Metallic Sealing Element With Spherical Conical Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsea coupling and sealing systems face challenges with high tolerance and alignment requirements, leading to increased manufacturing costs and complexity, as well as issues with elastomer seal degradation over time, resulting in potential water ingress.
Innovation Solution
A metal sealing element with spherical and conical contact surfaces, featuring a compressible intermediate member that stores elastic energy and can expand under fluid pressure to maintain a reliable seal, even with misalignment, and a coupling device with a valve mechanism for automatic fluid flow control, allowing for simpler assembly and reduced tolerance requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional elastomer seals are used in subsea applications, then the sealing effect is initially good, but the seals show signs of degeneration over time due to ageing, resulting in loss of flexibility and water ingress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces long-lasting but degrading elastomer seals with corrosion-resistant metallic seals that maintain their sealing properties over time in subsea environments, eliminating the ageing and flexibility loss issues associated with elastomers
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from elastomer to metal, fundamentally altering the seal's resistance to degradation and its long-term behavior in corrosive subsea conditions, thereby improving reliability over extended service life
2Reliability
If high precision alignment and tolerance requirements are imposed on coupling parts, then reliable sealing is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase and assembly becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spherical contact surfaces on the sealing elements that can accommodate misalignment and tolerance variations, allowing the sealing surfaces to self-align and maintain reliable sealing without requiring precise manufacturing tolerances or complex assembly procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the sealing surfaces from flat or conical to spherical, which fundamentally alters the contact mechanics and enables tolerance compensation, thereby simplifying both manufacturing and assembly while maintaining sealing reliability
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 solution provides a reliable, fluid-tight seal with lower tolerance and alignment demands, facilitating easier assembly and maintenance while maintaining seal integrity, even in subsea environments, and automatically controlling fluid flow to prevent mixing and pressure imbalances.
Implementation Method 1
the body is provided with an intermediate member, which forms a continuous part together with the first and second male sealing members and which is mechanically compressible so as to be capable to store elastic energy when the body is subjected to axial compression
Implementation Method 2
the intermediate member is expandable by an internal fluid pressure in the body so as to urge the respective male sealing member outwards in the axial direction of the body against the corresponding female sealing member
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing element that includes a hollow body of metallic material and first and second male sealing members formed at a respective end of the body. The respective male sealing member has an external spherical contact surface designed for mating with a corresponding internal conical contact surface of a female sealing member so as to form a fluid-tight seal between the male sealing member and the female sealing member when their contact surfaces are pressed against each other. Also, a coupling device and a valve device provided with the sealing element.