Metal Pipe Coupling with End-Face Sealing Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe connections fail to provide a reliable sealing effect, especially when handling aggressive or corrosive fluids, which poses a risk to operational safety due to the lack of a robust sealing mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A pipe connection design featuring a sealing projection on the pipeline's end face, formed by plastic deformation, which includes an inclined sealing surface and a smooth area, combined with a clamping element and connecting piece, ensures a metallically sealing connection by exerting force parallel to the pipeline's axis, enhancing the sealing effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal surfaces are pressed together to achieve sealing, then sealing effect is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to insufficient sealing pressure distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a sealing projection with specific geometric features (inclined sealing surface, smooth area, and rounded apex) at the critical sealing location. This localized structural modification concentrates the sealing function at the projection rather than relying on uniform surface contact, thereby improving sealing reliability without increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing projection is pre-formed on the pipeline end face before assembly through plastic deformation. This preliminary action creates the optimized sealing geometry in advance, ensuring that when the clamping element applies force, the sealing surface is already prepared with the correct shape and surface properties to achieve reliable sealing.
2Reliability
If intermediate layer seals are used to achieve sealing, then sealing effect is improved, but reliability deteriorates when handling aggressive or corrosive fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate layer seal from the sealing mechanism. By using a metallic sealing projection that directly contacts the counter-surface, the design removes the vulnerable intermediate seal layer that would be susceptible to aggressive or corrosive fluids, thereby improving corrosion resistance while maintaining sealing effectiveness through the metallic-to-metallic contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing projection utilizes the inherent properties of the pipeline material itself (metal) rather than introducing a separate intermediate sealing material. This approach leverages the corrosion resistance of the base metal while creating a dedicated sealing geometry, avoiding the compatibility issues that arise with intermediate seal materials exposed to aggressive fluids.
3Reliability
If clamping force is applied to achieve metallic sealing, then sealing effect is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to difficulty in controlling contact pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing projection features a rounded apex and curved surface geometry instead of sharp edges or flat surfaces. This curvature distributes the contact pressure more evenly across the sealing interface, reducing stress concentrations and making the sealing less sensitive to variations in clamping force, thereby improving manufacturing precision in achieving reliable metallic sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the sealing surface by creating a smooth area with reduced surface roughness and specific curvature radii. These parameter changes optimize the contact characteristics between sealing surfaces, enabling more predictable and controllable pressure distribution under clamping force, thus improving manufacturing precision.
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 proposed design significantly improves the sealing effect by creating a metallically sealing connection, reducing the risk of leaks and ensuring operational safety, even when handling aggressive fluids, through the use of an inclined sealing surface and smooth area that enhances contact and reduces surface roughness.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing projection is formed in particular by plastic deformation of the pipeline in the connecting section
Implementation Method 2
The sealing surface moves in the direction of the end region comprises a second section, which has at least one radius R1
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a pipe connector (1) for connecting a pipeline (2), comprising a pipeline (2), a connection piece (3) and a clamping element (4), wherein the pipeline (2) has at least one connection portion (5) and an end-side face (6). The connection portion (5) is configured in an end region of the pipeline (2), wherein the connection portion (5) has at least one sealing surface (7) inclined in the direction of the end region, wherein the connection piece (3) has an accommodating portion (8) for receiving at least one part of the connection portion (5), wherein a sealing connection can be produced between the pipeline (2) and the connection piece (3) in that the connection portion (5) is clamped between the connection piece (3) and the clamping element (4). The end face (6) has a sealing projection (12), and the sealing projection (12) is configured as an elevation in the end face (6). In addition, the invention relates to a pipeline (2), comprising at least one connection portion (5) and an end-side face (6), wherein the connection portion (5) is configured in an end region of the pipeline (2), wherein the connection portion (5) has at least one sealing surface (7) inclined in the direction of the end region. Furthermore, the invention relates to an edging tool (18) for producing a connection portion (5) on a pipeline (2), in particular for a pipe connection of this type, comprising at least one die (19) and at least one counter holder (20), wherein the die (19) has a recess (21), and wherein the recess (21) has an inclined outer moulded surface (22) and an inclined base surface (23). An indentation (24) is formed in the edge region of the base surface (23).