Concrete Pipe Liner Joint With Elastomer Labyrinth Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plug connections between tubular concrete workpieces with plastic inner liners face challenges in creating a corrosion-resistant joint seal without high manufacturing effort and are restricted by minimum radii for curvature, making it difficult to achieve a reliable seal without expensive on-site sealing measures.
Innovation Solution
The use of circumferential elastomer angled profiled sections at the end faces of the inner liners, which engage with a profiled groove to form sealing flanges, eliminating the need for deformation and allowing for a labyrinth seal that prevents aggressive media penetration, with the option of additional gluing for enhanced security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the inner liners are deformed by heat application to form radially outwardly projecting sealing flanges, then a corrosion-resistant joint seal is achieved, but the manufacturing effort increases and restrictions on workpiece cross-sections with sufficiently large radii of curvature are imposed
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented from the inner liner by introducing a separate elastomer angled profiled section. This section has a specific geometry with an axially parallel limb containing a profiled groove and a sealing flange limb, which receives the inner liner's circumferential edge without requiring deformation of the inner liner itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution uses a composite structure combining the plastic inner liner with an elastomeric angled profiled section. The elastomer material provides the necessary flexibility and sealing capability, while the profiled groove structure enables mechanical engagement and labyrinth sealing effect, eliminating the need for heat deformation of the inner liner.
2Reliability
If the inner liners are deformed by heat application to form radially outwardly projecting sealing flanges, then a corrosion-resistant joint seal is achieved, but the workpiece cross-sections are restricted to sufficiently large radii of curvature
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented from the inner liner by introducing a separate elastomer angled profiled section. This section has a specific geometry with an axially parallel limb containing a profiled groove and a sealing flange limb, which receives the inner liner's circumferential edge without requiring deformation of the inner liner itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution changes the material parameter from thermoplastic (requiring heat deformation) to elastomer (providing inherent flexibility). This material parameter change allows the sealing component to adapt to various workpiece cross-sections and radii of curvature without requiring the inner liner to be deformed, thereby increasing adaptability to different geometries.
3Ease of manufacture
If the circumferential edge of the inner liner is inserted into the profiled groove to form sealing flanges, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but additional measures such as gluing may be required to prevent pulling off
Solution Approach 1:
The angled profiled section is designed with lugs that project into the concrete body, providing preliminary mechanical anchoring before the plug connection is even assembled. This preliminary action ensures that the elastomer section remains securely positioned and cannot be pulled off, eliminating the need for additional anchoring measures while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
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
This solution simplifies the manufacturing process, eliminates restrictions on workpiece cross-sections, and provides a reliable, corrosion-resistant joint seal without constricting the flow cross-section, while allowing for easy handling and integration of the seal within the workpieces.
Implementation Method 1
The engagement of the circumferential edge of the inner liner in the end-face profiled groove of the axially parallel limb of the angled profiled section forms a labyrinth seal at a corresponding engagement depth, which generally excludes the penetration of aggressive media to the concrete body.
Implementation Method 2
The sealing effect can, however, be increased if the groove walls of the end-face profiled groove in the edge area rest under an elastic pretension against the circumferential edge of the inner liner.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a plug connection between two tubular workpieces (1, 2) which are made of concrete and each of which has an inner liner (5) made of plastic, one of which forms a tip end (3) and the other a socket end (4) receiving the tip end (3), wherein the inner liners (5) have circumferential sealing flanges (12) which cover the end face (13) of the tip end (3) or the socket face (14) and wherein a joint seal (16) is provided between the sealing flanges (12). In order to provide advantageous structural conditions, it is proposed that the inner liners (5) are provided with a circumferential elastomer angled profiled section (8, 9) at the end face, which receives the circumferential edge of the inner liner (5) in an end-face profiled groove (11) of its axially parallel limb (10) and whose limb at a right angle to the axis forms the sealing flange (12).