Pipe Coupling Outer-Collar Gap Design for Stable Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial pipe coupling systems often experience leakage due to degradation of mechanical seals over time, necessitating improved sealing performance to ensure safe fluid transport.

Innovation Solution

A pipe coupling arrangement featuring annular end members with radially inner and outer collars, a pocket between them forming a chamber, and a seal member positioned within, where an alignment ring ensures coaxial alignment and a clamping force is applied to compress the seal member, preventing fluid leakage by maintaining a gap between outer collars to retain the alignment ring and seal member.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mechanical gaskets are used to provide sealing interface, then sealing performance is improved, but leakage occurs over time due to degradation of the mechanical seal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidservice life of seal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical gasket system with a deformation-free sealing interface. The end members are designed with mating sealing surfaces that create a seal through precise geometric fit and elastic deformation of the end member materials themselves, rather than relying on a separate mechanical gasket that degrades over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the sealing mechanism from mechanical deformation of a gasket to elastic deformation of the end member materials. By selecting materials with appropriate elastic properties and designing the geometry of the sealing surfaces, the seal maintains its integrity without the degradation issues of traditional mechanical gaskets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If clamping force is applied to compress seal member, then sealing performance is improved, but alignment precision must be maintained to ensure effective sealing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment ring is installed beforehand to establish precise coaxial alignment between the end members before the final sealing assembly is completed. This preliminary alignment action ensures that when clamping force is applied, the sealing surfaces are already properly positioned, eliminating alignment issues during the sealing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The alignment ring serves as an intermediary component that facilitates precise alignment between the end members. It acts as a mechanical guide that ensures the sealing surfaces are coaxially aligned, allowing the clamping force to be applied uniformly without compromising alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If gap is maintained between outer collars to retain alignment ring and seal member, then component retention is improved, but chamber volume is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent retentionVSAvoidchamber volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The solution addresses the space constraint by utilizing the radial dimension more efficiently. The alignment ring and seal member are positioned within the radial space defined by the inner and outer collars, allowing the axial gap to be minimized while still providing adequate retention. This dimensional optimization allows component retention without significantly compromising chamber volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 effectively enhances sealing performance by maintaining a compressed seal member that prevents fluid leakage, ensuring the safe transport of fluids through industrial piping systems.

Implementation Method 1

a coupling is provided and is configured to impart a selected clamping force upon the end members towards each other, so as to compress the at least one seal member sufficiently to cause the at least one seal member to seal against leakage of fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

Such systems depend on deformation of the mechanical gasket to provide a sealing interface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11480274B2Pipe coupling

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 HANDA JANAK H

AI summary

A pipe coupling arrangement includes two end members, each having a pipe attachment end and a sealing end that engages the other's sealing end. Each sealing end includes radially inner and outer collars, which are radially separated by a pocket. When the sealing ends engage one another the pockets form a chamber. At least one seal member is positioned in the chamber. An alignment ring fits in the chamber, aligning the end members. A coupling pushes the end members towards each other, compressing the at least one seal member sufficiently to seal against fluid leakage. The inner collars engage one another while the outer collars of the end members are axially spaced apart by a gap selected to reduce to zero upon application of a selected clamping force on the end members, thereby limiting deformation of the outer collars.