Pipe Clamp Seal Radial Expansion Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe coupling designs face challenges in maintaining a uniform seal during tightening, as the free end of the annular seal can deform or hang loosely, making installation cumbersome due to lack of securement to the inner perimeter of the pipe clamp.
Innovation Solution
A pipe clamp design with an annular seal attached to the inner perimeter using mechanical fasteners, where one end is fixedly attached and the other end is slidingly attached through elongate apertures, allowing radial expansion and preventing loose ends during installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the free end of the annular seal is left unattached to allow radial expansion, then the seal can move and expand uniformly about the pipe, but the free end hangs loosely out of the housing making installation cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
A retaining member is introduced as an intermediary component between the seal and the clamp housing. This retaining member has a first end that engages with the free end of the seal and a second end that engages with the clamp housing, thereby mediating the connection and preventing the seal from hanging loosely while preserving its ability to expand radially
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the constraint mechanism from a radial constraint (which would prevent seal expansion) to an axial constraint (using the retaining member extending along the axial direction). The retaining member constrains the seal in the axial dimension while allowing radial expansion, effectively using another dimension to solve the problem
2Shape
If both ends of the seal are fixed to the clamp housing, then the seal is securely held in place, but the seal cannot expand uniformly radially and becomes deformed
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is segmented into two distinct configurations: one end of the seal is fixedly attached to provide stability, while the other end is slidingly attached through elongate apertures to allow radial expansion. This segmentation allows different portions of the seal to have different attachment characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding attachment mechanism transforms a static fixed connection into a dynamic connection that can adapt during operation. The elongate apertures allow the seal to slide and expand radially as the clamp is tightened, providing dynamic adjustment capability
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A pipe clamp including an annular clamp housing (12) having an opening (14) for inserting therein a pipe, opposing clamp members (16) located near ends of the annular clamp housing (12), one or more tightening elements (18) for fastening and tightening the clamp members (16) towards each other in a direction transverse to an axial length of the annular clamp housing (12), and an annular seal (20) placed in an inner perimeter of the annular clamp housing (12), characterised in that one portion of the annular seal (20) is attached to the annular clamp housing (12) with one or more mechanical fasteners (32) and another portion of the annular seal (20) is slidingly attached to the annular clamp housing (12) with one or more mechanical fasteners (34) so that the annular seal (20) is permitted to move and expand radially about as the pipe clamp (10) is tightened by one or more tightening elements (18).