Gasket Insertion Frame With Retention Wire for Compact Flanges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gasket placement devices are unusable in flange assemblies without a gap between the flange faces, as they require space for a breakaway portion that cannot be accommodated in compact flange assemblies, and they lack a mechanism for easy gasket insertion and removal.
Innovation Solution
A gasket insertion apparatus with a handle and retention wire that restrains the gasket during placement, allowing for easy insertion and removal, featuring a curved frame with serrations and a slit for flexibility, and holes for alignment gauges, enabling the tool to be used in both deep water diving and remotely operated vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a breakaway portion is used in gasket placement devices, then the gasket can be securely retained during placement, but the device cannot be used in flange assemblies without gap space between flange faces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the breakaway portion from the gasket placement device, extracting the problematic component that prevented use in compact flange assemblies. The device now consists only of the handle and curved frame components that can fit within tight spaces while still securing the gasket through alternative means.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a slit in the curved frame that allows the frame to flex and deform during insertion and removal operations. This dynamic flexibility enables the device to be inserted into tight spaces and then flexed outward for removal, providing adaptability to compact flange configurations while maintaining gasket retention during the placement operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the device structure is simplified to remove the breakaway portion, then the device becomes more adaptable to compact flanges, but the mechanism for easy removal after gasket placement is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The slit in the curved frame creates a flexible, dynamic structure that can be easily deformed for removal. The flexible portion allows the frame to bend outward when pulled, enabling simple extraction from the flange assembly after gasket placement without requiring complex release mechanisms or breakaway components.
3Strength
If the curved frame is made rigid for structural strength, then the frame can securely hold the gasket, but the frame cannot be flexed for reliable removal from tight spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The curved frame is segmented into rigid portions and a flexible portion containing the slit. The rigid portions provide structural strength for securing the gasket, while the flexible portion with the slit allows controlled deformation for insertion and removal operations, combining both requirements in a unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved frame incorporates a flexible portion that acts as a thin, deformable element within the otherwise rigid structure. This flexible section allows the frame to bend and flex during operation while maintaining overall structural integrity for gasket retention.
Data Source
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AI summary
A gasket insertion apparatus and method for inserting a gasket between the adjoining faces of a flange assembly are provided. The gasket insertion apparatus includes a frame, a member and a wire. The frame has a first end, a second end and an inner gripping surface. The first and second ends have guides. The member has a first end portion attached to the frame and a second portion extending away from the frame. The wire is anchored to at least one of the frame and the member such that it movably adjusts within the guides and secures the gasket within the inner gripping surface.