Metal-to-Metal Pipe Coupling With Formed Sealing Protrusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe couplings face challenges in achieving a reliable sealing effect, especially when handling aggressive or corrosive fluids under high pressure, as they often require separate gaskets or cutting rings, which can be impractical and unsafe.
Innovation Solution
A pipe coupling design featuring a sealing protrusion on the pipe's abutting face, formed through plastic deformation, which creates a metal-on-metal sealing connection with the pipe union when clamped, utilizing an external thread on the pipe union and a corresponding internal thread on the clamping element, enhancing the sealing effect by angling the sealing surface and forming a smooth area with reduced surface roughness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate gaskets or cutting rings are used to achieve sealing, then the sealing effect is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged with the pipe structure itself by forming a sealing protrusion directly on the pipe's abutting face through plastic deformation. This eliminates the need for separate gaskets or cutting rings, as the sealing element is now an integral part of the pipe coupling mechanism. The clamping element directly engages with this formed sealing protrusion to create the seal.
2Device complexity
If metallic surfaces are pressed together for sealing, then the use of additional sealing materials is eliminated, but the sealing reliability deteriorates under high pressure and aggressive fluids
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on uniform metallic surface contact, the invention creates a localized sealing protrusion with specific geometric features (angled sealing surface, rounded peak) on the pipe's abutting face. This localized structure concentrates the sealing action at a specific point where the clamping element applies force, ensuring reliable sealing even under high pressure and aggressive fluid conditions. The local deformation creates optimal contact geometry for metal-to-metal sealing.
3Reliability
If the sealing surface is angled in the direction of the end zone, then the sealing effect is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing protrusion with its angled sealing surface is formed by plastic deformation of the pipe material during a preliminary forming operation before assembly. This preliminary action creates the complex angled geometry in advance, so that during final assembly, no additional complex operations are required. The swaging tool or forming die imparts the angled shape and rounded peak in a single deformation step, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while achieving the desired sealing geometry.
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 design significantly improves the sealing effectiveness by creating a robust, reliable connection that withstands high pressures, eliminating the need for additional sealing materials and ensuring operational safety in aggressive fluid applications.
Implementation Method 1
The connecting section is formed by plastic deformation of the pipe, thus subsequently 'abutting face' will refer to the original abutting face of the undeformed pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe coupling for connecting a pipe and including a pipe, a pipe union, and a clamping element. The pipe exhibits at least one connecting section and a terminal abutting face. The connecting section is formed in an end region of the pipe, wherein the connecting section exhibits at least one sealing surface inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the pipe. The pipe union including a receiving section for insertion of at least a part of the connecting section, wherein a sealing connection between the pipe and the pipe union is created, in that the connecting section is clamped between the pipe union and the clamping element. The abutting face has a sealing protrusion and the sealing protrusion is formed as a prominence in the abutting face. Furthermore, a pipe, a swaging tool and a process are also provided.