SEALING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ITS MANUFACTURING AND PIPELINE SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sealing device for sealing a pipeline arrangement, which has two pipeline units having a pipeline central axis and a clamping device, wherein a pipeline unit comprises a pipeline having a pipeline outer surface, a pipeline end face and a pipeline outer diameter and a pipe socket having a pipe socket inner diameter, and the pipe socket has a flange section having a flange section end face and a pipe section having a pipe section inner surface, and wherein the clamping device axially clamps the flange sections of the pipe sockets of the two pipeline units together, wherein the sealing device, in its position of use, has a seal arranged axially between the flange section end faces of the pipe sockets.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a piping system.

[0003] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a sealing device for sealing a pipeline arrangement.

[0004] Sealing devices in a wide variety of designs, particularly in the form of O-rings, have long been part of the state of the art. The disadvantage of these sealing devices is that they become brittle over time, and seal-specific information on the sealing surface of the sealing device is no longer identifiable, making tracking this information extremely difficult.

[0005] EP 2 138 744 A1 discloses a sealing device, particularly designed as a polymer seal, for sealing two components. A sensor is arranged on the sealing device. The sensor detects, for example, temperature, pressure, acceleration, etc., and the measured data is stored and subsequently readable, for example, via radio frequency identification (RFID).

[0006] WO 2010 / 036388 A1 describes a sealing device with a seal, for example for sealing a pipeline arrangement.

[0007] EP 2 242 004 A1 describes a method in which a data carrier is encased in an injection-moldable material, in particular a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

[0008] US 2007 / 012117 A1 discloses the accurate and simple management of the performance degradation and service life of seal rings and other various information about each seal ring. To achieve this goal, a seal ring, which is attached to a facing portion of elements to seal a space between the two elements, comprises: a main body portion that is annular and capable of elastic deformation; and a circuit chip that is fixedly connected to the main body portion and includes an information transmission means for transmitting the information to the outside of the seal ring.

[0009] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a sealing device and a method for producing the sealing device, wherein the tracking of the sealing device is significantly simplified and the disadvantages of the prior art are eliminated.

[0010] This object is achieved in a sealing device of the type mentioned above in that the sealing device has a data carrier assigned to the seal, which comprises an electronic data memory that can be written or is written to with seal-specific information. The seal of the sealing device has a sealing surface extending radially around a sealing device center axis, on which a sealing section is arranged that contains the data carrier inserted into the seal as an insert. The writable, preferably rewritable, data memory of the data carrier enables flexible data management of the sealing device. The seal-specific information on the data carrier, in particular on the RFID transponder, can be changed, deleted, or supplemented at any time.In particular, product, maintenance, production, or service data are available at any time as seal-specific information directly on the sealing device. The sealing device is specifically designed for clamp fittings according to DIN 32676.

[0011] Expediently, but not inventive, the data carrier assigned to the seal is arranged on the outside of the seal. In particular, this also enables a spatial separation between the seal and the data carrier. For example, the data carrier is provided at a different location than the seal so that the seal and the data carrier do not have direct contact with each other. This prevents a medium carried in the piping arrangement comprising piping units and which is to be sealed off from the environment from coming into contact with the data storage device. The aggressive medium, for example, such as an acid, an alkali or the like, can then decompose the seal in particular, but the data carrier is always readable, so that the information stored on the data carrier can be retrieved at any time.

[0012] Advantageously, three different data carriers can be used: Data carriers that are only readable and are individually written once by the supplier, although it is not possible to subsequently add, delete, or overwrite seal-specific information. For example, the date of manufacture and the properties of the sealing device are loaded by the manufacturer as seal-specific information. Data carriers can be written once by the manufacturer or customer and read as often as required. This gives the customer the option of loading the date the sealing device was installed in a system or similar data onto the data carrier as additional seal-specific information. The advantage here is that after the seal-specific information has been loaded once, only reading is possible. This prevents incorrect or intentional changes to the seal-specific information, thereby improving the quality of the system.Data storage devices that allow unrestricted writing to and reading from the data storage device by the manufacturer or customer. It is also possible to lock the data storage device for both writing and reading by setting a write protection.

[0013] The sealing device is preferably used in pipeline construction in plant engineering, in the bio, pharmaceutical, chemical or food industries or in the sanitary sector.

[0014] In this regard, the data storage of the data carrier is readable, particularly contactless. The data carrier of the sealing device is preferably designed as an RFID transponder. The non-contact communication between the RFID transponder and the read / write system offers high resistance to contamination, for example, due to its attachment to protected locations, invisible integration into existing products, and simplified process optimization. Furthermore, each data carrier has a unique assignment due to its unique serial number worldwide. This guarantees precise assignment at the individual product level and complete product customization. The simultaneous reading of multiple RFID transponders in a single work step is also possible, thus accelerating workflows.

