Low-Spread Metal Ring Gasket for Minimal Flange Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing metal-to-metal sealing systems require significant flange face spreading distances for component removal, leading to increased loads and stiffness issues, particularly in high-pressure applications, making it difficult to remove pressure-retaining components without damaging sealing surfaces or loosening other connections.
Innovation Solution
A low-spread metal ring gasket design featuring a lower ring gasket portion with inner and outer sealing surfaces and an upper ring gasket portion with sealing bumps and protection wings, which allows for a reduced clearance distance between pressure-retaining components by creating a pressure-tight metal-to-metal seal with minimal spreading requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional metal-to-metal sealing systems are used, then a secure pressure-tight seal is achieved, but a large flange face spreading distance is required for component removal
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is segmented into a body portion and a protruding sealing portion, where the sealing portion extends beyond the gasket body to contact the mating surface. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be separated from the bulk gasket structure, enabling effective sealing with minimal flange spreading distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing surface is extended into a third dimension by creating a protruding portion that extends beyond the gasket body plane. This dimensional change allows the seal to be formed at a location that does not require large flange separation, as the protruding seal contact point is positioned to engage the mating surface while the gasket body remains compact.
2Ease of operation
If large flange face spreading distance is used for component removal, then clearance for component extraction is achieved, but increased loads and stiffness issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the gasket into body and sealing portions, the design provides the necessary sealing contact through the protruding portion while keeping the overall gasket profile compact. This reduces the clearance needed for component removal compared to traditional designs that require full flange separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket design changes the geometric parameters of the sealing interface by extending the sealing surface beyond the gasket body. This parameter change enables effective sealing at reduced flange spreading distances, thereby reducing the forces required for component removal operations.
3Ease of operation
If significant spreading force is applied to separate adhering connections, then component separation is achieved, but damage to sealing surfaces or loosening of other connections may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented gasket design with its protruding sealing portion creates a more favorable separation characteristic. The protruding seal contact allows for controlled separation with less force compared to traditional flat gaskets, reducing the risk of damaging sealing surfaces or loosening other connections during maintenance operations.
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 low-spread metal ring gasket design reduces the necessary clearance distance for removing pressure-retaining components, minimizing the loads and stiffness issues associated with traditional metal-to-metal sealing systems, while maintaining a secure seal and preventing damage to sealing surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
The lower ring gasket portion is adapted to be inserted inside of the ring groove, and the first ring gasket sealing surface is adapted to seal against the first ring groove sealing surface
Implementation Method 2
creating a pressure-tight metal-to-metal seal with minimal spreading requirements
Implementation Method 3
The at least one sealing bump has a sealing bump sealing surface that is adapted to seal against the front sealing surface of the second connection
Implementation Method 4
creating a pressure-tight metal-to-metal seal with minimal spreading requirements
Data Source
AI summary
A low-spread metal ring gasket includes a lower ring gasket portion having a bottom surface and an upper ring gasket portion having an upper surface. The lower ring gasket portion includes at least one ring gasket sealing surface extending upward from the bottom surface, and the upper ring gasket portion includes at least one sealing bump protruding upward form the upper surface.