Face Seal Coupling Assembly With Angled Body for Stronger Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional metal face seals lack stiffness, leading to distortion and inadequate retention during installation, particularly in larger diameter coupling designs, impacting the securement and ease of assembly.
Innovation Solution
A metal seal design featuring an annular seal body with angled outer portions and retainers that enhance stiffness and generating a moment of force to improve retaining force, using a unitary construction with resilient or plastically deformable retainers to secure the seal to the coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional metal face seals are used, then they are suitable for severe service applications, but they lack stiffness and distort prior to assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The seal body is divided into multiple functional zones including a rigid central sealing portion and a more compliant outer peripheral portion. This segmentation allows the central region to maintain stiffness for proper sealing while the outer region provides flexibility for installation without distortion
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the seal body are given different mechanical properties - the central sealing area maintains high stiffness and rigidity, while the outer peripheral region has reduced stiffness to accommodate installation deformations. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall stiffness and installation flexibility
2Reliability
If retaining features are added to secure the metal seal, then retention is improved, but the seal may still distort and retaining features become inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The seal body is pre-formed with an optimized geometry that anticipates installation deformations. The outer peripheral portion is designed with predetermined compliance characteristics that allow it to flex during installation while maintaining proper sealing geometry, preventing distortion before assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The seal employs a composite structure combining rigid and compliant zones within a single metal component. The rigid central portion provides dimensional stability for retention features, while the compliant outer portion absorbs installation stresses, making retaining features effective
3Stability of the object's composition
If stiffer materials or thicker gauge material stock are used, then stiffness is improved, but such material selection is not practical for many applications
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using uniformly thick or stiff material throughout, the seal design implements variable thickness and stiffness zones. The central sealing region uses sufficient material thickness for rigidity, while the outer peripheral region uses thinner, more compliant material. This local differentiation achieves the required stiffness without requiring impractical material selections
Solution Approach 2:
The seal body is segmented into zones with different thickness characteristics. This segmentation allows the use of practical, manufacturable material gauges while achieving the necessary stiffness in critical areas through optimized geometry rather than relying on excessively thick or stiff materials throughout
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 enhanced stiffness and retaining force facilitate secure engagement and prevent distortion, ensuring effective installation and retention in extreme service applications.
Implementation Method 1
the annular angled portion being configured to engage a face of the fluid coupling to generate a moment of force about a portion of the at least one seal retainer for enhancing the retaining force
Implementation Method 2
using a unitary construction with resilient or plastically deformable retainers to secure the seal to the coupling
Implementation Method 3
using a unitary construction with resilient or plastically deformable retainers to secure the seal to the coupling
Data Source
AI summary
A metal seal for a flat face fluid coupling includes an annular seal body and a retainer having a fixed end fixed to the seal body, a free end spaced from the seal body, and an intermediate portion extending between the free end and the fixed end. The retainer is configured to engage a wall of the fluid coupling with a retaining force for securing the seal to the fluid coupling. The seal body has opposite first and second flat annular sealing surfaces, and a radially outer annular angled portion that is inclined relative to the annular sealing surface. The angled portion is configured to enhance stiffness around a circumference of the seal body, and is configured to engage a face of the fluid coupling to generate a moment of force about the retainer for enhancing the retaining force acting against the wall of the fluid coupling.