[0015] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the sealing device, the seal is configured to form a defined transition between the two pipe units clamped together, wherein the defined transition is designed such that the curvature forms an obtuse angle α with respect to a pipe inner diameter, whereby an accumulation of residues of the medium flowing through the pipe arrangement or of the media flowing through the pipe arrangement does not occur.

[0016] According to a further preferred embodiment of the piping arrangement, the seal has a sealing insert configured to define a minimum axial distance between the two piping units. Setting a minimum axial distance between the two piping units by means of the seal comprising a sealing insert is advantageous because the maximum contact pressure of the sealing surface can be specified. Furthermore, the minimum distance between the two piping units, which cannot be undercut due to the sealing insert, eliminates the need for rework on the piping units, particularly on the associated pipes.

[0017] The sealing insert preferably has a sealing insert end face configured as a stop. A sealing insert end face configured as a stop enables simple implementation for limiting the minimum distance between the two pipeline units to be clamped. Particularly preferably, the data carrier is configured as part of the sealing insert. Thus, the data carrier forms part of the sealing insert.

[0018] According to an additional advantageous development of the sealing device, the seal has a sealing surface extending radially around a sealing device center axis, on which a sealing section containing the data carrier is arranged. This improves the readability of the data carrier, in particular the data carrier designed as an RFID transponder, when the sealing device is in use. The clamping device is designed as an articulated clamp, and the sealing section is or will preferably be guided outwardly by an articulated clamp joint of the clamping device. The seal is advantageously made of rubber, preferably nitrile rubber or perfluoro rubber, silicone, polyethylene, or polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0019] Preferably, the object is achieved by a pipeline system comprising a pipeline arrangement and a sealing device according to one of claims 1 to 9.

[0020] Furthermore, this object is achieved in a method of the type mentioned at the outset in that the sealing device has a data carrier assigned to the seal, which comprises an electronic data memory that can be written or is written to with seal-specific information, wherein the seal of the sealing device has a sealing surface extending radially around a sealing device center axis, on which a sealing section having the data carrier is arranged, wherein the data carrier is cast as an insert with the seal, comprising the steps: a) Inserting the data carrier into a tool, b) Potting the tool with sealing material and c) Removing the manufactured sealing device from the tool.

[0021] This process allows for rapid and cost-effective production of the sealing device. Advantageously, the process used is an injection molding or compression molding process. The sealing device is expediently designed in this way, particularly for clamping sleeves according to DIN 32676. Preferably, in step a), a sealing insert enclosing the data carrier is inserted into the tool. This has the advantage that no sealing section is required, which can be easily separated from the sealing device.

[0022] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the sealing device produced by the method is a sealing device according to claim 2.

[0023] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a pipeline and a pipe socket, Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the pipeline and the pipe socket, wherein the pipe socket is axially attached to the pipeline, Figure 3 shows a sectional view of a pipeline unit, Figure 4 shows a sectional view of two pipeline units, wherein a seal is arranged between the pipeline units, Figure 5 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a pipeline arrangement, showing a section A in the area of ​​two pipeline units clamped together, Figure 6 shows a detailed view of the Fig. 5 shown section A in the area of ​​the two pipe units clamped together, Figure 7 a plan view of the first embodiment of a sealing device having a seal and a data carrier with detail section B, Figure 8 a side view of the first embodiment of a sealing device having a seal and a data carrier, Figure 9 a detailed representation of the in Fig. 7 shown detail section B, Figure 10 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a sealing device having a seal and a data carrier, Figure 11 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a sealing device having a seal and a data carrier, Figure 12 is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of a sealing device having a seal and a data carrier and Figure 13 is a plan view of a space with a fifth embodiment of a sealing device having a seal and a data carrier.

[0024] Unless otherwise stated, the following description refers to all embodiments of a sealing device 1 according to the invention for sealing a pipeline arrangement 2 illustrated in the drawing.

[0025] The piping arrangement 2 comprises two piping units 4 having a piping center axis 3 and a clamping device 5. The piping units 4 comprise a piping 6 and a piping socket 7, wherein the piping 6 and the piping socket 7 are aligned with the piping center axis 3.

