Pipe Coupling End Ring Assembly to Prevent Gasket Shift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Common one-bolt pipe couplings experience gasket liberation and failure to seal due to shifting of the gasket bridge during installation, caused by engagement with sharp ends of the end ring as the pipe coupling is tensioned.
Innovation Solution
A gasket bridge with anti-slip features, including ramps and a projection, is designed to engage with the end ring, preventing movement of the gasket assembly and ensuring a secure seal by compressing the gasket between the split ring and the coupling body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the gasket bridge has sharp ends engaging the end ring during tensioning, then the pipe coupling can be installed and tensioned, but the gasket bridge shifts causing gasket liberation and seal failure
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket bridge is segmented into multiple functional zones: a first engagement portion with a first ramp for initial engagement, a second engagement portion with a second ramp for secondary engagement, and a middle section for bridging the gap. This segmentation allows different portions to perform specific functions - the ramps engage the end ring in a controlled sequence to prevent shifting while maintaining seal integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket bridge employs curved ramp surfaces instead of sharp angular ends. The first and second ramps have curved engagement surfaces that contact the end ring at optimized angles, distributing forces evenly and preventing the gasket bridge from shifting laterally during tensioning, thereby maintaining reliable engagement without compromising seal integrity
2Reliability
If the gasket bridge is designed to prevent shifting, then seal reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket bridge incorporates localized anti-slip features (ramps) only at the engagement portions where contact with the end ring occurs, rather than modifying the entire structure. The middle section remains simple for bridging the gap, while only the engagement zones have the complex ramp geometries. This localized approach prevents shifting at critical points without unnecessarily complicating the entire gasket bridge
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second ramps are positioned asymmetrically on the gasket bridge, with each ramp engaging the end ring at different locations and angles. This asymmetric configuration creates multiple contact points that collectively prevent shifting in multiple directions, providing comprehensive stabilization with minimal additional structural complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe coupling includes a coupling body defining a first body end; and an end ring assembly comprising: a split ring a gap defined between a first ring end of the split ring and a second ring end of the split ring; a gasket bridge extending across the gap between the first ring end and the second ring end; and a gasket assembly disposed radially inward of the split ring and the gasket bridge, the gasket assembly compressed between the split ring and the first body end.