Cryogenic Sealing Member Geometry for High-Pressure Gap Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing members fail to maintain effective sealing properties in low-temperature environments, such as those encountered with ultra-low-temperature fluids like liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied hydrogen, where traditional sealing technologies are inadequate.
Innovation Solution
A sealing member with a specific configuration, including a first pressing part, a second pressing part, and a deformation inducing part, is designed to seal gaps by being pressed in a depth direction, utilizing a retainer gland to ensure close contact with both side parts and the contact part of the gap, enhancing sealing efficacy even at extreme temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sealing members with straight inner and outer circumferential wall surfaces are used, then the sealing mechanism is simple and easy to manufacture, but the sealing properties deteriorate in low-temperature environments
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member employs curved circumferential wall surfaces instead of straight surfaces. The inner circumferential wall surface has a first curvature radius that is larger than a second curvature radius of the outer circumferential wall surface, creating a tapered configuration that improves sealing contact in low-temperature environments while maintaining manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the sealing member by defining specific curvature radius relationships. The first curvature radius of the inner circumferential wall is designed to be larger than the second curvature radius of the outer circumferential wall, creating an optimized tapered shape that enhances sealing performance at low temperatures.
2Reliability
If the sealing member is pressed strongly to improve sealing contact, then sealing properties improve, but the sealing member may deform or damage the gap components
Solution Approach 1:
The curved surface geometry with controlled curvature radius ratios distributes the pressing forces more evenly across the sealing member. This reduces stress concentration points that could cause deformation or damage to gap components, while still achieving effective sealing contact through the tapered configuration.
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 sealing member effectively maintains excellent sealing properties at low temperatures, preventing fluid leakage and ensuring reliable operation in ultra-low-temperature environments, such as with liquefied hydrogen, by distributing pressure and inducing deformation to enhance sealing force.
Implementation Method 1
a deformation inducing part that strains the sealing member in a direction in which the second pressing part is directed to the second side part of the gap
Data Source
AI summary
Realized is a sealing member which exhibits excellent sealing properties even at a low temperature and a high pressure. A sealing member (100) includes: a first pressing part (110) that presses a first side part of a gap by pressing from a lateral direction; a second pressing part (120) that is pressed against a second side part of the gap by the pressing from the lateral direction; and a part (122) that induces deformation of the sealing member (100) such that the sealing member (100) is strained toward the second side part by the pressing from the lateral direction.