Wall Bend Fixture Assembly for Sealed Pipe Routing Through Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wall bend fixtures for pipe installations in structures face challenges such as leakage risks and strength degradation of pipes due to bending, which complicates the installation process and inspection, especially in moisture-barrier environments like bathrooms.
Innovation Solution
A wall bend fixture with a housing that includes a conduit for guiding the pipe assembly, featuring a locking member to secure the outer pipe and a sealing member to prevent leakage, allowing the inner pipe to be bent without compromising the outer pipe's strength, and a retainer system for clamping to the structure without drilling through moisture barriers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the inner pipe is bent by 90° to bring it out through the wallboard, then the need for water coupling inside the wall is eliminated and inspection is easier, but the strength of the pipe may be affected increasing leakage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is divided into a bent portion and a straight portion, allowing the inner pipe to be bent only in the bent portion while the outer pipe remains straight in the straight portion. This segmentation enables the inner pipe to change direction without compromising the structural integrity of the outer pipe, thus maintaining reliability while achieving the desired routing.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall bend fixture acts as an intermediary device that receives the pipe assembly through the wallboard and guides it through a pre-formed bent conduit. This intermediary structure absorbs the bending stress, preventing direct stress on the pipe connections and reducing leakage risk while enabling easy installation through the wall.
2Ease of manufacture
If a wall box is used with water coupling inside the wall, then installation is simpler without bending pipes, but the risk of leakage inside the wall increases and the water coupling becomes difficult to inspect
Solution Approach 1:
The water coupling function is extracted from the interior of the wall and relocated to the exterior side of the wallboard. The wall bend fixture provides access to the pipe assembly from the outside, eliminating the need for internal water couplings and thereby removing the source of potential leakage and inspection difficulties within the wall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of bringing the water coupling inside the wall as in conventional wall boxes, this invention inverts the approach by providing access to the pipe assembly from the outside through the wall bend fixture. This inversion allows inspection and maintenance without penetrating the wall interior, thus eliminating internal leakage risks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If both pipes of the pipe assembly are bent during installation, then the pipe can be routed through the wall, but the strength of the tubes is affected which is problematic from a leakage point of view
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is segmented into regions where the inner pipe is bent (bent portion) and where the outer pipe remains straight (straight portion). This segmentation allows the inner pipe to achieve the necessary routing flexibility through bending while the outer pipe maintains its structural strength in the straight section, preventing leakage.
4Ease of operation
If a large opening is made in the wallboard to install the wall box, then the wall box can be mounted inside the wall, but the structural integrity of the wall is compromised and the opening is larger than necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting function is extracted from the interior wall mounting approach to an exterior clamping approach. The wall bend fixture is clamped to the exterior surface of the wallboard, eliminating the need for large interior openings and preserving wall structural integrity while maintaining ease of mounting.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wall bend fixture (1) for installing a pipe assembly (2) in a structure (3) and guide an inner pipe (4) of the pipe assembly through the structure from a first side (5) to an outlet side (6), comprising: - a housing (7) defining a conduit (8) for guiding the pipe assembly, the conduit comprising: ∘ a first end portion (9) to be located at the first side when mounted, comprising a first opening (11) for receiving the pipe assembly, ∘ a second end portion (10) to be located at the second side when mounted, comprising a second opening (12) for delivering the inner pipe, ∘ a bent portion (13) extending between the first and the second end portions, - a locking member (14) for mechanically locking an outer pipe (15) of the pipe assembly within the conduit, - a sealing member (16) for providing a seal between the outer pipe and an inner wall (17) of the housing in the first end portion of the conduit.