Gasket Insertion Tool with Removable Frame and Retention Wire
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gasket placement devices are unusable in flange assemblies without a gap between faces, as they require a breakaway portion that cannot be accommodated in such scenarios, and they fail to adequately restrain the gasket during transportation and placement, and are not easily removable after gasket installation.
Innovation Solution
A gasket insertion apparatus with a handle and retention wire that retains the gasket within a curved frame during placement, allowing for easy insertion and removal, featuring a slit for flexibility and alignment holes for precise positioning, enabling the tool to be removed after gasket placement without leaving any part behind.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a breakaway portion is used to retain the gasket during placement, then the gasket can be securely held in place, but the device cannot be used in flange assemblies without sufficient gap space
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is divided into a removable frame portion and a handle portion. The frame holds the gasket during placement and can be detached from the handle after installation, allowing the frame to be reused with different handles for various flange configurations while maintaining secure gasket retention during the placement process
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus allows for adjustable parameters including the frame configuration and retention mechanism settings. This enables the same basic apparatus design to adapt to different flange assembly types (with or without gaps) by modifying the frame and retention wire configuration rather than requiring entirely different devices
2Ease of operation
If the apparatus is designed to leave a portion inside the flange assembly, then gasket placement is simplified, but it becomes unusable when no gap space is available
Solution Approach 1:
The problematic breakaway portion that needed to remain inside the flange assembly is extracted and replaced with a fully removable frame design. The frame can be detached completely from the flange assembly after gasket placement, making the apparatus usable in both gap and no-gap flange configurations while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus transitions from a static design with a permanent breakaway portion to a dynamic design where the frame can be selectively attached and detached. This dynamic configuration allows the same apparatus to adapt to different flange types by adjusting whether the frame remains or is removed after placement
3Reliability
If the gasket is retained within a frame during transportation and placement, then the gasket remains secure, but the apparatus may be difficult to remove after placement
Solution Approach 1:
The retention wire is pre-configured in a loose state during transportation and placement, allowing the gasket to be securely held within the frame. After the gasket is properly positioned in the flange assembly, the retention wire is then tightened or locked to secure the gasket permanently, and the frame can be easily removed without disturbing the installed gasket
Data Source
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.