Socket Centering Ribs for Uniform Pipe-to-Socket Welding Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large manufacturing tolerances in plastic parts, such as pipes and chambers, lead to significant gaps when joined, making welding and other attachment methods challenging due to varying dimensions, especially in larger components.
Innovation Solution
A method and assembly for forming a pipe and collecting chamber joint using a socket with a tubular extension featuring centering ribs and stoppers, where the socket is formed by injection or blow molding, ensuring precise alignment and attachment of the pipe within the socket, minimizing the gap and facilitating welding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If standard injection molding or blow molding is used for manufacturing pipes and chambers, then production efficiency and cost-effectiveness are improved, but manufacturing tolerances become wide leading to large gaps between parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating centering ribs and stoppers directly into the socket component during the injection molding or blow molding process. These features are pre-formed as integral parts of the socket, enabling automatic centering and positioning of the spigot before the actual joining operation. This preliminary structuring compensates for dimensional tolerances without requiring post-manufacturing adjustments or specialized equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The centering ribs and stoppers act as intermediary elements between the spigot and socket. The centering ribs provide radial positioning and alignment, while the stoppers define the axial insertion depth. These intermediary features mediate the connection by transforming the loose fit caused by manufacturing tolerances into a precise, repeatable positioning system that ensures consistent gap dimensions for welding.
2Manufacturing precision
If the gap between socket and spigot is reduced to enable successful welding, then joint quality is improved, but the complexity of the socket structure increases due to need for centering mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the socket component: the socket provides both the receiving cavity for the spigot and incorporates the centering ribs and stoppers as integral features. By combining the positioning, alignment, and depth-control functions directly into the socket structure rather than using separate components, the design achieves precise gap control without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The centering ribs and stoppers are strategically positioned at specific locations on the socket inner surface rather than uniformly distributing complexity throughout. The centering ribs are placed at circumferential positions to provide radial alignment, while stoppers are positioned axially to control insertion depth. This localized application of complexity only where needed maintains manufacturing feasibility while achieving the required gap uniformity.
3Manufacturing precision
If centering ribs and stoppers are added to the socket, then centering precision and gap uniformity are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cycle time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The centering ribs and stoppers are pre-formed as integral features of the socket during the initial injection molding or blow molding process. This preliminary incorporation eliminates the need for separate manufacturing steps, assembly operations, or post-processing to install centering components. The features are created simultaneously with the socket body, maintaining production efficiency while achieving precise centering functionality.
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for forming a spigot and socket joint comprising providing a spigot comprising an extension having a circular outer surface with an outer diameter; providing a socket (1) comprising a tubular extension (4) having a circular inner surface (5) with an inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the spigot, the circular inner surface (5) including at least three centering ribs (6) extending therefrom and spaced apart from each other in circumferential direction of the circular inner surface (5) of the socket (1), fitting the extension of the spigot inside the socket (1), and attaching the spigot and socket (1) to each other to form the joint.