Fluid Coupling Radial Sealing for Vacuum Leak Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-closing clutches for fluids face issues with maintaining technical tightness in the decoupled state, especially when exposed to negative pressure, leading to potential leaks due to axial sealing and the pinching of foreign bodies or particles, which affects their functionality, particularly in cold and air conditioning applications.
Innovation Solution
The clutch employs radial sealing elements, such as sliding bolts and piston rods made from high-abrasion-resistant materials like rubber, which provide a radial seal to prevent fluid, steam, or gas leaks when decoupled, and are designed to minimize the influence of locking springs on sealing effectiveness, ensuring reliable sealing even under vacuum conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If axial sealing elements are used in self-closing clutches, then sealing effectiveness in coupled state is improved, but reliability in decoupled state deteriorates due to pinching of foreign bodies and particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the sealing direction from axial to radial. Instead of sealing elements acting axially between coupling halves, the sealing elements now act radially outward from a central sealing area. This inversion eliminates the pinching problem because the sealing force is directed perpendicular to the closing direction, preventing foreign bodies from being trapped between the seal and seat during the closing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the sealing action from one dimension (axial) to another dimension (radial). The sealing elements are arranged to exert sealing force in the radial direction rather than the axial direction, creating a new sealing dimension that avoids the harmful pinching effect while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If thermoplastics are used as sealing material, then cold flow properties and reset behavior are improved, but technical tightness deteriorates in repeated coupling processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from thermoplastic to elastomeric material. This material substitution provides both improved cold flow properties and maintained technical tightness, as elastomeric materials can deform to accommodate sealing surfaces while maintaining consistent sealing force through their elastic recovery properties.
3Force
If locking springs are used to attach clutch halves, then coupling force is improved, but sealing effectiveness deteriorates under negative pressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the sealing function in a specific radial sealing area rather than relying on distributed axial sealing. The sealing elements are positioned and configured to provide localized radial sealing force at the critical sealing interface, ensuring effective sealing under negative pressure while maintaining overall coupling force through the locking springs.
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 radial sealing design ensures permanent and reliable tightness in both coupled and decoupled states, minimizing leaks and maintaining sealing effectiveness across various pressure conditions, including vacuum scenarios, thereby enhancing the clutch's performance in repeated coupling processes.
Implementation Method 1
The locking springs are designed to generate a linear force
Implementation Method 2
The materials selected depending on the media are advantageously among the (synthesis) rubbers, which have a high abrasion resistance
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a coupling (1) for fluids, comprising two coupling halves (10',10'') that can be positively connected to each other and which are acted upon by force generating elements (11', 11"), wherein sealing elements (12',12") are provided on the two coupling halves (10',10") which seal the flow path of the fluid against the atmosphere in the decoupled state of the coupling halves (10',10"). According to the invention, the sealing elements (12',12") are designed as sliding pistons (120', 120") and are in a sealing position in a seating area against sealing elements, wherein radially acting seals (122',122") are provided on the sliding pistons (120', 120") and/or the sealing elements, which seal against the bordering seating surfaces of the sliding pistons (120', 120") and/or the sealing elements.