Annular Bead Sealing Element Radial Bulge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sealing elements with rectangular cross sections bulge radially, leading to high surface pressure and material creep in pipes and recesses, resulting in a temporary sealing effect due to material deformation and increased stress.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating additional annular beads on the radial sides of the sealing element, which can be formed from the same material or different materials, to alter the geometry and reduce compression, allowing for a reliable seal with lower contact pressure forces by distributing the deformation across the material behind the bead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing elements with rectangular cross section are used, then they can be squeezed axially to create a seal, but they bulge radially and form a linear sealing surface causing high surface pressure and material creep
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the linear sealing surface with an annular bead having a curved cross-section. This curvature distributes the sealing contact over an arc rather than a straight line, reducing the concentration of surface pressure on the pipe and recess walls while maintaining effective sealing contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the sealing element by adding an annular bead with specific dimensional ratios (bead width to sealing element width between 0.2-0.8, bead height to radial width between 0.1-0.5). These parameter changes optimize the distribution of contact pressure and reduce material creep.
2Reliability
If high pinching force is applied to achieve reliable sealing, then sealing effect improves, but the elastic properties of the sealing material are lost due to strong compression
Solution Approach 1:
The curved cross-section of the annular bead allows for more uniform distribution of compression forces during axial squeezing. This geometry enables the sealing material to maintain its elastic properties by avoiding concentrated stress points, while still achieving reliable sealing through the distributed contact pressure along the curved surface.
3Reliability
If high surface pressure is applied along the linear sealing surface, then sealing is achieved, but stresses are generated in the object to be sealed causing material relaxation and deformation over time
Solution Approach 1:
The annular bead's curved geometry distributes sealing pressure over a larger area and along an arc, significantly reducing the linear stress concentration that causes material relaxation and creep in pipes and recesses. This enables long-term sealing without degradation of the sealed components.
Solution Approach 2:
By optimizing the dimensional parameters of the annular bead (width, height, curvature radius), the invention achieves effective sealing with reduced contact pressure, preventing stress-induced deformation and material relaxation over time, thereby extending the durability of the sealing system.
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
This design maintains the elastic properties of the sealing material, reduces contact pressure, and prevents mechanical deformation of pipes and recesses, ensuring a long-lasting seal with improved creep resistance and reduced material relaxation.
Implementation Method 1
Due to the axial tension and squeezing, the sealing element is compressed in the radial direction. This creates the seal.
Implementation Method 2
The elastic material of the sealing element loses its elastic properties due to the strong compression
Implementation Method 3
by distributing the deformation across the material behind the bead
Implementation Method 4
ensuring a long-lasting seal with improved creep resistance and reduced material relaxation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The element has an annular body (1) made of an elastic material, where the body has a rectangular cross section and is deformable in axial direction of the sealing element. Two annular beads (2a, 2b) are arranged at one side of the body in parallel manner. The body and the annular beads are connected with each other as a single-piece. The sealing element is manufactured from ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM)-material, acronitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)-material, elastomer material, natural rubber material or thermoplastic elastomer material. An independent claim is also included for a crushing flange with two flange rings and a sealing element.