Spherical Spin-Weld Pipe Fitting for Misalignment-Tolerant Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spin weld joint designs in fire sprinkler systems are prone to leaks if the two halves are not perfectly aligned during the joining process, compromising joint integrity and leading to potential water leaks, especially when the connection is partially out of sight and above a ceiling.
Innovation Solution
The use of spherical-shaped halves for the spin welding process ensures a leakproof connection by maintaining a large degree of simultaneous contact and alignment tolerance, allowing for angular misalignment up to 75 degrees, effectively capturing the gasket between the two sections and preventing water impeded delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional spin weld joint designs are used, then the joining process is simple, but the joint integrity is compromised and leaks occur when alignment is not perfect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spheroidality by replacing conventional flat or cylindrical spin weld surfaces with spherical surfaces. The first and second sections each have a spherical outer and inner surface respectively, allowing angular misalignment up to 75 degrees while maintaining simultaneous contact across the welding interface. This curvature enables the joint to accommodate misalignment without compromising integrity, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing precision requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If spherical-shaped halves are used for spin welding, then alignment tolerance increases significantly, but the complexity of manufacturing spherical surfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical surfaces serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide the welding interface, accommodate angular misalignment, and guide the joining process. This multi-functionality justifies the manufacturing complexity by eliminating the need for separate alignment mechanisms or features, as the spherical geometry inherently provides all necessary functions in a single integrated form.
3Ease of operation
If the two halves are not perfectly aligned during joining, then installation is more flexible, but the connection becomes leak-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical geometry of both sections enables the joint to accommodate angular misalignment of up to 75 degrees while maintaining simultaneous contact across the welding interface. This curvature allows installers to connect sections without precise alignment (improving ease of operation) while the spherical contact surfaces ensure complete fusion and leakproof sealing (maintaining reliability), directly resolving this contradiction.
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 spherical spin welding design creates a strong, leakproof connection that maintains the gasket's position, ensuring a watertight seal even with significant angular misalignment, thus preventing property damage from leaks in fire sprinkler systems.
Implementation Method 1
Friction welding is a practice of assembling two parts constructed of similar materials by holding the two parts together and by rubbing them against each other until they melt
Implementation Method 2
The process of rubbing the two parts together is most commonly performed by rotating one part against the other part. This is also known as spin welding
Implementation Method 3
The two parts are then held after melting until the two melted parts cool. After the two melted parts have cooled, they become completely fused
Implementation Method 4
The two parts are then held after melting until the two melted parts cool. After the two melted parts have cooled, they become completely fused
Data Source
AI summary
A two-piece connection between a supply pipe from a source of water and a connection to a fire sprinkler with the connector having a first or rear section entirely above a ceiling and a second or front section connected to the first section with the connection entirely above a ceiling and the forward portion of second section connected to the fire sprinkler. The first connector section, located entirely above a ceiling, has a spherical male sidewall with a rounded leading edge and a rear portion of the second connector section has a spherical female interior surface.