Pipeline Adapting Assembly With Controlled-Gap Sealing Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high working pressure of CO2 refrigerant in trans-critical cycles poses challenges for pipeline connection and sealing in refrigeration systems, leading to increased frictional forces and operational inconvenience during assembly and disassembly, and potential contamination from debris or impurities.
Innovation Solution
A pipeline connection device with a first connecting member, a second connecting member, and a sealing member, featuring a gap between the abutting portion and the side wall, and limited annular friction surfaces to reduce jamming and prevent contamination, with specific gap ranges and dimensions optimizing ease of assembly and disassembly while ensuring sealing effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all protrusions of the female connector are inserted into grooves of the male connector to increase mating surfaces and mutual force, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but frictional force increases making assembly and disassembly inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The connection structure is segmented into multiple protrusions and corresponding grooves, but with controlled engagement. The first protrusion and first groove provide primary alignment and sealing, while the second protrusion and second groove provide secondary support. This segmentation allows sufficient sealing surfaces without requiring all surfaces to be fully mated, reducing overall frictional resistance during assembly and disassembly.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the gap between the abutting portion and side wall is reduced to prevent contamination, then sealing is improved, but the risk of jamming increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different gap dimensions are applied at different locations. The first gap between the abutting portion and first side wall is set to 0.05-0.2mm to prevent contamination entry. The second gap between the abutting portion and second side wall is set to 0.2-0.5mm to provide clearance that prevents jamming. This local differentiation of gap sizes optimizes both contamination prevention and operational reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the number of annular friction surfaces is reduced to ease assembly and disassembly, then operational convenience is improved, but sealing effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged into the protrusion-groove interface design itself, rather than relying on multiple separate friction surfaces. The protrusions fit into grooves with precise dimensional tolerances, creating inherent sealing through the mating geometry. This allows the connection to achieve both ease of operation (fewer friction surfaces) and sealing effectiveness (integrated sealing geometry) simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipeline connection device includes a first connecting member, a second connecting member and a sealing member. The first connecting member includes a first channel and an abutting portion. The second connecting member includes a second channel and a first groove portion. The first groove portion includes a first side wall and a first receiving groove to receive the sealing member. At least part of the abutting portion is received in the first receiving groove and abuts against the sealing element. A first gap not greater than 0.3 mm is provided between the abutting portion and the first side wall; or the first connecting member and the second connecting member include at most two annular friction surfaces. As a result, mutual jamming of the first connecting member and the second connecting member can be avoided. Besides, a pipeline adapting assembly having the pipeline connection device is disclosed.