Annular Groove Gasket Guide for Smooth Fluid Port Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid devices face challenges with smooth gasket insertion and reliable sealing due to interference and misalignment issues, particularly when the annular groove is not perfectly circular, leading to defective sealing.
Innovation Solution
The fluid device incorporates a radially-inner side interior wall with a first tapered portion and a radially-outer side interior wall with a guide of larger diameter than the gasket, creating an elliptical annular groove that guides the gasket insertion, reducing interference and ensuring proper alignment for smooth insertion and effective sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional annular groove is used for gasket insertion, then the structure is simple, but the gasket insertion is not smooth due to interference and misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The annular groove is segmented into three distinct functional zones: a first tapered portion at the open end for initial gasket engagement and guidance, a guide portion with larger diameter for alignment and interference prevention, and a second tapered portion for final positioning. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function, ensuring smooth gasket insertion while maintaining structural organization.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the annular groove are given different local qualities (tapered shapes and diameters) to perform different functions. The first tapered portion provides guidance, the guide portion provides alignment clearance, and the second tapered portion provides final positioning. This local differentiation resolves the insertion problems without requiring complete structural redesign.
2Reliability
If the annular groove has a standard circular cross-section, then the manufacturing is simple, but the gasket may be caught by the outer rim or become inclined due to elliptical deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portion with larger diameter is provided in advance before the gasket reaches the tightening portion. This preliminary action creates a clearance zone that prevents the gasket from being caught by the outer rim or becoming inclined due to elliptical deformation of the groove, ensuring reliable sealing before the final positioning occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide portion acts as a cushioning zone that absorbs potential interference and misalignment issues before they affect the sealing function. By providing extra diameter in this zone, the design anticipates and compensates for manufacturing tolerances and deformation, preventing gasket damage or misalignment that would compromise sealing reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the annular groove diameter matches the gasket outer diameter, then the fit is tight, but the gasket insertion is difficult due to interference
Solution Approach 1:
The annular groove is divided into zones with different diameters: the guide portion has a larger diameter than the gasket outer diameter to facilitate easy insertion, while the tightening portion has a diameter that matches the gasket for precise positioning and tight fit. This segmentation allows both easy insertion and precise positioning to be achieved in sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The diameter parameter of the annular groove is changed along its depth, creating a gradient from larger diameter at the opening (for easy insertion) to matched diameter at the bottom (for precise positioning). This parameter variation resolves the contradiction between insertion ease and positioning precision by applying different diameter values at different locations.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated block 1 serving as a fluid device includes: a flow port 13 open to form one end of a passage P; an annular groove 14 arranged along an outer circumferential edge of the flow port 13, the annular groove 14 being open so as to insert the gasket 2 therein; a first tapered portion 17 arranged on a radially-inner side interior wall 14b of the annular groove 14 and sloped radially outward from an open end of the annular groove 14 in a depth direction of the annular groove 14; and a guide 18 arranged on a radially-outer side interior wall 14a of the annular groove 14, extending throughout a predetermined range D from the open end of the annular groove 14 in the depth direction, and having a larger diameter than an outer circumferential surface 22a of a second sealing portion 22 of the gasket 2.