[0026] The pipeline 6 has an outer pipeline surface 8, a pipeline end face 9, and an outer pipeline diameter 10. Furthermore, the pipeline 6 is configured according to a specification with respect to a pipe length and a pipe bend, wherein a straight pipeline 1 is used in the illustrated embodiment. In other non-illustrated embodiments, the pipe length and the pipe bend are configured differently.

[0027] The pipe socket 7 has a pipe socket inner diameter 11 and has a flange section 13 comprising a flange section end face 12 and a pipe section 15 having a pipe section inner surface 14. In the flange section end face 12 of the flange section 13, a groove 16 for partially receiving a sealing device 1 is formed.

[0028] In addition, the pipe section inner surface 14 has a structure 18 in the form of elevations 19.

[0029] The pipe socket 7 is axially mounted on the pipe 6 in the axial direction of the pipe centerline 3. The flange section end face 12 and the pipe end face 9 are aligned flush with each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the pipe outer diameter 10 and the pipe socket inner diameter 11 are the same size.

[0030] In another non-illustrated embodiment, the outer diameter 10 of the pipeline 6 is larger than the inner diameter 11 of the pipe socket 7. Thus, a press fit is created immediately upon axial insertion of the pipe socket 7 onto the pipeline 6. Such a press fit establishes a force-locking connection between the pipeline 6 and the pipe socket 7.

[0031] The pipeline unit 4 comprises a pipe socket 7 which is axially attached to a pipeline 6. In contrast to Fig. 2 The arrangement shown is in the Fig. 3 In the pipeline unit 4, the pipeline 6 is fixed in the pipe socket 7 by means of a press fit 20 by radially expanding it, in particular the pipe walls. The pipe socket 7 is thus non-positively connected to the pipeline 6. Other conventional connection options, such as welding the pipe socket 7 and the pipeline 6, are possible in other embodiments but are not illustrated here.

[0032] The radial expansion is achieved by means of a tool, in particular a rolling tool, and is also referred to as adhesive expansion of the pipeline 6. After the radial expansion, a cross-sectional area of ​​the pipeline 6 in the area of ​​the expansion is larger than an original cross-sectional area of ​​the pipeline 6. Thus, due to the radial expansion of the pipeline 6, the expanded pipeline inner diameter 21 in the area of ​​an overlap between pipe socket 7 and pipeline 6 is larger than the original pipeline diameter 22.

[0033] By means of a structure 18 in the form of elevations 19 arranged on the inner surface 14 of the pipe section, the expansion of the pipe 6 creates not only a force-fitting but also a positive connection between the pipe 6 and the pipe socket 7. The structure 18 can also be designed in another form, for example, as a groove or the like.

[0034] In other embodiments not shown, the pipe section inner surface 14 and / or the pipe outer surface 8 is at least partially structured before the radial expansion of the pipe 6.

[0035] A sealing device 1 having a sealing insert 23 is arranged axially between the piping units 4.

[0036] Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a piping arrangement 2, having a section A in the area of ​​two pipe units 4 clamped together.

[0037] The piping arrangement 2 has a sealing device 1 arranged axially between the flange section end faces 12 of the pipe sockets 7 formed on the flange sections 13. The sealing device 1 is configured to form a defined transition 24 between the two pipe units 4 clamped together. The defined transition 24 is formed by the contact forces acting on the sealing device 1 during clamping.

[0038] A detailed view of the section A of the Fig. 5 In the area of ​​the two interconnected piping units 4, the defined transition 24 is shown enlarged. Due to the defined transition 24, the accumulation of residues or the deposition of solids of the medium or media flowing through the piping arrangement 2 is reduced or prevented.

[0039] In addition, the sealing device 1 has a sealing insert 23. The sealing insert 23 defines a minimum axial distance 25 between the two piping units 4, so that when the piping arrangement 2 is clamped, the two piping units 4 are subjected to contact forces determined by the minimum axial distance 25 determined by the sealing insert 23.

[0040] The piping arrangement 2 is axially clamped by means of a clamping device 5. For this purpose, the flange sections 13 of the pipe sockets 7 of the two piping units 4 are axially clamped together by means of a clamping device 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the clamping device 5 is advantageously designed as an articulated clamp 26. By means of the clamping device 5 designed as an articulated clamp 26, the contact forces acting on the sealing device 13, which correspond to a contact pressure relative to the area, can be additionally adjusted, e.g., by means of a wing nut or the like closing the articulated clamp 26. The clamping device 5 can also be designed as a flange-screw connection.

[0041] Alternatively, standard parts, such as measuring instruments, valves and flaps or the like, can also serve as a piping unit 4 and together with another second piping unit 4 form a piping arrangement 2.

