High-Pressure Pipe Protector Element for Sealing Surface Integrity

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-pressure fluid systems, such as those in large internal combustion engines, face challenges with sealing surface damage during transportation and assembly due to external impacts, and the need for periodic disconnection of high-pressure pipes for servicing, which can lead to leakage and safety issues.

Innovation Solution

A pipe assembly with a protector element featuring a spring portion that covers and protects the sealing surface, allowing connection without removing the protector, and a sleeve that transmits clamping force to secure the sealing surface against adjacent components, maintaining protection during assembly and disconnection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the sealing surface is exposed for connection, then the connection operation is simplified, but the sealing surface is damaged by external impacts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection operationVSAvoidexternal impacts on sealing surface
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing surface is pre-covered with a protective cap before transportation and assembly. This preliminary protective action ensures the sealing surface is already protected when the component arrives at the assembly location, eliminating the need to remove protection during connection operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A protective cap serves as an intermediary element between the sealing surface and external environment. This cap absorbs external impacts and prevents direct contact between harmful factors and the sealing surface, while allowing the connection operation to proceed by simply removing the cap.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the protector element is removed for connection, then the connection is simplified, but the sealing surface is exposed to damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection simplicityVSAvoidsealing surface integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cap acts as a removable intermediary that can be easily taken off for connection operations. After connection is complete, the cap can be replaced to restore protection, thus maintaining sealing surface integrity without complicating the connection process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective cap is temporarily discarded (removed) during the connection operation and then recovered (reinstalled) afterward. This approach allows the connection to proceed with full access to the sealing surface while ensuring protection is restored immediately after connection to prevent future damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If the sealing surface is protected during transportation, then the sealing surface integrity is maintained, but the connection process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing surface integrityVSAvoidconnection process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cap is pre-installed on the sealing surface before the component enters the assembly process. This preliminary protection eliminates the need for complex protective measures during connection, as the cap simply needs to be removed and replaced - a straightforward operation that doesn't add complexity to the connection process itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 protector element effectively shields the sealing surface from damage during transportation and assembly, enabling secure connection and disconnection without exposing it to external impacts, while ensuring reliable sealing and safety by maintaining the integrity of the high-pressure fluid system.

Implementation Method 1

the protector element comprises a spring portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

configured to yield for revealing the sealing surface when the protector element is compressed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3400382B1Pipe assembly and method for connecting pipe assembly
Publication Date: 2019.10.16 WARTSILA FINLAND OY
  • EP3400382B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3400382B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3400382B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The pipe assembly for a high-pressure fluid system comprises a high-pressure pipe (7) for carrying a high- pressure fluid, the high-pressure pipe (7) having a first end and a second end, the first end of the high- pressure pipe (7) being provided with an external sealing surface (11) encircling the first end of the high- pressure pipe (7), and a protector element (12), which is arranged around the first end of the high-pressure pipe (7) for covering the sealing surface (11) and configured to yield for revealing the sealing surface (11) when the protector element (12) is compressed in the longitudinal direction of the high-pressure pipe (7).