Metal Seal Retaining Tab for Flat Face Fittings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional O-ring face seal fluid fittings are limited to moderate temperature applications due to elastomer material degradation at extreme temperatures, while metal seals are not typically used in flat face seal fittings, which restrict their use to specific curved surface engagements.
Innovation Solution
A metal seal device with an integral retaining tab for easy installation and removal, allowing interchangeability with O-ring seals, and designed for use in extreme temperature ranges, featuring a flat seal body with longitudinally extending retainers and a C-shaped intermediate wall for secure engagement in flat face seal fluid fittings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If elastomeric O-ring seals are used in flat face seal fittings, then ease of manufacture and conventional design are maintained, but temperature range is limited to moderate conditions due to material degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from elastomeric to metal, enabling the seal to withstand extreme temperatures (up to 537°C and down to -150°C) while maintaining compatibility with conventional flat face seal fitting designs through the use of a flat seal body and integral retaining tab
Solution Approach 2:
The metal seal is designed with an integral retaining tab that segments the seal into a retainable component, allowing it to be easily installed and removed from the fitting groove, thus maintaining ease of manufacture and assembly while enabling extreme temperature operation
2Temperature
If metal seals are used in flat face seal fittings, then temperature resistance is improved, but ease of operation and replaceability are worsened due to lack of conventional retention mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The metal seal includes an integral retaining tab that acts as a segmentation feature, allowing the seal to be easily retained in the groove during operation and facilitating simple removal and replacement when needed, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining temperature resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining tab serves as an intermediary mechanism between the metal seal and the fitting groove, providing positive retention during operation while enabling easy removal and replacement, thus resolving the contradiction between temperature resistance and ease of operation
3Reliability
If conventional metal seals with curved surface engagement are used, then sealing performance is improved, but adaptability to flat face seal fittings is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using curved surfaces to engage the seal, the patent inverts the approach by using flat surfaces for engagement in a flat face seal fitting, while still achieving reliable sealing through the flat seal body design and proper material selection for extreme temperature conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The seal has different local qualities: flat surfaces for engagement with the fitting and sealing surfaces for contact with the mating component, allowing adaptability to flat face seal fittings while maintaining sealing performance through localized surface characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
A metal seal replaces an O-ring seal in a flat face seal fluid fitting to adapt the flat face seal fluid fitting to use, for example, in extreme temperature applications. The fitting includes first and second fitting members, a sleeve, a nut and the seal. The seal may be removably attached to one of the fitting members by a plurality of retainers that extend into an O-ring channel of the fitting and cooperate with an O-ring retainer wall.