Hammer Union Sealing Pocket to Prevent Ring Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hammer unions in the oil and gas industry face seal failure due to softening of flexible rubber seals under high pressure fluids and damage to rigid composite material seals during assembly, leading to leaks and displacement of seals.
Innovation Solution
A hammer union design featuring a sealing pocket with an arcuate, vertical, base, and recessed groove portions, where a deformable sealing ring is captured between the male and female pipe members, engaging multiple surfaces of the pocket to create a secure seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If soft flexible rubber seals are used, then ease of assembly is improved, but seal reliability deteriorates due to softening under high pressure fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring material properties are changed to resist softening under high pressure and temperature conditions. The material is selected or engineered to maintain its mechanical properties and sealing effectiveness in the harsh downhole environment, resolving the contradiction between ease of assembly and seal reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring is made from composite material that combines the advantages of flexibility for assembly with resistance to high pressure and temperature. This composite construction allows the seal to be easy to install while maintaining reliability under extreme conditions.
2Reliability
If rigid composite material seals with metal inserts are used, then seal reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to damage during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring material is engineered to have appropriate hardness and toughness parameters that prevent damage during assembly while maintaining sealing effectiveness. The material properties are optimized to withstand the hammering process without cracking or deforming.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring is designed as a flexible element that can deform during assembly to accommodate the hammering process, then return to its proper sealing position. This flexibility prevents damage while maintaining reliability.
3Device complexity
If traditional seals are used, then device complexity is reduced, but seal reliability deteriorates due to displacement under high pressure fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring has a curved or arcuate cross-sectional shape that allows it to engage with the sealing surface while accommodating pressure forces. The curved geometry helps the seal maintain its position under high pressure fluid flow without requiring complex retention structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring is designed with a three-dimensional cross-sectional geometry that engages the sealing surface at multiple points or surfaces. This multi-dimensional engagement prevents displacement under pressure while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A hammer union is provided for reducing and, in most instances, eliminating the likelihood of sealing ring displacement during fluid operations. The hammer union comprises a male pipe member, a union nut placed over the male pipe member, a female pipe member, and a sealing ring. The female pipe member includes a sealing pocket having an arcuate portion, a vertical portion, a base, and a recessed groove. The sealing ring is captured between the male pipe member and the female pipe member such that the sealing ring engages the sealing pocket of the female pipe member at each of the arcuate portion, the vertical portion, the base, and the recessed groove.