Threaded Sealing Sleeve for Leak-Tested Water Pipe Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for installing water pipes in passages through walls, particularly pre-walls, face challenges in ensuring a tight seal and stability, as conventional sealing sleeves are installed before leak testing, preventing adequate control of connections and providing insufficient stabilization for water pipes, leading to potential leaks and instability of sanitary fittings.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a sealing plug with an external thread for screwing into a connecting piece and a sealing sleeve with an internal thread matching the plug's external thread, allowing for leak testing before sealing sleeve installation, which stabilizes the water pipe and facilitates thermal insulation by using an insulating sleeve.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sealing sleeves are installed before leak testing, then the expansion joint is protected during installation, but adequate inspection of the connection cannot be performed and the sealing effectiveness cannot be verified

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidleak testing accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the sealing function into two distinct components: a sealing plug that enables leak testing and an expansion joint collar that provides final sealing. The sealing plug is installed first for leak testing, then the expansion joint collar is added afterward, allowing sequential fulfillment of testing and sealing requirements without interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing plug serves as a preliminary sealing component that enables leak testing before the final expansion joint collar is installed. This preliminary action allows verification of connection integrity while maintaining the option to install the final sealing component afterward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If sealing sleeves are installed before leak testing, then the expansion joint is protected, but the connection stabilization during use is insufficient causing sanitary fittings to wobble

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection sealVSAvoidsanitary fitting stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a static sealing approach to a dynamic, multi-stage installation process. The sealing plug provides initial stability for leak testing, then the expansion joint collar is installed to provide final stabilization. This dynamic sequence ensures both sealing effectiveness and fitting stability are achieved at appropriate stages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If no sealing sleeve is used, then the installation process is simpler, but the gap between the tap extension and wall cannot be sealed and thermal insulation is difficult to apply

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation processVSAvoidgap sealing
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing plug acts as an intermediary component that bridges the gap between the connection fitting and the wall. It provides a standardized interface that enables both sealing and thermal insulation functions while maintaining relative simplicity in the installation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If the sealing plug is removed and tap extension is connected, then the pipe can be installed, but potential leaks cannot be immediately detected and water damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation speedVSAvoidleak detection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing plug enables preliminary leak testing to be performed before the final tap extension is installed. This preliminary action allows detection and correction of potential leaks while maintaining the ability to proceed with installation, thereby balancing productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3862495B1System, sealing sleeve and method for preparing an assembly of a water pipe
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 VIEGA TECHNOLOGY GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3862495B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3862495B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3862495B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a system for preparing the installation of a water pipe in the area of ​​a penetration through a wall layer, in particular a partition wall, wherein a connection fitting (12) is provided for connecting the water pipe, with a sealing plug (16) for temporarily sealing the connection fitting (12) watertight and with a sealing sleeve (30) that can be mounted on the connection fitting (12) in a sealing manner, wherein the sealing sleeve (30) has at least partially an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the sealing plug (16), wherein the sealing plug (16) has an external thread (18) at the end facing the connection fitting (12) for screwing into an internal thread (20) of the connection fitting (12) and wherein the sealing sleeve (30) has a sealing agent (32) for sealing contact on the outside of the connection fitting (12).The technical problem of further improving the installation of water pipes when using pre-wall technology is solved by providing the sealing plug (16) with an external thread (40) at the end facing away from the connection fitting (12) and the sealing sleeve (30) with an internal thread (42) at the end facing away from the connection fitting (12), matching the external thread (40) of the sealing plug (16). The invention also relates to a sealing plug, a sealing sleeve, and a method.