Tracer Wire Connector Pod with Living Hinge and Sealant Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tracer wires used to locate underground non-electrical conductors like plastic pipes are difficult to detect from above ground, necessitating an effective method to connect and seal tracer wires for easy detection.
Innovation Solution
A tracer wire connector kit with a pod shell and sealant chamber, featuring a shoulder to prevent displacement and a living hinge for easy alignment, allowing the tracer wire connector and junction to be encapsulated with sealant, forming a protective pod shell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tracer wires are connected underground without a protective enclosure, then the connection process is simple and quick, but the connection is vulnerable to displacement and environmental damage
Solution Approach 1:
The tracer wire connector is nested within a protective pod enclosure that can be collapsed around the connector after installation. The pod contains a sealant chamber that encapsulates the connector and tracer wire junction, providing protection without requiring a complex pre-assembled unit. This nested structure allows simple installation followed by protective encapsulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective system is divided into separate components: the tracer wire connector, the pod enclosure, the sealant chamber, and the living hinge mechanism. This segmentation allows the connector to be installed independently and then protected by the collapsible pod, reducing the complexity of the initial connection while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If a rigid protective enclosure is used to protect the tracer wire connector, then the connector is well-protected, but the installation process becomes time-consuming and difficult to align
Solution Approach 1:
The pod enclosure transitions from an open state during installation to a closed state for protection. The living hinge enables the pod to be collapsed around the installed connector, providing dynamic protection that is easy to apply but robust when closed. This dynamic structure eliminates alignment difficulties while maintaining protective reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pod enclosure acts as a flexible shell that can be collapsed around the connector using the living hinge mechanism. This flexible approach allows easy installation and alignment while providing rigid protection once closed, combining the benefits of both flexible and rigid structures.
3Reliability
If the tracer wire connector is permanently fixed in the pod, then the connector is securely positioned, but the connector cannot be removed for repairs or replacements
Solution Approach 1:
The pod is designed with a removable cover or access mechanism that allows the connector to be accessed, removed, or replaced without destroying the entire protective structure. The preliminary design of the pod includes features such as snap-fit covers or hinged access points that maintain positioning reliability while enabling future maintenance.
4Reliability
If sealant is applied generously to ensure complete sealing, then the waterproof seal is reliable, but excess sealant creates mess and requires additional cleanup
Solution Approach 1:
The sealant is confined to specific locations within the pod, such as grooves, channels, or designated sealing zones. The pod structure includes features like sealant retention walls or applicator ridges that direct sealant only where needed for creating waterproof seals. This localized application ensures reliable sealing while minimizing excess sealant and cleanup requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables secure and detectable underground systems by forming a waterproof seal around tracer wire connections, facilitating the location of underground pipes using electrical current detection.
Implementation Method 1
enabling the tracer wire connector and the tracer wire junction to be encapsulated with a sealant by bringing the pods into mating engagement to form a pod shell about the tracer wire connector
Implementation Method 2
a living hinge may be used to hold the pods proximate each other and to align the pods so they may be quickly folded about the tracer wire connector to form a protective pod shell
Implementation Method 3
A feature of the invention may include a shoulder which is placed in the pod to coact with the tracer wire connector to inhibit accidental displacement of the tracer wire junction by restraining axial movement of the tracer wire connector
Implementation Method 4
By knowing the existence of the tracer wire proximate the underground pipe allows one to locate the pipe by passing electrical current through the tracer wire and sensing the electrical field with an above ground detector
Data Source
AI summary
A ready to use tracer wire connector kit comprising a pod and cover that can be mated together around a tracer wire connector that can be retained in the pod or removed from the pod as the tracer wires are joined therein with the pod and cover encapsulating and protecting the junction of tracer wires in the tracer wire connector and a method and system wherein underground difficult to detect devices and systems can be indirectly located.