Annular Hose Coupling Seal for Low-Turbulence Leak Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Claw couplings used in the mining industry face issues with difficult connection, leakage at low pressures, and seal dislodgment at high pressures, leading to inefficiencies and operational costs due to restrictive flow and turbulence caused by traditional seals.
Innovation Solution
A pipe coupling annular seal design featuring a lower bellows seal portion, an upper portion with an abutment surface, a depending skirt, and a stiffening ring that minimizes turbulence by positioning the seal outside the flow path and using a tapered skirt to engage with a circular upstand, ensuring a secure and efficient seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional seals are positioned in the flow path to provide sealing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but flow restriction and turbulence increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is repositioned from the flow path (one dimension) to the side of the passageway (another dimension), allowing the seal to function effectively while not obstructing the flow of fluid or air through the coupling
2Reliability
If the seal is exposed to the medium being transported to ensure sealing contact, then sealing reliability is improved, but seal dislodment risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is extracted from direct exposure to the flowing medium and positioned in a protected location on the side of the passageway, where it maintains sealing contact through mechanical engagement while being shielded from the harmful effects of high-velocity fluid flow
3Reliability
If solid rubber seals are used to provide sealing, then sealing capability is improved, but connection difficulty and leakage at low pressure occur
Solution Approach 1:
The seal design incorporates a truncated toroidal portion that changes the geometric parameters of the sealing interface, allowing the seal to engage more easily with the fitting while maintaining effective sealing capability
4Reliability
If the seal abuts against adjacent seals to provide sealing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but seal folding and blowout occur at high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The seal engages with a dedicated engagement feature on the fitting rather than relying on abutment with adjacent seals, positioning the sealing action in a different spatial relationship that distributes high-pressure forces more effectively and prevents seal folding and blowout
Data Source
AI summary
There is proposed an annular seal for a pipe coupling, comprising, a lower portion beatable within an upwardly open annular groove in the pipe coupling, an upper portion having an upwardly facing abutment surface, a depending skirt and a stiffening ring. The depending skirt is configured for engagement over a circular upstand of the pipe coupling, which is located inwardly of the annular groove. The stiffening ring is located within the upper portion of the annular seal, and includes an annular portion that is generally parallel with and spaced apart from the abutment surface and at least one circumferential leg depending from the annular portion that provides reinforcement for the depending leg.