Fluid Coupling Seal Assembly With Deformable Back-Up Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid couplings fail to withstand high temperatures, leading to potential damage and leaks due to rapid heat transfer affecting sealing members.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a back-up ring with a tapered portion and a deformable end portion in the seal assembly, which creates a clearance at elevated temperatures to maintain a fluid-tight seal by allowing the back-up ring to move and engage with the inner sleeve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional sealing members are used in high temperature environments, then the fluid coupling can operate at normal temperatures, but the sealing members are damaged by heat transfer and cause leaks
Solution Approach 1:
A back-up ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the sealing member and the recess wall. This back-up ring acts as a mediator that deforms at predetermined temperature and pressure to create clearance, preventing the sealing member from being damaged by direct heat transfer and high temperature exposure, thus maintaining seal integrity in high temperature environments
Solution Approach 2:
The back-up ring is designed with temperature-dependent deformation characteristics. At predetermined temperature and pressure conditions, the back-up ring changes its physical state by deforming to create clearance between the tapered portion and the recess wall. This parameter change allows the sealing assembly to adapt to high temperature environments and maintain reliable sealing
2Reliability
If the back-up ring is designed with a tapered portion, then clearance can be created at high temperatures, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The back-up ring incorporates a tapered portion with specific geometric properties localized at the critical sealing interface. This local geometric feature enables the back-up ring to create clearance when deformed, providing the necessary adaptability for high temperature operation without requiring complex overall structural changes to the entire seal assembly
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
Ensures a secure fluid-tight seal at high temperatures, preventing leaks and maintaining functionality beyond the failure point of conventional sealing members.
Implementation Method 1
an end portion at the low pressure side configured to deform at or above at least one of a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure to create a clearance between the tapered portion and a wall of the recess
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid coupling including a first adapter, second adapter configured to connect with and disconnect from the male adapter, inner sleeve, first seal assembly disposed in a recess of the first adapter and configured to form a fluid-tight seal between the first adapter and inner sleeve, and second seal assembly disposed in a recess of the second adapter and configured to form a fluid-tight seal between the second adapter and inner sleeve. The first seal assembly and/or second seal assembly may include a sealing member and back-up ring. The back-up ring may have a tapered portion that may taper in a direction of a low-pressure side of the sealing assembly, and an end portion at the low pressure side configured to deform at or above at least one of a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure to create a clearance between the tapered portion and a wall of the recess.