[0042] The sealing insert 23 of the sealing device 1 has a sealing insert end face 28 designed as a stop 27. The sealing insert 23 thus defines or can define a minimum axial distance 25 between the two pipeline units 4. When the pipeline arrangement 2 is clamped, the pipeline end faces 9 and / or the flange section end faces 12 abut the sealing insert end faces 28 of the sealing insert 23 of the sealing device 1. This precisely adjusts the minimum distance 25 between the two pipeline units 4 of the pipeline arrangement 2 and thus also the contact forces acting on the sealing device 1.

[0043] The transition 24, defined by the contact forces determined by the sealing insert 23, is preferably designed such that the curvature 29 forms an obtuse angle α with respect to a pipeline inner diameter 21. Particularly preferably, the obtuse angle α has an angle α between 100° and 170°, most preferably between 120° and 150°. This ensures that residues of the medium or media flowing through the pipeline arrangement 2 are reduced or prevented.

[0044] The sealing device 1 has a data carrier 31 arranged in a seal 30, which comprises an electronic data storage device 32 that can be written to or written to with seal-specific information. The data carrier 31 of the sealing device 1 is preferably designed as an RFID transponder 33. The data storage device 32 of the data carrier 31 can thus be written to and / or read in an improved manner, in particular contactlessly, for example, using a non-illustrated RFID reading and / or writing device. In particular, product, maintenance, production, or service data are thus available directly on the sealing device at any time as seal-specific information. For example, the production date, the next maintenance date, the condition of the seal itself, the date of the last inspection, etc., can be stored on the data carrier 31.

[0045] The seal 30 is preferably designed as a flat gasket, with materials such as elastomers, compressed fiber, aramid fiber, carbon fiber, mineral fiber, metal, and copper being available as the sealing material. Encased sealing devices 1, in particular encased flat gaskets, are also preferred, comprising a core (any flat gasket material, e.g., fiber composite, PTFE, etc.) encased in a PTFE or metal sheath, preferably steel or corrosion-resistant nickel alloys. The sheath protects the core against chemical attack from the medium to be sealed. The seal 30 is preferably made of rubber, particularly preferably nitrile rubber or perfluoro rubber, silicone, polyethylene, or polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0046] The seal 30 of the sealing device 1 has a sealing surface 35 extending radially around a sealing device center axis 34, on which a sealing section 36 containing the data carrier 31 is arranged. The sealing section 36 is designed in the shape of a pan handle. In use, the pipeline center axis 3 and the sealing device center axis 34 correspond. In an embodiment not illustrated, for example, the sealing section 36 is omitted, so that the data carrier 31 is arranged in the seal 30. Other arrangements in the sealing device 1 are also possible and conceivable.

[0047] In a further embodiment not according to the invention, the data carrier 31 is formed as a part of the sealing insert 23. Such an embodiment is shown by way of example in Fig. 10 This allows the advantages of the sealing insert 23 and the data carrier 31 to be combined. Furthermore, simple removal of the data carrier 31 during use is no longer possible.

[0048] In the second embodiment of the sealing device 1 according to the invention, Fig. 10 The data carrier 31 associated with the seal 30 and comprising the data memory 32 is thus arranged in the seal 30. The data carrier 31 arranged in the seal 30 is therefore always uniquely associated with the seal 30. The data carrier 31 has been cast into the seal, whereby the data carrier 31 is essentially inseparably connected to the seal 30. In particular, the seal 30 and the data carrier 31 cannot be separated from one another without destroying the seal 30.

[0049] The clamping device 5 is expediently designed as a joint clamp 26 and the sealing section 36 is guided outwards by a joint clamp joint of the clamping device 5.

[0050] The sealing device 1 for sealing a pipeline arrangement 2 has an electronic data carrier 31 arranged in the seal 30, which can be written or written with seal-specific information, wherein the data carrier 31 is cast as an insert 37 with the seal 30 in a method for producing the sealing device 1, comprising the steps of introducing the data carrier 31 into a tool, casting the tool with the sealing material and removing the produced sealing device 1 from the tool.

[0051] The method used is preferably an injection molding method or a compression molding method. Particularly preferably, the sealing device 1 produced by the method is a sealing device 1 according to one of the claims of the sealing device 1.

[0052] According to a further preferred method, in step a the sealing insert 23 is inserted into the tool, wherein the data carrier 31 is formed as part of the sealing insert 23.

[0053] Furthermore, preference is given to Fign. 4 and 5 A piping system 38 is shown, wherein the piping system 38 comprises a sealing device 1 and a piping arrangement 2. Sealing device 1 and piping arrangement 2 are preferably designed according to the description of the figures.

