Line Stop Flange Locking Mechanism Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional line stop assemblies suffer from leakage due to inadequate seals between components and performance degradation caused by improper alignment of locking mechanism components within the radial bore.
Innovation Solution
A line stop flange with a locking mechanism featuring a bushing and screw assembly that provides a metal-to-metal seal and self-alignment capabilities, ensuring effective sealing even with non-concentric alignment, using a bushing with a cavity and lip, and a screw with a circumferential channel and head, which maintains a consistent seal and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sealing components are used in line stop assemblies, then the assembly can be manufactured and installed, but leakage occurs due to inadequate seal between components
Solution Approach 1:
A bushing is introduced as an intermediary component between the locking mechanism and the radial bore. The bushing includes a sealing surface that contacts the radial bore wall, and a cavity that receives the screw head. This intermediary bushing ensures proper sealing without requiring precise concentricity between the locking mechanism components and the radial bore, thereby preventing leakage while maintaining ease of assembly.
2Ease of operation
If locking mechanism components are disposed in a radial bore of the line stop assembly, then the locking function is provided, but performance degrades if the components are not properly aligned (not concentric to the radial bore)
Solution Approach 1:
The bushing serves as a mediator that decouples the alignment requirements. It has a outer surface that contacts the radial bore wall and an inner cavity that receives the screw head. This bushing absorbs any misalignment between the radial bore and the locking mechanism components, allowing the components to function properly even when not perfectly concentric, thus maintaining ease of operation while reducing manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the geometric parameters of the bushing, specifically providing a cavity with diameter larger than the screw head diameter. This parameter change allows the screw head to be received within the cavity without requiring precise concentric alignment, as the bushing can accommodate positional variations while maintaining the locking function.
3Reliability
If a bushing with cavity and lip is used to receive the screw head, then self-alignment is achieved and sealing is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bushing combines multiple functions into a single component: it provides sealing against the radial bore wall through its outer surface, receives and positions the screw head through its cavity, and enables self-alignment of the locking mechanism. By merging these functions into one bushing component rather than using separate sealing elements and positioning features, the design achieves reliable sealing and self-alignment without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A locking mechanism for a stop flange is provided with a screw having a head with at least one circumferential channel, and a screw gasket disposed on the at least one circumferential channel. A bushing receives the head in a cavity that forms a housing for the head and screw gasket. The bushing may be provided with a lip that engages a shoulder on a radial bore in a stop flange.