Flange Gasket Positioning Tabs to Prevent Shift and Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flat gaskets used in flange connections are prone to shifting due to large tolerances and narrow gasket sections, leading to potential leaks and entanglement in fastening screw threads, especially with thin gaskets.
Innovation Solution
A positioning arrangement with a sheet metal element featuring multiple tabs that secure the element to fastening screws, ensuring precise alignment and preventing rotation, using a combination of through-holes and receiving bores to stabilize the gasket relative to the flange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional flat gaskets are used without tabs, then the device complexity is low, but the sheet metal element shifts due to large tolerances and narrow gasket sections, leading to leaks and entanglement in fastening screw threads
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is segmented into multiple functional zones: sealing contact sections at the periphery and tab sections extending into the flange thickness. These tabs are divided into first tabs (three tabs) for centering and second tabs (two tabs) for rotational positioning, creating distinct positioning functions that prevent both shifting and rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning mechanism transitions from two-dimensional planar positioning to three-dimensional positioning by extending tabs through the flange thickness. The tabs engage with receiving holes at different depths, providing radial clearance for tolerance compensation while maintaining precise positioning in multiple spatial dimensions.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple tabs are added to secure the sheet metal element, then positioning accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tabs serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as positioning elements, centering devices, and rotational constraints. The same tab structure that provides radial clearance for tolerance compensation also engages with receiving holes to prevent both lateral shifting and rotation, eliminating the need for separate positioning aids like dowel pins.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning holes and receiving holes are merged into a single integrated feature in the flange. The receiving holes accommodate both the tabs from the gasket and the fastening screws, combining positioning and fastening functions into one structural element, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If radial clearance is provided in receiving holes for tabs, then tolerance compensation improves, but positioning stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Radial clearance is provided locally in the receiving holes where the tabs engage, allowing tolerance compensation at the tab-receiving hole interface. However, the tabs are constrained in the axial direction by the flange surfaces and in the rotational direction by the second tabs, maintaining stability while accommodating manufacturing tolerances.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a positioning assembly for positioning a sheet metal element on a flange connection comprising a flange (1) with a medium passage opening (6); a counter flange (2) with a medium passage opening (7), wherein the counter flange (2) is connected to the flange (1) by means of multiple securing screws (13, 22, 28, 33), and the medium passage openings (6, 7) of the flange (1) and the counter flange (2) communicate with each other; and a sheet metal element (3) with a contact section (18) which is arranged about the medium passage openings (6, 7) between the flange (1) and the counter flange (2) on a contact plane and with first lugs (17) which are arranged on a first through-bore (15) of the sheet metal element (3) and protrude into a first receiving bore (14) in the counter flange (2) so as to run transversely to the contact plane. The sheet metal element (3) has at least three first lugs (17) which are received in the first receiving bore (14) with a radial clearance, and the sheet metal element (3) sits on a first securing screw of the securing screws (13) by means of the first lugs (17), said securing screw being guided through the first receiving bore (14) and the first through-bore (15) and being screwed into a threaded bore (16) in the flange (1), and is positioned opposite the flange (1).