Liquid-Filled Seal for Pipe Diameter Variance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional compression-type seals fail to maintain a watertight seal when pipes with varying diameters or tolerances are used, leading to leaks and increased installation challenges due to limited tolerance and deflection issues, especially with flexible piping materials exceeding 48 inches in diameter.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic seal assembly featuring an annular seal with an embedded outer radial portion and an inner radial portion containing a substantially incompressible fluid or gel, allowing for axial movement and accommodating oversized pipes by expanding to maintain sealing pressure and adjust to varying diameters within a wider tolerance range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional compression-type seals are used with pipes that vary beyond tolerances, then the seal cannot maintain a watertight connection, but using more flexible seals increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid-filled seal where an incompressible liquid (such as water or glycol) is contained within the seal body. The liquid transmits pressure uniformly throughout the seal, allowing the flexible bladder to maintain consistent sealing pressure against the pipe surface even when pipe dimensions vary. This hydraulic principle enables the seal to accommodate tolerance variations while maintaining a reliable watertight connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible bladder that can change its volume and shape in response to pressure changes from the liquid. When pipe dimensions vary, the bladder deforms to maintain contact with the pipe surface, and the liquid pressure adjusts to preserve sealing force. This dynamic parameter change allows the seal to adapt to different pipe sizes and tolerances without requiring multiple seal designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional seals are used to accommodate oversized or undersized pipes, then the seal must be highly flexible, but this increases the coupling force required and reduces sealing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid-filled design uses hydraulic pressure to distribute sealing force uniformly across the pipe surface. The incompressible liquid ensures that pressure is transmitted equally in all directions, allowing the seal to accommodate oversized or undersized pipes without requiring excessive localized compression. This reduces the overall coupling force needed while maintaining adaptability to various pipe sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible bladder is designed to dynamically adjust its shape and volume in response to pipe dimension variations. The liquid inside provides a dynamic pressure distribution that automatically adapts to the pipe's actual dimensions, allowing the seal to maintain effectiveness across a range of pipe sizes without requiring fixed, high-force compression settings.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional compression seals are used, then installation is straightforward, but they fail when pipe tolerances exceed seal tolerance, leading to leaks and repair requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid-filled seal maintains installation simplicity while dramatically improving reliability under tolerance variation. The liquid pressure system automatically compensates for dimensional discrepancies between the seal and pipe, ensuring a reliable watertight connection even when pipe tolerances exceed traditional seal capabilities. This eliminates the need for complex adjustment mechanisms during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible bladder's ability to change volume and shape allows it to adapt to various pipe dimensions within a wide tolerance range. The liquid pressure dynamically adjusts to maintain optimal sealing contact, ensuring reliable performance across different pipe sizes and manufacturing tolerances without complicating the installation process.
4Stability of the object's composition
If conventional seals are used with flexible piping materials that may deflect, then the seal loses compression and requires re-excavation, but increasing seal flexibility increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The incompressible liquid inside the seal maintains constant pressure on the flexible bladder, which in turn maintains stable compression against the pipe surface. Even when the pipe deflects or settles, the liquid pressure ensures the bladder remains in firm contact with the pipe, preventing loss of compression and eliminating the need for re-excavation or repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible bladder dynamically responds to pipe movement or deflection by deforming and redistributing the liquid pressure. This dynamic adjustment maintains stable sealing compression even when the pipe position changes due to settlement or thermal expansion, without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
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 seal effectively maintains a watertight seal across a broader range of pipe diameters and tolerances, reducing the need for precise pipe alignment and minimizing the risk of leaks, while also simplifying installation and reducing inventory costs by accommodating up to ±1 inch variance in diameter.
Implementation Method 1
A dynamic seal assembly featuring an annular seal with an embedded outer radial portion and an inner radial portion containing a substantially incompressible fluid or gel
Implementation Method 2
A liquid-filled seal for sealing between an associated structure and a liquid-carrying pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing assembly for a liquid conveying system includes a first structure defining an aperture, such as a pipe receiving aperture. A second structure, such as a pipe is received in the aperture. And an annular seal is disposed within the aperture for radially sealing between the first structure and the second structure. The seal includes an outer radial portion embedded in the first structure and an inner radial portion in sealing engagement with the second structure. The inner radial portion defines an internal cavity containing a substantially incompressible fluid or gel that is movable within the cavity to provide a dynamic seal with the second structure.