Expanded Graphite Sealing Material Composition for Gland Packing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing materials and gland packings using fibrous expanded graphites are prone to breakage when subjected to external forces, leading to reduced sealing performance due to uneven gaps and sharp bending, which compromises their ability to maintain sealing properties effectively.
Innovation Solution
A sealing material composition comprising sheet-like members made of expanded graphite, stacked in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of a surrounding body, allowing relative movement while maintaining the stacked state, and a gland packing using this composition with an inner core member and twisted or braided yarns, where the sheet-like members are inclined and elongated to prevent breakage and enhance sealing properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fibrous expanded graphites are filled into the tubular member in a random arrangement, then the sealing material can be easily manufactured, but uneven gaps are formed between adjacent fibrous expanded graphites leading to reduced sealing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the arrangement parameter of fibrous expanded graphites from random to aligned orientation. The fibrous expanded graphites are arranged so that their longitudinal directions substantially coincide with the longitudinal direction of the tubular member, transforming the structural parameter to eliminate uneven gaps while maintaining manufacturing feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure by combining aligned fibrous expanded graphites with the tubular member. This composite arrangement ensures that the fibrous expanded graphites are positioned in a controlled manner within the tubular member, preventing uneven gap formation while preserving the flexibility and sealing properties of the material
2Ease of operation
If the yarn is flexed and curved to conform to the shaft member, then the gland packing can be installed in the stuffing box, but the fibrous expanded graphites may be sharply bent causing breakage and reduced sealing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the structural parameter of the fibrous expanded graphites from a random, loosely arranged configuration to an aligned, tightly packed configuration. This parameter change increases the flexibility of the overall structure, allowing the yarn to be flexed and curved during installation without causing sharp bends that would break the fibrous expanded graphites
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a dynamic structure where the aligned fibrous expanded graphites can move relative to each other in a controlled manner. This dynamic arrangement allows the yarn to be flexed and curved during installation while maintaining the integrity of the fibrous expanded graphites, as they can adjust their positions without breaking
3Ease of operation
If the inner core member is curved into a ring-like shape for the shaft member, then the gland packing can be disposed in the stuffing box, but the fibrous expanded graphites may be sharply bent causing breakage and reduced sealing property
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the arrangement parameter of fibrous expanded graphites from random to aligned orientation along the longitudinal direction. This parameter change ensures that when the inner core member is curved into a ring-like shape, the fibrous expanded graphites are distributed in a manner that prevents sharp bending and breakage, maintaining sealing property during installation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure combining the tubular member with aligned fibrous expanded graphites. This composite structure allows the inner core member to be curved into a ring-like shape while the aligned fibrous expanded graphites maintain their integrity, ensuring both ease of installation and reliable sealing property
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing material composition which comprises sheet-like members containing expanded graphite, and which hardly causes the sheet-like members to be broken is provided.A sealing material composition 1 comprises: a stacked body 5; and a long surrounding body 6 which surrounds the stacked body. The stacked body has a plurality of sheet-like members 10 each of which is formed into a tape-like shape by expanded graphite. In the stacked body, the plurality of sheet-like members are stacked in a direction which intersects with the longitudinal direction of the surrounding body, and, in the plurality of sheet-like members, sheet-like members which are adjacent to each other in the stacking direction are disposed to be displaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the surrounding body, in a relatively movable manner. The surrounding body allows the adjacent sheet-like members to be relatively moved in the longitudinal direction of the surrounding body, while maintaining the stacked state of the adjacent sheet-like members.