Sprinkler Articulated Joint With Pin-Lock Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing articulated joints for sprinkler systems face issues with maintaining a precise and constant inclination angle over time due to vibrations and water hammers, offering limited angular adjustment ranges and poor durability, leading to potential liquid leakage and increased risk of mechanical failure.
Innovation Solution
The articulated joint features a fixed and movable tubular body design with a transverse axis hinge, sealed by O-rings for liquid tightness, and adjustable plate-like members with pins and screws for precise inclination angle adjustment within a wide range (0° to 50°), ensuring stability and compact size with high impact strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a threaded shaft is used to continuously adjust the inclination angle, then the adjustment range is improved, but the stability deteriorates due to pulling forces from vibrations and water hammers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a hybrid adjustment mechanism where a threaded shaft enables continuous dynamic adjustment of the inclination angle, while a locking mechanism with pins and holes provides static stabilization at selected positions. This combines the advantages of continuous adjustability with resistance to pulling forces from vibrations and water hammers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces pins and holes as intermediary elements between the threaded shaft and the tubular bodies. These pins engage with holes at specific positions along the threaded shaft's path, acting as mediators that prevent the shaft from rotating under pulling forces while allowing it to be adjusted to different positions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If discrete adjustment with pins and holes is used, then the stability is improved, but the adjustment range is limited and intermediate values require manual slot displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines discrete pin-and-hole positioning with a movable slot that can be manually displaced. The slot provides a guide path that allows the pin to engage at multiple discrete positions along a continuous arc, thereby extending the adjustment range beyond what fixed holes would provide while maintaining stabilization at each position.
3Ease of operation
If the appendix is placed on the upper portion for adjustment, then the adjustment function is achieved, but the overall dimensions increase and the risk of accidental impacts increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the adjustment mechanism (appendix with holes) on the upper portion of the tubular body, the patent inverts the arrangement by locating the holes on the lower portion or side of the body. The pin extends upward to engage with the threaded shaft, thereby achieving the adjustment function while keeping the main body compact and reducing the risk of accidental impacts to the adjustment elements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If sliding tubular portions are used for adjustment, then the adjustment range is achieved, but the durability deteriorates due to wear affecting fluid tightness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the adjustment mechanism into distinct functional components: a threaded shaft for angular adjustment, pins for positional locking, and holes for engagement. This segmentation eliminates the need for sliding tubular portions, thereby preventing wear-related deterioration of fluid tightness while maintaining the adjustment range through the threaded shaft's rotation.
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3A~4
Figure 5A~6
AI summary
An articulated joint for connection between a liquid supply line and a barrel (P) of a sprinkler (J), comprising a fixed tubular body (2) adapted to be connected to the supply line (A); a movable tubular body (3) adapted to be coupled to the fixed tubular body (2) and to be connected to the barrel (P); wherein each body (2, 3) has at least one curved end portion (1 1, 12) having the same curvature, wherein one of these curved ends slidingly fits into the other curved end portion with sealing means (13) interposed therebetween; and wherein, once said tubular bodies (2, 3) have been coupled, they define a common plane of curvature (ττ) and are hinged to each other about a transverse axis (T) that is substantially perpendicular to said plane of curvature (ττ) to allow relative inclination thereof; means (24) are also provided for adjusting the relative inclination angle (a), which comprise at least one plate-like member (25) substantially parallel to the plane (ττ) and laterally secured to one of the bodies (2, 3), the plate-like member (25) being formed with a plurality of through holes (30) for receiving a first pin (31 ) that can be fitted into at least one seat (32) formed on the other body (2, 3) for selectively locking said relative inclination angle (a).