Pipe Connection Device With Leakage Indicator Seal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipeline connection devices fail to ensure correct insertion, leading to potential leaks and system failures due to reliance on insertion force alone to determine full insertion, which can result in incomplete pipeline insertion and pressure medium leakage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a design with a peripheral seal that forms a leakage gap when overpressure occurs, allowing pressure medium to escape and produce a hissing noise when the pipeline is not fully inserted, and featuring a notch and triangular sealing lip configuration to enhance seal lifting and radial deformability, ensuring correct alignment during commissioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the pipeline is inserted directly without additional detection mechanisms, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of correct insertion is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses itself to detect insertion correctness. The pressure medium flowing through the pipeline automatically activates the seal lifting mechanism when insertion is incorrect, producing an audible signal without requiring external detection devices. This self-diagnostic capability resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple structure while achieving reliable detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate feedback through audible signals when the pipeline is not fully inserted. The hissing noise created by pressure medium escaping through the leakage gap serves as real-time feedback to the operator, enabling correction of incorrect insertion. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable detection without adding complex electronic sensors or indicators.
2Reliability
If a seal lifting mechanism is introduced to detect incorrect insertion, then the reliability of insertion detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses pneumatic principles by utilizing the pressure medium already present in the pipeline system. The pressurized fluid automatically lifts the seal when insertion is incorrect, creating a passive mechanical detection system. This approach improves detection reliability while avoiding complex electronic or mechanical sensors by leveraging the existing pneumatic environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system exploits changes in pressure parameters to detect insertion correctness. When the pipeline is not fully inserted, the pressure medium's force on the seal changes, causing the seal to lift and create a leakage gap. This parameter-based detection method achieves reliable insertion verification through simple pressure-responsive mechanical movement rather than complex sensing systems.
3Ease of operation
If the seal is designed to be easily liftable by pressure medium, then the ease of operation for detecting incorrect insertion is improved, but the sealing reliability when correctly inserted may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The seal design incorporates local quality variations through the asymmetric groove configuration. The groove has different radial heights at its front and rear walls, creating zones with different mechanical properties. The smaller rear wall height allows easier lifting for detection, while the overall groove geometry and seal material properties ensure adequate sealing when correctly inserted. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between ease of lifting and sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal is designed to be dynamic rather than static, capable of changing its position and sealing characteristics based on operating conditions. When pressure medium flows and insertion is incorrect, the seal dynamically lifts to create a leakage gap for detection. When correctly inserted and pressure stabilizes, the seal returns to its sealing position. This dynamic behavior allows the seal to serve dual functions of reliable sealing and easy detection.
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 allows for immediate detection of incorrect insertion through audible signals, preventing leaks and ensuring proper sealing upon pressure stabilization, thus preventing contamination and ensuring system integrity.
Implementation Method 1
it is possible to generate a leakage gap in the event of an overpressure occurring in the interior in the area of the seal in that the resulting pressure is sufficient to lift the seal itself out of its sealing position
Implementation Method 2
The sealing lip preferably rests against a mating surface that narrows conically in the insertion direction on its inner circumference and is elastically deformed in such a way that, on the one hand, a circumferential seal is ensured
Data Source
Figure 1~1.1
Figure 1a~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a connection device (1) for pipes (2) having a connecting body (6) having a receiving opening for a pipe (2) to be inserted by one pipe end (2a). The connecting body (6) has an axial two-part housing comprising a first housing part (42) facing in the direction of insertion and a second, tubular housing part (44) having a mouth side of the receiving opening, said housing parts being connected to one another. A tubular release element (70) is mounted so as to be axially movable inside the tubular housing part (44) in such a way that the fixing of the inserted pipe (2) is overridden by action on the retaining element (5). The release element (70) comprises a circumferentially closed annular part (71), the annular part (71) being capable of being sealed on the outer circumference thereof by means of a circumferential seal (82) relative to the second tubular housing part (44). In the fitted state of the connection device (1), in the inner circumferential region of the annular part (71) of the release element (70), the outer circumferential seal (82) is deformable out of the sealing position thereof in such a way that between the outer circumferential seal (82) and the opposing inner circumferential wall (71a) of the second housing part (44) at least one leakage gap is formed by an internal pressure of the pressure medium flowing in the pipe (2) prevailing in the interior of the connection device (1).