Inner Seal Collar Locking Mechanism for Pipe Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal sealing collars lack sufficient force loading in their arresting devices, making it difficult to maintain a strong, permanent contact with the pipe wall and effectively seal leaks.
Innovation Solution
The internal sealing collar features two rows of teeth with associated tensioning and locking pinions, where each locking pinion engages with its respective tensioning pinion and tooth row, enhancing the arresting force and static stability by allowing only half the tooth pitch movement when expanded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a single row of teeth with one tensioning pinion and one locking pinion is used, then the device structure is simple, but the locking force and static stability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The arresting device is segmented into multiple independent tooth rows (first row with tensioning pinion 31 and locking pinion 41, second row with tensioning pinion 32 and locking pinion 42). Each row independently engages with the toothed bar 20, distributing the locking force across multiple engagement points. This segmentation increases the total locking force while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design.
2Reliability
If the belt is expanded to seal the leak, then the contact with pipe wall is achieved, but the arresting device may unlock due to insufficient locking force
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple locking mechanisms are merged into a single arresting device system. The first tensioning pinion 31 and locking pinion 41 work together with the first row of teeth 21, while the second tensioning pinion 32 and locking pinion 42 work together with the second row of teeth 22. All four pinions simultaneously engage with the toothed bar 20, creating a combined arresting force that reliably maintains permanent contact with the pipe wall during belt expansion.
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
This configuration achieves higher locking forces and improved static stability, ensuring the sealing collar remains securely in place and effectively seals leaks by distributing the locking forces across multiple toothed gears.
Implementation Method 1
each locking pinion (41, 42) pressing against the associated tensioning pinion (31, 32) via one spring element (51, 52) each
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is an inner seal collar for inserting into pipes in order to seal leakage points in the pipes, comprising an expandable strip which is bent into the shape of a ring and which is preferably made of steel sheet, parts of the strip at least partly overlapping in the circumferential direction, and comprising a locking device which has at least two parallel rows of teeth, wherein a separate clamping pinion engages into at least two of the rows of teeth. The invention comprises a separate blocking pinion paired with each of the at least two clamping pinions, the blocking pinion pushing against the corresponding clamping pinion via a respective spring element and being engaged with the clamping pinion, and each of the blocking pinions is also engaged with the corresponding row of teeth.