Sprinkler Protector Assembly with Tearing Sections
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sprinkler assembly protection devices fail to protect the underground portion of sprinkler systems from damage caused by dirt, roots, harsh weather conditions, and accidental damage, leading to frequent malfunctions and increased maintenance costs for homeowners.
Innovation Solution
A sprinkler assembly protector with a receptacle and lid design that allows for easy installation around buried or partially buried sprinkler assemblies, featuring tearing-facilitating sections for adjustable fit and drainage holes to prevent dirt and water accumulation, made from lightweight plastic materials to provide protection from damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid sprinkler donuts or crowns are installed around sprinkler heads, then above ground sprinkler heads are protected from bending or breaking, but the underground portion of the sprinkler assembly remains unprotected
Solution Approach 1:
The protection device is divided into multiple functional segments: an upper protective collar for above-ground portions, a lower protective collar for underground portions, and a midsection connecting them. This segmentation allows each segment to address specific protection needs at different locations of the sprinkler assembly, thereby achieving both localized effectiveness and overall coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection device extends protection from a single horizontal plane (traditional donuts) to a vertical dimension by incorporating both upper and lower collars connected by a midsection. This dimensional extension allows the device to protect both above-ground and underground portions of the sprinkler assembly simultaneously, resolving the limitation of previous single-plane protection devices.
2Reliability
If the receptacle is made to fit tightly around the sprinkler assembly, then protection effectiveness is improved, but installation difficulty increases due to size variations
Solution Approach 1:
The midsection of the protective device incorporates telescoping or expandable elements that allow the structure to dynamically adjust its dimensions. During installation, the midsection can be expanded to accommodate sprinkler assemblies of varying sizes, and then contracted or stabilized to provide a tight fit for protection. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between achieving a tight protective fit and accommodating size variations for easy installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective device utilizes materials or structural features that allow parameter changes in size and shape. The midsection can be manufactured with expandable joints, slotted connections, or memory metal components that enable the structure to change its dimensional parameters during installation to fit different sprinkler assembly sizes, then maintain a snug fit for effective protection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If drainage holes are added to the receptacle, then water accumulation is prevented, but structural strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Drainage holes are strategically positioned in specific locations on the receptacle where they provide maximum drainage benefit with minimum impact on structural strength. The holes are concentrated in areas that are less critical for load-bearing, such as the lower portions of the upper collar or non-stress areas of the midsection, while maintaining integrity in high-stress regions. This localized placement resolves the contradiction between drainage effectiveness and structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacle is constructed using composite materials or material combinations that provide both drainage functionality and structural strength. For example, the receptacle may use high-density polyethylene with reinforced ribs or incorporate metal reinforcement around drainage openings. These composite constructions allow the presence of drainage holes while maintaining sufficient structural strength to provide effective protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A sprinkler assembly protector including a receptacle for receiving a sprinkler assembly and a lid for covering the receptacle. The receptacle includes a base and at least one sidewall together defining an internal space. The sidewall has sidewall punchouts for making small openings in the sidewalls, and concentric tearing-facilitating sections for enlarging the openings to allow a water supply line to pass through the sidewalls into the internal space. The lid has a lid opening for allowing the sprinkler assembly to pass through. The lid can be formed with tearing-facilitating sections to facilitate enlarging the lid opening. Drainage holes can be formed on the base and/or a bottom portion of the sidewall to prevent water from accumulating inside the receptacle.