Annular Pipe Coupling Seal Adapting to Diameter Variations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe coupling seal assemblies are limited in their ability to accommodate pipes of varying diameters, requiring multiple seals or adjusting mechanisms, which complicates the sealing process and reduces flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A seal assembly with an annular clamp housing and a single annular seal that expands radially inward when tightened, allowing for secure sealing of both large and small diameter pipes using a single sealing ring, with the seal's design featuring a folded construction and a tightening chamber that enables volume maintenance during expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single seal assembly is used for multiple pipe diameters, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases due to the need for adjustable mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly incorporates a flexible membrane that can dynamically change its configuration based on pipe diameter. The membrane transitions from a relaxed state for larger pipes to a compressed state for smaller pipes, allowing a single assembly to adapt to multiple diameters without complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and configuration of the seal membrane through compression. By varying the compression level of the flexible membrane, the same seal assembly can achieve different sealing configurations suitable for various pipe diameters, maintaining adaptability while avoiding complex adjustable mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the seal is tightened to accommodate smaller pipes, then the adaptability improves, but the sealing reliability deteriorates for larger pipes due to excessive compression
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane dynamically adjusts its compression level based on the pipe diameter. For smaller pipes, the membrane is more compressed to achieve proper sealing, while for larger pipes, the membrane remains less compressed. This dynamic adaptation ensures optimal sealing reliability across the full range of pipe diameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a flexible membrane as the core sealing element. This flexible film can elastically deform and adjust its shape and compression level to match different pipe diameters, ensuring reliable sealing without over-compression or under-compression. The flexibility of the membrane allows it to conform to various pipe sizes while maintaining sealing integrity.
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 solution provides a flexible and efficient sealing mechanism that can accommodate a range of pipe diameters with a single seal, ensuring a watertight connection by utilizing the seal's inherent material properties and geometric configuration to adapt to different pipe sizes.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric seal assembly which is tightened to form a watertight seal against the pipe
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A pipe coupling (10) includes an annular clamp housing (12) that has ends which are provided with two opposing clamp members (18). One or more tightening elements (19) tighten the clamp members (18) towards each other in a direction transverse to an axial length of the annular clamp housing (12) so as to apply a radially-inward clamping force on a pipe being clamped in the annular clamp housing (12). An annular seal (22) is mounted in a tightening chamber (30) with borders defined by inner walls of the annular clamp housing (12) and an inner abutment (32). The tightening chamber (30) has a single annular opening that faces radially inwards. Upon sufficient tightening of the one or more tightening elements (19), the annular seal (22) cannot expand against the borders of the tightening chamber (30) and can only expand radially inwards through the single annular opening.