Annular Metal Seal Positioning Ring to Prevent Groove-Corner Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The annular metal seal is not stably fastened between planes due to the positional relationship with the seal groove, leading to unstable reaction force, contact surface pressure, and potential leakage due to slipping at the inner corner of the seal groove.
Innovation Solution
A positioning ring is used to create a gap between the inner corner of the seal groove and the sharp ridge of the annular metal seal, ensuring the ridge does not contact the inner corner, thereby stabilizing the seal's position and preventing slipping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the annular metal seal is fitted in the seal groove without a positioning ring, then the installation is simple, but the position of the annular metal seal is not stabilized and the sharp ridge contacts the inner corner portion causing leakage
Solution Approach 1:
A positioning ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the annular metal seal and the seal groove. The positioning ring has an inner diameter that fits over the seal body and an outer diameter that contacts the inner side surface of the seal groove, thereby mediating the positional relationship and preventing the sharp ridge from contacting the inner corner portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system is segmented into three distinct components: the seal groove (first member), the positioning ring (intermediate component), and the annular metal seal (second member). This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while working together to achieve reliable sealing.
2Reliability
If the annular metal seal is pressed to deform for sealing, then sealing performance is improved, but the position may shift and contact with inner corner portion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning ring is installed in advance on the annular metal seal before the sealing operation. This preliminary positioning action ensures that when the seal is subsequently pressed to deform for sealing, the sharp ridge remains constrained and does not contact the inner corner portion, maintaining position stability throughout the sealing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning ring acts as a mediator that decouples the deformation process from positional instability. It allows the seal body to be pressed and deformed for sealing while maintaining the positional relationship between the sharp ridge and the inner corner portion through mechanical constraint.
3Device complexity
If the sharp ridge contacts the inner corner portion of the seal groove, then the structure is simple, but the reaction force does not rise normally and leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning ring serves as a mechanical intermediary that transmits and distributes the contact forces. It prevents direct contact between the sharp ridge and the inner corner portion, ensuring that reaction forces are properly transmitted to the seal body for effective sealing without causing leakage.
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
The solution stabilizes the position of the annular metal seal, increases reaction force and contact surface pressure, and prevents leakage by ensuring the sharp ridge does not contact the inner corner of the seal groove.
Implementation Method 1
the annular metal seal is pressed by the second member to be deformed, so that an inner side and an outer side of the annular metal seal are sealed
Data Source
AI summary
In an attachment structure for an annular metal seal, an annular metal seal includes a seal body configured such that at least one of outer corner portions thereof corresponding to an inner corner portion of the seal groove has a sharp ridge, and in a state where a positioning ring is held between an inner-side side surface of the seal groove and an inner-diameter-side side surface or an outer-diameter-side side surface of the seal body, the annular metal seal is fitted in the seal groove with the positioning ring abutted on at least a portion of the inner-side side surface of the seal groove and the sharp ridge of the seal body spaced from the inner corner portion of the seal groove, and the first member and the second member are fastened with each other, so that inner and an outer sides of the annular metal seal are sealed.