Foldable Support Shoulder Sealing Ring for Variable Pipe Geometries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe sealing profiles face challenges in providing reliable sealing and accommodating different pipe wall cross-sectional geometries, leading to increased production costs due to the need for multiple molds and potential damage from direct contact between pipes with varying shoulder heights.
Innovation Solution
A pipe sealing profile design where the support shoulder is aligned upright in the cross-section, folding radially outward or inward to adapt to different pipe geometries, and can be folded into an axial position during assembly or connection, ensuring defined compression and preventing direct contact between pipes, with a hinge section for deformation and a hard support area for shearing forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the support shoulder is designed at a fixed height and orientation to match specific pipe geometries, then reliable sealing and support against shearing forces is achieved, but the device requires multiple different molds for different pipe diameters, increasing production costs and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The support shoulder is designed to be rotatable relative to the sealing section, allowing it to change orientation from a radial position during installation to an axial position during operation. This dynamic repositioning enables a single sealing profile to adapt to pipes with different shoulder heights and orientations, eliminating the need for multiple molds while maintaining reliable sealing and support functions
Solution Approach 2:
The support shoulder transitions from a two-dimensional fixed position in conventional designs to a three-dimensional rotatable element that can assume different spatial orientations. By adding the rotational degree of freedom, the same component can accommodate varying pipe geometries without requiring multiple specialized molds
2Ease of manufacture
If pipes with different shoulder heights are connected using conventional sealing profiles, then production costs increase due to multiple molds, but direct contact between pipes causes point pressure peaks and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable support shoulder dynamically adapts its position to match the specific geometry of each pipe being connected. This ensures that the support shoulder makes proper contact with the pipe shoulder regardless of height variations, distributing loads evenly and preventing harmful point pressure peaks while using a single cost-effective mold design
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation parameter of the support shoulder is changed through rotation to match different pipe geometries. By adjusting this parameter rather than changing the entire sealing profile geometry, the system prevents point pressure peaks from mismatched geometries while maintaining economical production through a single mold
3Strength
If the support shoulder is made hard to resist shearing forces, then support capability is improved, but the sealing section may be damaged by direct contact with harder pipe shoulders during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable support shoulder is positioned radially during installation, allowing the softer sealing section to make first contact with the pipe and seal the joint. After sealing is established, the support shoulder rotates to an axial position where it contacts the pipe shoulder to provide shear resistance, preventing the harder support material from damaging the sealing material during assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing action is performed preliminarily by the sealing section before the support shoulder engages with the pipe shoulder. This sequence ensures that the sealing interface is established while the support shoulder is in a non-contact radial position, protecting the sealing section from damage by the harder support material
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
Enables reliable sealing across various pipe diameters and geometries, reducing production costs by allowing a single sealing profile to fit multiple configurations and preventing damage from point pressure peaks, while maintaining effective support against shearing forces.
Implementation Method 1
with a hinge section for deformation
Implementation Method 2
a hard support area for shearing forces
Implementation Method 3
If the compressible sealing section of the pipe sealing profile is compressed under load
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~9
AI summary
In a pipe sealing profile (1) whose cross-section has the following features: • a compressible sealing section (5), and which extends upwards from a first, so-called front end (6) of the cross-section to a first height, • and a support shoulder (7) which is arranged behind the sealing section (5) and which extends to a second, lower height than the sealing section (5), such that the support shoulder (7) limits compression of the sealing section (5) under a downward load on the pipe sealing profile (1), the invention proposes that the support shoulder (7) can be folded from a standing ready position into a lying working position, in which it extends at a lower height than the sealing section (5).Furthermore, the invention proposes a sealing arrangement comprising a pipe (2) which has a pipe end designed as a socket or as a spigot end, and a pipe sealing profile (1) arranged circumferentially around the pipe end to form a closed ring, which is designed according to one of the preceding claims.