Pipe Coupling Metal-to-Metal Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pipe coupling structures that do not use rubber seal rings face issues with repeated assembly and disassembly, leading to potential leakage and require complex disassembly and washing procedures, especially in hygienic applications, increasing production costs.

Innovation Solution

A pipe coupling structure featuring a first pipe element with an annular sealing surface and a second pipe element with a complementary sealing surface, allowing for reliable sealing without gaps between inner peripheral surfaces, using a combination of acute and obtuse angles to ensure effective engagement and prevent deformation, and incorporating flanges for secure connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rubber seal ring is used in flange coupling, then sealing performance is improved, but the seal ring degrades due to aging and heat, leading to insufficient sealing and contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidservice life of seal ring

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the rubber seal ring from the flange coupling system, replacing it with a metal-to-metal sealing structure where the pipe end itself forms the sealing surface, thereby avoiding aging and heat degradation issues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite material structure by combining different metal materials with appropriate properties - the pipe body material and the reinforcement layer material are selected to complement each other, providing both structural strength and sealing capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If tapered surfaces are used for metal packing sealing, then sealing without rubber is achieved, but the tapered portions are damaged during repeated assembly and disassembly, causing leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidintegrity of tapered portions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using tapered surfaces that concentrate stress on small contact areas (which get damaged), the invention inverts the approach by using substantially flat sealing surfaces that distribute stress evenly, preventing damage during repeated assembly and disassembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the sealing surface from tapered (conical) to substantially flat, which fundamentally alters the stress distribution characteristics and enables repeated assembly without damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a recess is formed between tapered surface and pipe end surface, then metal packing sealing is achieved, but the groove causes hygiene issues in fluid food and medicine systems, requiring frequent disassembly and washing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidhygiene maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the recess/groove structure from the pipe end, creating a flush or protruding sealing surface that prevents fluid accumulation and eliminates hygiene maintenance issues while maintaining effective sealing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potential harm of a recess (fluid accumulation) into benefit by designing a flush or protruding surface that prevents fluid trapping, thereby improving hygiene without compromising sealing performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Strength

If flange coupling with nuts and bolts is used, then secure connection is achieved, but the coupling requires frequent disassembly and reassembly for washing, increasing production cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary action by providing a reinforcement layer on the pipe end before assembly, which pre-prepares the sealing surface and enables secure connection without requiring subsequent disassembly for washing, thereby improving productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10323779B2Pipe coupling structure

Publication Date: 2019.06.18 TOKI ENG

AI summary

A pipe coupling structure, configured to prevent formation of a gap between the inner peripheral surfaces of pipe elements connected together through which gap a fluid being transported may enter, includes first and second pipe elements to be connected together. The first pipe element has a first sealing portion with an acute angle defined by a first inner peripheral surface defining a hole of the first pipe element and a first annular surface extending radially outward from an end edge of the first inner peripheral surface. The second pipe element has a second sealing portion defined by a second inner peripheral surface defining a hole of the second pipe element and a second annular surface extending radially outward from an end edge of the second inner peripheral surface. The first and second pipe elements are connected together, with the first and second end edges abutted against each other.