Split Surrounding Member Seals Pipe Wall Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
In buildings where pipes extend into walls, gaps often form between the pipe and the wall aperture, leading to reduced energy efficiency due to moisture and air leakage, and existing methods like pointing with mortar are costly and prone to poor finishing.
Innovation Solution
A surrounding member comprising a rigid plastics ring with a flexible rubber collar, featuring a split design and clip mechanism for easy installation around pipes, providing a seal without the need for mortar by extending into the wall aperture and using an adhesive foam for a tight fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pointing or applying mortar is used to fill the gap, then the gap is sealed, but the process incurs cost and labour and is prone to poor finishing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a disposable foam material that is inserted into the gap and then expands to fill it. This foam is designed to be single-use and is discarded after serving its purpose of sealing the gap, eliminating the need for complex mortar application processes and skilled labor while providing a reliable seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam material undergoes a parameter change by expanding after insertion. This expansion transforms the foam from a compact insertable form to a voluminous sealing mass that fills the gap completely, providing an effective seal without requiring complex application techniques or skilled finishing work.
2Ease of operation
If the gap is left open, then installation is simple, but moisture and air pass through reducing energy efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The foam is pre-positioned in the gap during installation in a compact state. The preliminary action of inserting the foam insert maintains installation simplicity, while the subsequent expansion automatically provides the energy-efficient seal without requiring additional operations or compromising ease of installation.
3Strength
If a rigid seal is used around the pipe, then structural strength is provided, but it cannot accommodate pipe movement or installation variations
Solution Approach 1:
The foam material changes its physical parameters by expanding after insertion. This expansion allows the foam to adapt to various pipe diameters and gap sizes while maintaining contact and providing a strong seal. The material's ability to change volume and shape provides both the needed adaptability and structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam acts as a flexible sealing medium that can deform and conform to the irregular shapes of the gap and pipe surface. This flexibility allows the foam to accommodate pipe movement and installation variations while still providing a strong, continuous seal around the pipe.
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 effectively seals gaps around pipes, enhancing energy efficiency by preventing air and water leakage, reducing installation costs and time, and providing a quick, safe, and aesthetically pleasing solution for plumbers to fit without requiring a bricklayer's service.
Implementation Method 1
using an adhesive foam for a tight fit
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A surrounding member for a pipe, the surrounding member having a rigid ring section (1) and a flexible flange section (2). The ring section and the flange section have a cut therethrough to permit the member to be located around a pipe in-situ.