Flexible Hinge Gasket for Corrugated Pipe Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gasket systems for connecting corrugated pipes face issues with fluid leakage due to high frictional forces causing gasket displacement and debris infiltration, leading to unreliable seals and reduced durability.
Innovation Solution
An annular integral gasket with a flexible sealing portion and a bonding layer is fixedly attached to one of the pipe members, forming a fluid-tight seal through fusion processes, allowing for independent movement and reducing the risk of gasket displacement and debris entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional gasket is used in corrugated pipe connections, then the sealing function is provided, but high frictional forces cause gasket displacement and fluid leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is divided into two functional segments: a rigid anchor portion that remains stationary in the bell and provides structural stability, and a flexible sealing portion that can deform to maintain the seal. This segmentation allows the anchor to resist frictional forces while the sealing portion adapts to movement, resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and frictional force resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket transitions from a static, uniform structure to a dynamic, multi-functional structure where the flexible sealing portion can move and deform independently from the rigid anchor portion. This dynamic capability allows the sealing surface to maintain contact under varying frictional forces, improving sealing reliability without being constrained by high friction.
2Reliability
If a conventional gasket is used in corrugated pipe connections, then the connection is formed, but debris can infiltrate the gasket seat reducing seal effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is extracted from the traditional gasket seat location and transferred to the flexible sealing portion that sits on the bell's sealing surface. By removing the dependency on a recessed gasket seat, the design eliminates the cavity where debris could accumulate, preventing debris infiltration while maintaining seal effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing the sealing surface inside a recessed seat (conventional approach), the sealing surface is inverted to be located on the external bell surface. This inversion prevents debris from entering the sealing interface, as the seal forms on the exposed bell surface rather than in a protected but debris-prone recess.
3Ease of operation
If the gasket is not fixedly attached to the pipe member, then the gasket can be installed, but the gasket may move from its desired location under operational forces
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is merged with the pipe assembly through fixed attachment of the rigid anchor portion to the bell. This combination creates an integrated structure where the gasket becomes part of the pipe connection system, ensuring position stability under operational forces while maintaining installation simplicity through the modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid anchor portion is designed to be pre-attached to the bell before the flexible sealing portion is installed. This preliminary action secures the gasket's position and prevents movement during subsequent installation steps and operational use, ensuring stability without complicating the overall installation process.
4Shape
If a rigid gasket structure is used, then the gasket maintains its shape, but it cannot accommodate movement and stress without losing seal integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is segmented into a rigid anchor portion that maintains shape stability and a flexible sealing portion that provides movement capability. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by assigning different functional requirements to different segments: the rigid portion resists deformation while the flexible portion accommodates movement and stress.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the gasket are assigned different mechanical properties: the anchor portion is rigid to maintain shape stability, while the sealing portion is flexible to accommodate movement. This local differentiation of material properties allows the gasket to simultaneously maintain shape where needed and adapt where required.
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 a reliable, fluid-tight connection that withstands operational forces and maintains seal integrity by integrating the gasket with the pipe members, preventing leakage and debris infiltration, thus enhancing the durability and effectiveness of the sealing assembly.
Implementation Method 1
The bonding layer is adapted to be fixedly attached to a tubular member by a joining process
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an annular integral gasket are provided for forming a sealing connection between a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The integral gasket comprises at least one flexible sealing portion adapted to form a sealing connection between a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The integral gasket further comprises a bonding layer adapted to be fixedly attached to a tubular member by a joining process. The integral gasket also comprises a body region adapted for supporting the flexible sealing portion and the bonding layer.