Reversible Closure Fitting for Containment Piping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure fittings for containment conduits are difficult to assemble and permanently attach, making it challenging to access carrier conduits for repairs or modifications, and they require complex cementing or welding processes.
Innovation Solution
A closure fitting comprising two cylindrical hollow bodies with reversible seals that allow axial movement and easy separation, enabling fluid-tight sealing and easy access to carrier conduits between containment conduit sections, without the need for permanent attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior art closure fittings are used with simultaneous cementing or welding, then the containment conduit sections are sealed, but the assembly process becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The closure fitting is divided into two separate halves that can be assembled independently and then joined together. This segmentation allows each half to be installed separately on the containment conduit sections, eliminating the need for complex simultaneous cementing or welding operations while maintaining reliable sealing through the joining mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure fitting incorporates a reversible joining mechanism that transitions from a locked state (when joined) to an unlocked state (when separated). This dynamic feature allows the fitting to be easily assembled and disassembled multiple times, significantly reducing assembly difficulty while maintaining seal integrity when closed.
2Reliability
If prior art closure fittings are permanently attached, then the seal is reestablished, but access to carrier conduits requires cutting away the fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The closure fitting employs a reversible joining mechanism that can be easily unlocked and opened, allowing carrier conduits to be accessed for maintenance without damaging the fitting. The dynamic nature of the connection enables multiple open/close cycles while maintaining seal integrity when closed, eliminating the need to cut away the fitting for repairs.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows the closure fitting to be repeatedly opened and closed for maintenance operations. Instead of being permanently attached and discarded after one use, the fitting can be recovered and reused multiple times, reducing waste and maintenance costs while preserving seal integrity throughout its service life.
3Reliability
If complex cementing or welding processes are used, then the containment sections are sealed, but the process time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the closure fitting into two separable halves with standardized joining interfaces, the assembly process is simplified into discrete steps that can be performed quickly without requiring time-consuming cementing or welding operations. The segmented design maintains sealing reliability through precision-machined interfaces and sealing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces chemical bonding processes (cementing) or thermal processes (welding) with a mechanical joining system. This substitution dramatically reduces assembly time and process complexity while maintaining equivalent or superior sealing reliability through the mechanical interlock and sealing mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A closure fitting for enclosing a portion of one or more carrier conduits between a first containment conduit section and an opposed second containment conduit section has: (a) a first cylindrical hollow body; (b) a second cylindrical hollow body, the second body being reversibly attached in fluid tight communication to the first body; (c) a first seal for sealing the first body to the first containment conduit section and a second seal for sealing the second body to the second containment conduit section, wherein and (d) a third seal for reversibly sealing the first body to the second body. In the invention, at least one of the first or second seals allows one of the bodies to axially move with respect to its containment conduit section.