Pipe Interior Sealing Assembly With Self-Centering End Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing testing and isolation tools face issues with inconsistent sealing due to misalignment of sealing members, making insertion difficult and causing undue stress, especially when not engaged properly with the inner wall of a pipe.
Innovation Solution
A self-centering assembly with a circumferential flange between plates and an annular ring limits radial movement of sealing members, using an urging mechanism to deform them outwardly for consistent engagement with the pipe wall, and includes slots to maintain alignment during assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If resilient sealing members are provided between plates and annular ring without circumferential flanges, then the assembly can be simpler in structure, but the sealing consistency deteriorates due to misalignment of sealing members with beveled surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
A circumferential flange is introduced as an intermediary component between the resilient sealing member and the beveled surface. The flange acts as a mediator that guides and centers the sealing member, ensuring consistent alignment with the beveled surface during tightening, thereby resolving the sealing consistency issue without significantly complicating the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The circumferential flange is designed to automatically guide the resilient sealing member into proper alignment with the beveled surface as the plates are tightened against the annular ring. This self-aligning feature ensures consistent sealing without requiring precise manual positioning or complex adjustment mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If resilient sealing members are loosely coupled to plates and annular ring, then the assembly is easier to insert into pipe, but the sealing consistency deteriorates due to shifting or sliding of sealing members out of alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The circumferential flange is pre-positioned on the resilient sealing member before insertion, creating a preliminary alignment feature. This pre-alignment ensures that when the sealing member is loosely coupled during insertion, it remains properly positioned relative to the beveled surface, preventing shifting or sliding out of alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The circumferential flange serves as a mediator that maintains the spatial relationship between the resilient sealing member and the beveled surface throughout the insertion and tightening process, allowing loose coupling during insertion while ensuring precise alignment during sealing.
3Manufacturing precision
If resilient sealing members are tightly secured to plates and annular ring, then the sealing consistency improves, but the insertion difficulty increases and undue stress is applied to sealing members
Solution Approach 1:
The circumferential flange is pre-installed on the resilient sealing member, establishing proper alignment before the sealing member is subjected to tightening forces. This preliminary positioning allows the sealing member to be inserted easily in a loose state and then tightened consistently without causing undue stress or misalignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The circumferential flange provides self-aligning functionality that ensures the resilient sealing member maintains proper orientation with the beveled surface during tightening, achieving consistent sealing without requiring excessive tightening force that would cause insertion difficulty or stress on the sealing members.
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
Ensures consistent sealing by preventing misalignment of sealing members, facilitating easy insertion and reducing stress, while accommodating various pipe schedules without needing special training or sequential torquing.
Implementation Method 1
an urging mechanism adapted to urge the first and second end plates towards the annular ring to deform the first and second resilient sealing members to engage the inner wall of the pipe
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
An assembly is provided that includes first and second end plates adapted to be coaxially aligned when in use. One or more members extend from the end plates or an annular ring, the annular ring provided between the end plates, the other of the end plates or annular ring comprising one or more first slots at one end thereof to be aligned with and for receiving the one or more members of the first end plate, and one or more second slots at the other end thereof to be aligned with and for receiving the one or more members. Resilient sealing members are provided around the one or more members between the end plates and annular ring, and an urging mechanism urges the first and second end plates towards the annular ring to deform the first and second resilient sealing members to engage the inner wall of the pipe.