Pipe Joint Sealing Member Deformation for Tube Insertion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pipe joints face difficulties in operability during installation and separation of fluid tubes due to excessive latching pawls causing resistance and potential deformation of sealing members, leading to compromised sealing characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A pipe joint design featuring a chuck with a guide member, a packing with a radially projecting sealing member, and a release member to facilitate easy insertion and removal of fluid tubes while maintaining a fluid-tight condition, where the sealing member's width is narrower than the main body portion to reduce resistance and enhance sealing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the latching pawls bite deeply into the flow passage pipe to prevent pulling out, then the holding strength is improved, but the tube becomes difficult to separate when fluid supply is halted
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is designed to be elastically deformable, allowing it to dynamically adapt its shape. During installation, the sealing member deforms to accommodate the tube; during fluid flow, it presses against the tube to maintain sealing; during separation, it can be pressed to release the latching pawls, enabling easy tube removal while maintaining strong holding during operation
2Reliability
If the sealing member is pressed by the flow passage pipe during installation, then sealing contact is established, but the sealing member deforms and displaces without space to move, causing insertion resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is divided into distinct functional portions: a contact portion that interfaces with the tube, a main body portion that provides structural support, and a width dimension that is intentionally smaller than the coupling bore. This segmentation allows the contact portion to deform and move independently during insertion while maintaining sealing contact, reducing insertion resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member is positioned within the coupling main body portion, with its width dimension being smaller than the coupling bore. This nested configuration provides space for the sealing member to deform and move during tube insertion while ensuring proper sealing contact is established
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 improves operability by reducing resistance during tube installation and separation, maintaining effective sealing characteristics by allowing the sealing member to deform and move freely, and reducing contact area for improved sealing performance.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing member, which projects in a radial inward direction with respect to the main body portion, the sealing member abutting against an outer peripheral surface of the tube
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe joint has a body, and an annular packing is mounted to the opening of the body into which a fluid tube is inserted. The packing is provided with: a body section having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape; and a seal section protruding in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface of the body section. The seal section is formed at substantially the center of the body section in the widthwise direction thereof and is formed in a triangular cross-sectional shape tapering to the inner peripheral side. When the fluid tube is inserted in the opening, the seal section of the packing makes sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fluid tube.