Internal Clamping Plug With Wedge Seal for Non-Cylindrical Flow Paths
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing plugs are limited to round or bore-shaped flow paths, often causing damage and are difficult to install, and lack versatility for non-cylindrical shapes, leading to leakage and installation challenges.
Innovation Solution
A plug apparatus with an end cap, wedges, and an actuator system that allows for secure sealing and installation in both circular and non-circular flow paths, using sliding surfaces and rotational engagement to minimize damage and ensure stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If an expanding metal sleeve/clip/ring is used to hold the plug and seal the flow path, then high holding power is achieved, but the flow path is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an elastomeric seal as an intermediary between the plug and the flow path. This seal engages with the flow path walls to provide sealing and holding forces, preventing direct contact between the metal plug and the flow path, thereby eliminating damage while maintaining high holding power through the compliant elastomeric material
2Object-affected harmful factors
If only an elastomeric seal is used to hold the plug in place, then the flow path is not damaged, but torquing the sealing plug becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the plug: the body is made of metal for structural strength and torque transmission, while the sealing interface uses elastomeric material for damage-free engagement. This local differentiation allows the metal portion to provide torquing surfaces while the elastomeric seal prevents flow path damage
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional sealing plugs are designed for round or bore-shaped flow paths, then installation is simplified, but they cannot be used in non-cylindrical flow paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the plug with a non-circular cross-sectional shape that can engage with various flow path geometries. The elastomeric seal portion is configured to conform to different flow path shapes, allowing the same plug design to function in round, square, rectangular, or other non-cylindrical flow paths, thereby achieving universal applicability across different flow path configurations
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
The apparatus effectively seals non-cylindrical flow paths with minimal damage, providing secure and removable plugging without leakage, suitable for various flow path shapes.
Implementation Method 1
a first wedge having a first sliding surface aligned at a first angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, a second wedge having a second sliding surface configured to engage the first sliding surface
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
An apparatus for plugging a flow path includes an end cap (200) having a head and a neck, a seal (300) disposed about the neck to selectively sealingly engage an internal surface of the flow path, a first wedge (400) having a first sliding surface aligned at a first angle with respect to a longitudinal axis, a second wedge (500) having a second sliding surface configured to engage the first sliding surface, and an actuator (600) disposed through the seal, the first wedge, and the second wedge. The first wedge has a first end configured to engage the seal and a longitudinally opposite second end with the first sliding surface thereon. The actuator (600) can be threadably coupled to the end cap (200). The actuator and the end cap compress the sea and the first wedge between the end cap and the second wedge to plug the flow path.