Pipe Gasket Metal Segments for Sealing Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe joint gaskets fail to ensure effective engagement of metal segments with the spigot end during fluid pressurization, leading to potential separation of interconnected pipes and improper gasket positioning, which compromises the seal and requires better pipe alignment.
Innovation Solution
A pipe gasket with compressible body and metal segments featuring a compression arm, rounded nose, and acutely pointed tooth, arranged to leverage radial forces for enhanced engagement and sealing, preventing pipe separation and fracturing during pressurization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal segments engage the spigot end during insertion, then pipe separation is prevented, but the gasket is pushed out of the retaining groove and out of position
Solution Approach 1:
The metal segment concentrates engagement force at the pointed tooth location rather than distributing it uniformly, allowing strong spigot engagement at the tooth while the rounded nose and other portions of the segment interact differently with the gasket and retaining groove, preventing the gasket from being pushed out of position.
Solution Approach 2:
The specific angular arrangement (130°-180°) of the nose and compression arm is designed to pre-position the metal segment correctly during insertion, ensuring that as the spigot engages the tooth, the segment's geometry naturally maintains the gasket within the retaining groove rather than allowing it to be pushed out.
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 gasket design ensures effective engagement of metal segments with the spigot end upon initial pressurization, maintaining the pipe joint integrity and reducing the pressure required for insertion, while maintaining a seal without rotation of segments, thus preventing leakage and ensuring proper alignment.
Implementation Method 1
leveraging of the radial forces created by the compression of the sealing portion between the spigot end and the bell end to increase the radially inward force applied by the tooth on the spigot end
Implementation Method 2
This arrangement provides for leveraging of the radial forces created by the compression of the sealing portion
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe gasket including a compressible body having a heel portion and a sealing portion and a plurality of metal segments at least partially embedded in the compressible body and circumferentially spaced therein. Each of the metal segments includes a compression arm extending within the sealing portion and radially outward and away from the heel portion, a rounded nose portion extending within the heel portion and an acutely pointed tooth extending radially inward from a segment portion located between the compression arm and the nose portion. The compression arm extends radially outward within the gasket from a point located proximal to the tip of the tooth to a point within the sealing portion that is distal to the tip of the tooth. This arrangement provides for leveraging of the radial forces created by the compression of the sealing portion between the spigot end and the bell end to increase the radially inward force applied by the tooth on the spigot end.