Hybrid Threaded Fitting for Labyrinth Sealing Across Wall Types
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industries handling hazardous materials face challenges in maintaining safety standards due to the need for multiple threaded connectors to seal and secure enclosures, leading to increased inventory burdens and complexity in maintenance and repair operations.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid threaded fitting with a combination of tapered and straight threads, along with a transition thread, provides a labyrinth-type seal for hazardous materials, addressing both explosion protection and vibration issues while reducing inventory needs by serving multiple thread configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple threaded connectors are used to seal and secure enclosures for different thread configurations, then sealing effectiveness for various hazardous material applications is improved, but inventory complexity and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The threaded fitting incorporates multiple thread configurations (NPT, BSPT, NPSM, NPSL, BSPP) within a single device, enabling it to perform multiple sealing functions across different hazardous material applications. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for maintaining separate connectors for each thread type, directly resolving the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and inventory complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple threaded connectors are maintained for different applications, then adaptability to various enclosure types is improved, but maintenance costs and operational burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple thread configurations and sealing capabilities into a single integrated fitting design. By merging NPT, BSPT, NPSM, NPSL, and BSPP thread types along with thin-walled and thick-walled enclosure adaptations into one device, it maintains full adaptability while significantly reducing the number of separate components that require maintenance, thus lowering operational burden
3Quantity of substance
If a single threaded fitting design is used for both thin- and thick-walled enclosures, then inventory requirements are reduced, but sealing effectiveness for different wall thicknesses may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The threaded fitting incorporates distinct design features optimized for different enclosure types within the same device. It includes specific thread configurations and sealing mechanisms tailored for thin-walled enclosures (NPSL, NPSM) and separate features for thick-walled enclosures (NPT, BSPT, BSPP), allowing the single fitting to maintain optimal sealing effectiveness for each application while reducing inventory requirements
Data Source
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AI summary
A threaded fitting (10) comprising a first plurality of threads (T) from a first end of the fitting to a transition thread (TT) and a second plurality of threads (S) from the transition thread to a second end of the fitting. The first plurality of threads (T) is configured to provide a labyrinth type seal minimizing the migration of at least dust and/or gases across a thick-walled enclosure. The second plurality of threads (S) is configured to engage a lock-nut in thin-walled enclosures, or a plurality of pre-formed threads within an aperture of thick-walled enclosures, for minimizing the migration of at least fluids/water across one of the thin- or thick-walled enclosure. The first and second plurality of threads are serially-arranged and may be used either thin or thick-walled enclosures to retard a passage of at least one of either gas, fluid, dust and flame.