Composite Seal Coupling with Retainer for Refrigerant Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing couplings in refrigerant lines of air conditioning systems face challenges such as difficulty in tightening, risk of seal damage, and refrigerant leakage due to over or under-tightening, and twisting of tubes, which leads to fluid escape into the atmosphere.
Innovation Solution
A seal and coupling system featuring a primary and secondary elastomeric sealing element with a fluid-impermeable retainer that provides face and radial seals, preventing over-compression and maintaining radial spacing, while minimizing fluid permeation through the use of a metal or composite retainer and radially extending passages with minimal cross-sectional profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a threaded fastener is used to connect tubes in a coupling, then the coupling can be assembled, but difficulty arises in turning the fastener in a crowded engine compartment and risk of seal damage or leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sealing function from the fastening operation by providing pre-formed sealing surfaces on the coupling halves and tube ends. The sealing surfaces are prepared in advance, eliminating the need to tighten seals during the fastening process, thus preventing seal damage while maintaining reliable connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling is divided into two separate halves with mating sealing surfaces. This segmentation allows each half to have precisely engineered sealing surfaces that mate together, providing reliable sealing without requiring high tightening forces that could damage the seals.
2Ease of operation
If a threaded fastener is used to connect tubes, then the coupling can be assembled, but twisting of the tube occurs during tightening
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling halves are designed with mating sealing surfaces at the same axial position, creating an equipotential sealing interface. This design allows the coupling halves to come together evenly without inducing twisting forces on the tube, maintaining tube alignment during assembly.
3Productivity
If refrigerant lines are connected in air conditioning systems, then fluid transport is achieved, but refrigerant leakage occurs into the atmosphere
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses refrigerant leakage by designing precision-machined sealing surfaces that create reliable seals. The sealing surfaces are engineered to accommodate minor surface irregularities while maintaining sufficient contact pressure to prevent refrigerant escape, effectively converting potential leakage paths into reliable sealing interfaces.
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 effectively reduces fluid leakage, facilitates easier assembly, and prevents over-compression of seals, thereby minimizing refrigerant escape into the atmosphere and enhancing the reliability of the coupling system.
Implementation Method 1
radially inner and outer annular sealing elements made of elastomeric material
Implementation Method 2
the retainer may be made of a fluid impervious material for blocking permeation of fluid from the primary to the secondary seal
Data Source
AI summary
A seal and coupling, wherein the seal has a thin profile including a primary sealing element that provides both a face and radial seal, and a secondary or backup sealing element that provides a face seal. The secondary or backup sealing element seals against leakage past or through the primary sealing element, and the retainer may be made of a fluid impervious material for blocking permeation of fluid from the primary to the secondary seal. The retainer may also function to prevent over-compression of the sealing elements, while also maintaining a radial spacing between the sealing elements.