Breakaway Coupling Sealing with Anti-Rotation Misalignment Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Breakaway couplings with anti-rotation safeguards face issues with misalignment of sealing members over time, leading to potential leakage due to the prevention of relative movement between the hold-open element and sealing member, which was not adequately addressed in prior art.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a compensation element with a lower hardness material between the valve seat and sealing member, allowing for angular deviation and deformation to compensate for misalignments, thereby ensuring proper sealing even after long-term use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If an anti-rotation safeguard is implemented to prevent relative rotation between coupling portions, then the durability of the coupling structure is improved, but misalignment of the sealing member occurs leading to potential leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of hardness by introducing a compensation element with lower hardness material (e.g., elastomer or plastic) between the valve seat and sealing member. This softer material can deform to accommodate misalignment caused by the anti-rotation safeguard, maintaining sealing reliability while preserving the durability benefits of rotation prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The compensation element acts as an intermediary between the rigid valve seat and the sealing member. This intermediate layer absorbs the misalignment effects through its deformability, preventing direct contact between misaligned hard surfaces and ensuring continuous sealing contact even when the anti-rotation safeguard causes positional deviations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the anti-rotation safeguard prevents relative movement between hold-open element and sealing member, then structural stability is improved, but misalignment compensation is reduced leading to leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the hardness parameter of the compensation element to be lower than both the valve seat and sealing member materials. This parameter change enables the compensation element to deform and compensate for alignment variations, maintaining sealing precision despite the structural stability imposed by the anti-rotation safeguard.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material strategy by combining the rigid valve seat, the softer compensation element (elastomer or plastic), and the sealing member. This multi-material approach allows each component to fulfill its specific function: the rigid parts provide structural stability while the softer intermediate material provides alignment compensation.
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 compensation element effectively prevents leakage by allowing for local deformation and maintaining sealing contact, enhancing the long-term reliability and durability of the breakaway coupling.
Implementation Method 1
the compensation element which comprises a material which has a lower hardness than the material of the valve seat and/or than the material of the sealing member
Data Source
AI summary
A breakaway coupling for connecting two fluid lines, comprising a first coupling part (3) which can be connected to the first fluid line and a second coupling part (4) which can be connected to the second fluid line. The coupling parts (3, 4) can be disconnected from one another by way of a defined disconnecting force, wherein at least one of the coupling parts (3, 4) has an outflow prevention valve (20) with a valve seat (21) and with a sealing body (14) which is configured for interaction with the valve seat (21). The outflow prevention valve (20) has a hold-open element (16) which is configured to enable a passage of the fluid in the joined-together state of the coupling parts (3, 4). The outflow prevention valve (20) is configured to prevent an outflow of the fluid from at least one of the fluid lines in the disconnected state of the coupling parts (3, 4). The breakaway coupling has an anti-rotation safeguard which, during operation of the coupling, prevents a rotation of the first coupling part (3) and the second coupling part (4) with respect to one another. According to the invention, the valve seat (21) has a bearing surface (24) for the sealing body (14), wherein a compensatory element (25) is arranged in the region of the bearing surface (24), which compensatory element (25) consists of a material which has a lower hardness than the material of the valve seat (21) and/or than the material of the sealing body (14).