Homogeneous Metallic Sealing Ring for Pipeline Contamination Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flanged sealing rings can fall into pipeline systems during assembly, leading to contamination and high dismantling costs, particularly in industries requiring high purity like food and pharmaceuticals, where existing solutions like ferromagnetic or metal-containing O-rings may not ensure reliable detection and prevention of contamination.
Innovation Solution
A flanged sealing ring made from a material with a homogeneous distribution of metallic particles (0.5-10% by weight, <100 μm in size) embedded in a polydimethylsiloxane-based organic material, allowing detection by metal detectors and ensuring sealing efficacy, with vulcanization replacing adhesives to prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flanged sealing rings are used to connect pipes, then sealing connection is achieved, but contamination risk increases due to potential falling into the pipeline system
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring incorporates a metallic portion that changes the material's detectability properties, enabling metal detectors to identify the sealing ring or its fragments. This allows the harmful factor (contamination) to be detected and prevented while maintaining the sealing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The metallic portion enables a feedback mechanism where metal detectors continuously monitor the pipeline system for sealing ring fragments. When fragments are detected, the system can trigger alarms or stop production, preventing contaminated products from being produced.
2Measurement precision
If metallic particles are added to enable detection, then detectability improves, but material properties such as elasticity may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the metallic content within a specific range (0.5-10% by weight, particularly 1-3% by weight) to balance detectability and material properties. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient metal content for reliable detection while maintaining the elasticity and sealing performance of the organic material.
Solution Approach 2:
The metallic portion is distributed essentially homogeneously throughout the sealing ring material rather than being concentrated in specific areas. This homogeneous distribution ensures consistent detectability while minimizing local stress concentrations that could compromise the material's elastic properties.
3Reliability
If adhesive is used to bond the extruded strand at the seam, then sealing integrity is achieved, but contamination risk increases due to adhesive detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding method (adhesive) with a mechanical/thermal bonding method (vulcanization). The vulcanization process creates cross-links between polymer chains at the seam, forming a strong, permanent bond that eliminates the need for adhesives and prevents contamination from adhesive detachment.
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 enables reliable detection and prevention of contamination by ensuring metallic components can be detected and removed, maintaining sealing integrity and compliance with food contact regulations, while avoiding adhesive-related contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
The O-ring contains a ferromagnetic powder and if particles of the O-ring are detected, a flow of material in the pipelines can be diverted to avoid contamination with the sealing material
Implementation Method 2
the other properties of the flared sealing ring, in particular the elasticity and the restoring forces, are sufficient so that no disadvantages have to be accepted when sealing two pipes
Implementation Method 3
the flanged sealing ring consists of an extruded strand that is fixed at a seam by vulcanization
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a folded sealing ring (13) which is used to seal a pipe connection, wherein the folded sealing ring (13) is produced from a material having a metal fraction and the metal fraction is distributed substantially homogeneously in the folded sealing ring (13). Thus, the folded sealing ring can be used in a device (1) for detecting components of a folded sealing ring (13) in a pipeline system that comprises a plurality of pipes (2), wherein at least two pipes (2) are held against each other at a flange (12) in such a way that sealing is effected by means of a folded sealing ring (13). By means of a metal detector (4) and a gate (8) for removing a metal-containing substance from the pipeline, which gate is arranged behind the metal detector (4) in the conveying direction, the folded sealing ring (13) can then be detected, and therefore, when components of the folded sealing ring (13) detach, detection can be performed at the metal detector (4) and discharging can be performed at the gate (8).