Three Piece Pipe Coupling Segmented Housing Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical couplings for joining pipe segments often require complex installation due to torque requirements and accessibility issues, especially when the housing segments need to be deformed to form a fluid-tight seal.
Innovation Solution
A preassembled coupling with a three-part housing and an annular gasket member, where the housing segments have identical radii of curvature, allowing for easy insertion and sealing without deformation of either the coupling or the pipe segments, using bolt assemblies to pivot and locate the engagement surfaces for a fluid-tight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If housing segments are deformed to conform to the pipe segment outer surface, then a fluid-tight seal is formed, but installation becomes difficult and complex due to high torque requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple segments that can be independently positioned and assembled. This segmentation allows the housing to be opened for easy pipe insertion and then closed to form the seal, eliminating the need for high-torque deformation operations during installation
Solution Approach 2:
The housing segments are designed with movable joints that allow dynamic opening and closing. The segments can be positioned in an open configuration during installation and then closed to engage the pipe, transforming the static deformation process into a dynamic assembly process that requires minimal torque
2Strength
If housing segments are deformed to engage the pipe segment, then a close engagement is formed, but accessibility of fasteners is affected
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the housing, the fasteners are distributed across multiple accessible locations rather than being concentrated in hard-to-reach areas. Each segment can be independently accessed and secured, improving fastener accessibility while maintaining engagement strength
Solution Approach 2:
The housing segments are pre-configured with fastener locations that are accessible before the coupling is installed on the pipe. This preliminary arrangement of fasteners allows for easy assembly and disassembly without requiring deformation operations that would compromise accessibility
3Ease of operation
If the radius of curvature of arcuate surfaces is greater than the pipe outer surface radius, then pipe insertion is facilitated, but housing deformation is required to form a seal
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented housing design allows the arcuate surfaces to maintain a larger radius of curvature for easy pipe insertion, while the segments themselves close around the pipe to form the seal. This eliminates the need for material deformation, as the segmentation allows geometric adaptation without structural deformation
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic opening and closing of housing segments allows the arcuate surfaces to present a large radius during insertion and then close to form a tight seal, achieving both easy insertion and effective sealing without requiring the housing material to deform
Data Source
AI summary
A preassembled pipe coupling and method for joining pipe segments in an end-to-end relationship. The coupling (100) includes three identical housing segments (110) joined end to end. Each housing segment (110) includes a pipe engagement surface defining a radius of curvature. The radii of curvature of the three housing segments (110) are identical. The third housing segment is connected to the first and second housing segments to define a first configuration and a second configuration of the coupling, in which the radii of curvatures are the same in the first and second configurations. In the first configuration, the three housing segments (110) are radially located about an annular gasket (400) to permit insertion of the pipe segment into the gasket (400). In the second configuration, the three housing segments are radially located about the annular gasket such that the gasket is compressed to form a fluid tight seal and the pipe engagement surfaces engage the outer surface of the pipe segment.