[0054] A plan view of a third embodiment of a sealing device 1 having a seal 30 and a data carrier 31 is shown in Fig. 11 Here, the data carrier 31 containing the data storage 32 is arranged outside the seal 30 on the outside of the seal side surface 39.

[0055] Fig. 12 shows a fourth embodiment of a sealing device 1, not according to the invention, wherein here too the data carrier 31 associated with the seal 30, comprising a data memory 32 in the form of an RFID transponder 33, is arranged outside the seal 30. The data carrier 31 associated with the seal 30 is expediently arranged on the outside of the seal 30. The data carrier 31 is arranged on the sealing side surface 39 of the seal 30.

[0056] The data carrier 31 can also, as in a fifth embodiment not according to the invention, be Fig. 13shown, be spatially separated from the seal 30. The data carrier 31 is provided at a different location than the seal 30, here the wall 40 of a room 41, so that the seal 30 and data carrier 31 do not have direct contact with one another. This prevents a medium guided in the piping arrangement 2 comprising piping units 4 and sealed from the environment by means of a seal 30 from coming into contact with the data storage device 31. The aggressive medium, for example, such as an acid, an alkali or the like, can then decompose the seal 30 in particular, but the data carrier 31 is always readable, so that the information stored on the data carrier 31 can be retrieved at any time.

Claims

1. Sealing device (1) for sealing a pipeline arrangement (2) having two pipeline units (4) with a pipeline central axis (3) and a clamping device (5), wherein a pipeline unit (4) comprises a pipeline (6) having a pipeline outer surface (8), a pipeline end face (9) and a pipeline outer diameter (10) and a pipe socket (7) with a pipe socket inner diameter (11) and the pipe socket (7) is provided with a flange section (13) having a flange section end face (12) and a pipe section (15) having a pipe section inner surface (14), and wherein the clamping device (5) clamps the flange sections (13) of the pipe sockets (7) of the two pipeline units (4) axially to each other, wherein the sealing device (1) has in its position of use a seal (30) located axially between the flange section end faces (12) of the pipe sockets (7), wherein the sealing device (1) has a data medium (31) assigned to the seal (30) and comprising an electronic data memory (32) to which seal-specific information can be or is written, characterised in that the seal (30) of the sealing device (1) has a sealing outer surface (35), which extends radially around a sealing device central axis (34), on which a seal section (36) comprising the data medium (31) is arranged, wherein the data medium (31) is cast with the seal as an insert part (37).

2. Sealing device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the data memory (32) of the data medium (31) is readable.

3. Sealing device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the data memory (32) of the data medium (31) is readable in a contactless manner.

4. Sealing device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the data medium (31) of the sealing device (1) is designed as an RFID transponder (33).

5. Sealing device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the seal (30) is configured to form a defined transition (24) between two pipeline units (4) clamped to each other, wherein the defined transition (24) is designed in such a way, that the curvature (29) with respect to a pipeline inner diameter (21) forms an obtuse angle (α), so that there is no accumulation of residues of the medium or media flowing through the pipeline arrangement (2).

6. Sealing device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the seal (30) has a seal insert (23) configured to define an axial minimum distance (25) between the two pipeline units (4).

7. Sealing device (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that the seal insert (23) has a seal insert end face (28) designed as a stop (27).

8. Sealing device (1) according to claim 10, characterised in that the clamping device (5) is designed as an articulated clamp (26) and the seal section (35) is guidable or guided towards the outside by an articulated clamp joint of the clamping device (5).

9. Sealing device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the seal (30) is made of rubber, preferably of nitrile rubber or perfluoro rubber, silicone, polyethylene or polytetrafluoroethylene.

10. Pipeline system comprising a pipeline arrangement (2) and a sealing device according to any of claims 1 to 9.

11. Method for the production of a sealing device (1) for sealing a pipeline arrangement (2), wherein the sealing device (1) has an electronic data medium (31) which is located in the seal (3) and can be or is written on with seal-specific information, characterized in that the seal (30) of the sealing device (1) has a sealing outer surface (35), which extends radially around a sealing device central axis (34), on which a seal section (36) comprising the data medium (31) is arranged, wherein the data medium (31) is cast with the seal as an insert part (37), the method comprising the steps of: a) Placing the data medium (31) in a tool, b) Filling the tool with sealing material, and c) Removing the sealing device (1) produced from the tool.

12. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that the method carried out is an injection moulding method or a compression moulding method.

13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that in step a) a seal insert (23) comprising the data medium (31) is placed in the tool.