Conical Sealing Arrangement Reducing Clamping Force

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sealing arrangements in high-pressure systems require high clamping forces to maintain a reliable seal, which can be challenging, especially under conditions of temperature differences and vibration stresses.

Innovation Solution

A sealing arrangement featuring a sealing cone that tapers towards the pressure chamber and an annular gap with a sealing ring, where the angle of inclination between conical surfaces ensures the ring maintains its position due to friction, and a stop limits displacement, allowing for reliable sealing with reduced clamping forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high clamping forces are applied to maintain a reliable seal in high-pressure systems, then sealing reliability is improved, but the complexity of the sealing arrangement and the stresses on components increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidsealing arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing cone utilizes a conical geometry with a specific angle of inclination rather than a flat or cylindrical surface. This curved conical shape creates a self-centering effect and distributes the clamping force more effectively, achieving reliable sealing with reduced overall clamping force requirements compared to traditional flat gasket designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the sealing interface by introducing a conical surface with a specific inclination angle. This parameter change transforms the sealing mechanism from relying purely on high axial clamping force to utilizing the mechanical advantage of the conical geometry, where the angle of inclination converts axial force into radial sealing pressure more efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If high clamping forces are used to maintain sealing under temperature differences and vibration stresses, then seal reliability is improved, but the frictional forces and heat generation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseal reliability under stressVSAvoidfrictional energy loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The conical geometry reduces the contact area and distributes pressure more favorably compared to flat surfaces, which reduces the total frictional force. The curved surface allows for better accommodation of thermal expansion and vibration-induced movements without requiring proportionally higher clamping forces to maintain the seal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The angle of inclination of the conical surface is designed to create a mechanical balance where the radial component of the sealing force counteracts the tendency of the sealing ring to be pushed away by pressure, while the axial component maintains adequate contact pressure without excessive friction. This balanced force distribution reduces energy loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Reliability

If the sealing ring is pressed against the sealing cone with high force, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the displacement of the sealing ring and difficulty of assembly increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The conical shape provides a self-aligning feature that guides the sealing ring into the correct position during assembly. The tapering geometry naturally centers the sealing ring as it is inserted, reducing misalignment issues and making assembly easier compared to parallel-sided bores that require precise alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The conical sealing surface is designed to perform preliminary alignment and positioning of the sealing ring before the final tightening is applied. This preliminary action ensures the sealing ring is correctly positioned and oriented, facilitating easier subsequent assembly steps and reducing the force needed for final seating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 enables a reliable seal with smaller clamping forces, maintaining the sealing ring's position even after pressure is relieved, and provides independent support against vibration loads, ensuring effective sealing across varying conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the angle of inclination between the conical or conical surfaces delimiting the annular gap can preferably be selected in such a way that the sealing ring also maintains its end position reached by pressure application due to the friction with the contact surfaces of sealing cone and sealing cone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a sealing ring is to be inserted, which is pressurized from the pressure chamber, so that when the ring cross-section decreases counter to the insertion direction of the sealing cone the application of pressure results in a sealing compression of the sealing ring in the annular gap

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP2089629B1Sealing arrangement in a hydraulic high-pressure system
Publication Date: 2012.06.20 WOODWARD LORANGE GMBH
  • EP2089629B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2089629B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A sealing arrangement in a hydraulic high-pressure system has, adjoining a pressure space, a sealing cone (6) which projects into a sealing taper (7), and an annular gap (14) which is situated between the sealing taper and sealing cone and in which a sealing ring (15) is arranged so as to deform under pressure loading.