Gas-Insulated Coupler Socket Sleeve Sealing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing coupler members for gas-insulated electrical substations, typically made of flexible bellows, are expensive due to the need for high internal pressure resistance, leak-tightness, and detachability, making them costly solutions.
Innovation Solution
A coupler member comprising a socket with leaktight fastener means and a sleeve that is partially engaged in the socket, allowing translation along a main axis, featuring a sealing gasket with a tapered groove and clamping screws to ensure adjustable and leak-tight connections without the complexity and cost of flexible bellows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flexible bellows is used as a coupler member to ensure leaktight connection and detachability, then the sealing integrity and pressure resistance are improved, but the cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler member is divided into separate components: a fixed socket portion attached to the first casing and a movable sleeve portion that can be detached from the second casing. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be isolated to specific interfaces (flange-sealing surface and gasket locations) rather than requiring the entire bellows structure to provide sealing, thereby reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is extracted from the flexible bellows structure and implemented through dedicated sealing components: sealing surfaces on the flanges and gaskets positioned at specific interfaces. This extraction allows the main coupler body to be simpler while the sealing function is handled by specialized, simpler components, reducing the complexity of the overall structure
2Ease of operation
If a flexible bellows is used to provide detachable connection, then the ease of operation for disconnection is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire coupler member detachable as in traditional bellows designs, the invention makes the sleeve portion detachable from the second casing while the socket remains fixed to the first casing. This inverted approach allows detachment functionality to be achieved through a simpler sleeve removal mechanism rather than requiring the entire flexible structure to be detachable, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve portion is designed as a simpler, potentially replaceable component that can be detached and replaced without requiring the entire coupler assembly to be expensive. By making only the necessary portion detachable and using simpler materials and construction for the sleeve compared to a full flexible bellows, the cost is reduced while maintaining the required detachability for maintenance and replacement operations
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed-length rigid coupler is used to reduce cost, then the manufacturing cost decreases, but the adaptability to different installation distances is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler member transitions from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamic system where the sleeve portion can move axially within the socket. This dynamic capability allows the effective length of the coupler to be adjusted by moving the sleeve to different positions, enabling adaptation to various installation distances between casings while maintaining a simple, cost-effective rigid construction for each component
4Ease of operation
If a detachable flange connection is used to allow equipment removal, then the ease of operation for maintenance is improved, but the number of components and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detachable connection functionality is merged into the sleeve-socket interface itself, eliminating the need for separate detachable flanges on both ends. The sleeve can be directly removed from the socket to provide access to equipment, combining the coupling and detachment functions into a single integrated mechanism with fewer components compared to traditional dual-flange designs
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 provides an adjustable, cost-effective, and leak-tight connection system for gas-insulated electrical elements, reducing the high costs associated with traditional flexible bellows while maintaining the necessary sealing integrity.
Implementation Method 1
clamping screws passing therethrough that are parallel with the main axis and screwed into the free end of the socket in order to close the groove and to compress the gasket in said groove so that it deploys radially while bearing against the flank and against the sleeve
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a coupler member for coupling together first and second gas-insulated electrical elements, respectively including a first casing and a second casing, in order to connect these casings to each other, said member including a socket (8) fitted with fastener means for fastening to the first casing and a sleeve (9) fitted with fastener means for fastening to the second casing. The sleeve (9) is engaged in the socket (8) having its free end presenting a groove (17) receiving a sealing gasket (16). The groove (17) is defined by a plane end wall (19) and by a flank (20) forming a surface of revolution. The free end of the socket (8) is fitted with a plate (18) in the form of a ring having clamping screws (22) that are screwed into the free end of the socket (8) in order to close the groove (17) and to compress the gasket (16) so that it deploys radially while bearing against the flank (20) and against the sleeve (9).