Telescopic Protective Pipe for Dry Underground Line Components

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective pipe systems for underground fluid lines are prone to failure due to environmental influences like moisture and groundwater, causing operating and measuring components to deteriorate over time, leading to issues such as rusted shut-off valves that cannot function effectively years after installation.

Innovation Solution

A protective pipe system with a telescopic head pipe section and a receiving housing for electrical and electronic circuit parts, ensuring a liquid-tight connection to the fluid line components, which are kept dry and protected from environmental influences, allowing for long-term functionality and easy maintenance or replacement of components without exposing them to earthworks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If control and measuring components are installed underground near fluid lines, then they can detect or control fluid flow, but they are exposed to environmental influences like moisture and groundwater which cause deterioration over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid flow control and detection capabilityVSAvoidcomponent functionality over time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the control and measuring components from the underground environment by providing a protective pipe system that creates a separate, protected space. The components are housed within the protective pipe structure, isolating them from direct contact with moisture and groundwater while maintaining their operational connection to the fluid line through sealed penetrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective pipe system acts as an intermediary structure between the underground components and the harsh environmental conditions. It provides a protective barrier that allows the components to function while shielding them from damaging environmental influences through sealed connections and protective housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If components are sealed in underground protective pipes, then they are protected from environmental influences, but access for maintenance and replacement becomes difficult requiring earthworks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from environmental influencesVSAvoidaccessibility for maintenance and replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The protective pipe system is divided into modular sections with standardized connection elements. This segmentation allows the system to be assembled from separate components and enables individual sections to be accessed or replaced without disturbing the entire installation, facilitating maintenance while maintaining protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates movable or removable components such as telescopic head pipe sections and accessible sealing mechanisms that allow maintenance personnel to access internal components through controlled openings without requiring complete excavation or destruction of the protective structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If a fixed pipe structure is used, then installation is simple, but it cannot accommodate components of different sizes or future upgrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidaccommodation of different component sizes and upgrades
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The protective pipe system incorporates telescopic or adjustable sections that can change length or configuration. The head pipe section can be extended or repositioned to accommodate different component sizes and installation depths, providing adaptability while maintaining the overall simplicity of the pipe structure installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses standardized, universal connection elements and modular components that can interface with various types of fluid line components and electrical components. This universality allows the same protective pipe structure to accommodate different component sizes and types, and enables future upgrades without requiring custom-designed pipe sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3795759B1Protective tube system
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 SCHUTZ LOTHAR
  • EP3795759B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3795759B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3795759B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Protective pipe system consisting of a pipe section (1) with an upper and lower pipe end (10, 11) in the installed position and an electrical and/or fluid line component (2) which is connected to an underground fluid line (3). The lower end (11) of the pipe section is connected to the electrical and/or fluid line component (2) in a fluid-tight manner.