Telescoping Anti-Freeze Faucet Coupling for Adjustable Wall Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional anti-freeze faucet assemblies face challenges in accommodating varying exterior wall thicknesses, requiring large inventories and complicating installations, as they lack adjustable length, independent coupling and sealing mechanisms, and visual indication of proper adjustment.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable anti-freeze faucet system with a telescoping mechanism featuring a coupling body and handle that allows for tool-free length adjustment, a sealing mechanism for fluid tightness, and a visual indicator to confirm locked or unlocked states, ensuring secure pipe engagement and fluid sealing regardless of pipe movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional anti-freeze faucets are manufactured with different fixed lengths to accommodate different building exterior wall thicknesses, then various wall thickness requirements are met, but inventory complexity increases and installation becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the static fixed-length faucet design into a dynamic adjustable-length design. The telescoping mechanism with coupling body and coupling handle allows the faucet length to be adjusted after installation, enabling a single faucet model to accommodate various wall thicknesses. This eliminates the need for multiple fixed-length variants and simplifies inventory management while maintaining adaptability to different building exterior wall thicknesses.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional anti-freeze faucets use fixed length designs, then manufacturing is simplified, but installation flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the faucet into two separate telescoping sections (first pipe and second pipe) that can be independently manufactured at standard lengths. These segmented sections are then joined through the coupling mechanism, allowing flexible length adjustment during installation. This segmentation enables simple manufacturing of individual components while providing installation flexibility through post-assembly adjustment.
3Device complexity
If known anti-freeze faucet systems lack independent coupling and sealing mechanisms, then device complexity is reduced, but functionality is limited and visual indication of proper adjustment is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the merging principle by integrating multiple functions into the coupling mechanism. The coupling body and coupling handle work together to simultaneously provide: (1) length adjustment capability, (2) secure locking of pipe sections, (3) fluid sealing between sections, and (4) visual indication of proper adjustment through alignment features. This merging of functions enhances adaptability and functionality while maintaining reasonable device complexity through a unified coupling design.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling mechanism can be used to selectively secure two sections of telescopically engaged pipe in a fixed position relative to each other and provide a fluid (e.g., gas and/or liquid) seal between the coupling mechanism and the two pipes, regardless of whether the pipes are secured in the fixed position or are freely moveable relative to each other. The coupling mechanism can be used as part of a faucet assembly, which can include an adjustable faucet assembly including the telescopically engaged pipe.