Internal Sealing Sleeve Retaining Element Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional adhesive tapes used to fix inner sealing sleeves for pipe leaks are sensitive to heat and can cause unintended expansion before installation, and are aesthetically unpleasing.
Innovation Solution
A tubular, expandable band with overlapping end parts and plastic holding elements, where each pair of openings contains a retaining element that securely fixes the band parts together, preventing early expansion and being insensitive to temperature fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive tape is used to fix the folded band, then the inner seal sleeve can be held in its folded state, but the adhesive tape becomes elastic when hot and may tear, causing unintended expansion before installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the fixation element from temperature-sensitive adhesive tape to temperature-insensitive plastic retaining elements. These retaining elements maintain their mechanical properties across temperature variations, eliminating the heat sensitivity problem while providing reliable fixation of the folded band during storage and transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining elements are designed as simple, inexpensive plastic components that are pressed into openings in the folded band. They serve their fixation purpose reliably and can be easily removed or break during expansion, replacing the need for reusable adhesive tape while providing superior temperature resistance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If adhesive tape is used to fix the folded band, then the inner seal sleeve can be held in its folded state, but the adhesive tape looks ugly on the inner seal sleeves
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining elements are strategically positioned at specific locations where the band is folded, providing fixation only where needed. This localized approach maintains the folded state stability while minimizing visual impact, as the retaining elements are concentrated at discrete points rather than covering the entire surface with visible adhesive tape.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the fixation function from the visible surface (adhesive tape) and relocates it to discrete retaining elements pressed into openings. This separation allows the majority of the inner seal sleeve surface to remain clean and aesthetically pleasing, with fixation elements hidden or minimized at specific locations.
3Reliability
If the holding element body has a larger diameter than the openings, then the holding element cannot be simply removed, but insertion into the openings becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining elements are designed with elastic plastic material that allows dynamic deformation during insertion. The material can be compressed to fit through the openings and then springs back to its original larger diameter, providing secure fixation while maintaining ease of insertion through temporary elastic deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining elements utilize plastic material that combines the properties of structural integrity (larger diameter for security) with elastic deformability (for easy insertion). This composite material behavior allows the element to be inserted by compressing it temporarily and then expanding to lock in place, achieving both insertion ease and fixation security.
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 provides a secure, heat-resistant fixation that prevents unintentional expansion, ensuring controlled expansion and a clean deployment process, while being visually unobtrusive.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient locking bar engaging in its teeth
Implementation Method 2
The holding element is pressed into the openings. This keeps it firmly in the openings
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Seal internal sleeve (1) for insertion into tubes in order to seal leaks therein, having a strip (2) which is tubular, bent together and can be widened, whose end-side strip parts (3, 4) at least partially overlap in the circumferential direction (6) in an overlap region (5), characterized by the following further features: • each of the end-side strip parts (3, 4) has at least one opening (7, 8), • each opening (7) of one of the end-side strip parts (4) at least partially overlaps an opening (8) of the respective other strip part (3) and forms at least one pair of openings (7, 8), • a retaining element (9) is arranged in each pair of openings (7, 8).