Riser Ring Friction Fit for Adjustable Conduit Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing riser clamp systems are bulky, heavy, and costly, requiring significant labor and resources for installation and removal, especially when finishing floors around conduit openings.
Innovation Solution
A riser ring system that uses a slidable friction fit to secure riser pipe segments in place, allowing for adjustable positioning and easy installation without the need for clamps, and can be embedded in finished floors for cost savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heavy duty metal alloy clamps are used to secure the conduit, then the conduit is securely held in place, but the equipment becomes bulky, heavy, and costly with increased labor requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable concrete anchors and plastic expansion devices instead of heavy reusable metal clamps. These inexpensive, single-use components are embedded in the floor to secure the conduit, eliminating the need for bulky, expensive, heavy-duty metal clamp systems while achieving the same security function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical clamp system with a chemical-physical anchoring system using concrete anchors and expansion devices. Instead of using mechanical force from heavy clamps to hold the conduit, the system uses the expansion force of concrete anchors set in holes to securely position the conduit, substituting a different physical mechanism.
2Reliability
If heavy duty metal alloy clamps are used to secure the conduit, then the conduit is securely held in place, but the installation and removal processes require significant labor and time
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable nature of the concrete anchors and plastic expansion devices allows for rapid installation without the need for heavy equipment or complex assembly procedures. The anchors are simply set in pre-drilled holes and allow the conduit to be secured quickly, eliminating the time-consuming process of installing and later removing heavy metal clamps.
Solution Approach 2:
The system requires preliminary drilling of holes in the floor before the conduit is installed, allowing the anchors to be set in advance. This preliminary action simplifies the subsequent installation process, as the securing mechanism is already in place and ready to receive the conduit, reducing overall installation time compared to bringing in and assembling heavy clamps on-site.
3Productivity
If clamps are left in place for simplicity and cost-savings, then labor costs are reduced, but the floor cannot be finished around the conduit
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable anchors and plastic expansion devices are small and unobtrusive compared to large metal clamps. After the conduit is secured, these small components can be easily covered by floor finishing materials such as tile, drywall, or carpet, allowing the floor to be completed around the conduit without removing the securing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing system is divided into separate components: the concrete anchor embedded in the floor, the plastic expansion device, and the conduit mounting bracket. This segmentation allows the floor finishing work to proceed independently around the small anchor points, whereas a single large clamp would block the entire area and prevent proper floor finishing.
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 riser ring system provides a cost-effective, efficient, and labor-saving solution for securing conduits during installation, maintenance, and repair, while allowing for easy adjustment and embedding in finished floors.
Implementation Method 1
The riser ring and the riser pipe segment are engaged via a friction fit
Data Source
AI summary
A system for and a method of preventing a conduit, pipe, or other similar traversing piece of equipment, from falling through an opening, and for facilitating ready adjustment of the traversing piece of equipment during installation, maintenance, and/or repair services. A first embodiment may involve a single-component system or a multi-component system. A second embodiment may involve a multi-component system for and method of effectively increasing the diameter of a conduit or pipe to an amount greater than that of an opening, but in a way such that the conduit or pipe can be adjustably extended without need for disengaging the system or back-tracking/reversing the method. A third embodiment may involve an annular riser ring and method of use thereof, wherein the riser ring is configured to slide over a conduit or pipe and is held in place along the pipe or conduit by a tight but slidable friction fit.