that can adjust their radial position dynamically, enabling the same device to accommodate various pipe diameters and shifts without requiring complex pre-positioning mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping means can change their effective engagement parameters (radial position, contact force) in response to varying pipe conditions, allowing adaptation across different pipe diameters and installation scenarios
3Adaptability or versatility
If prior art pipe fittings are used to allow relative movement, then adaptability to pipe shifts is improved, but thrust load resistance and anti-rotation performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping means are designed to move radially to accommodate pipe shifts while maintaining constant contact force, thereby preserving both adaptability and thrust load resistance simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The movable gripping elements act as intermediaries between the fixed coupling body and the pipe wall, absorbing relative movement while transmitting axial thrust forces effectively
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 solution enhances thrust load resistance and anti-rotation performance, maintaining grip and preventing misalignment, as demonstrated by a prototype that withstood higher pressure without failure compared to prior art.
Implementation Method 1
The sliding surfaces of the gripper housing and the gripper body are in slidable contact and angled between 20 and 30 degrees from the axial direction of the annular main body
Data Source
AI summary
A restrained pipe coupling includes a restraining gland assembly having an annular main body with multiple gripper units movably connected to the annular main body. Each gripper unit includes a gripper housing having a bottom sliding surface, a gripper bolt fixedly secured to the gripper housing and radially movable through a gripper opening in the annular main body and fixable at different positions, and a gripper body having a top sliding surface and a bottom gripping surface. The sliding surfaces of the gripper housing and the gripper body are in slidable contact and angled between 20 and 30 degrees from the axial direction of the annular main body.