Pipeline Coupling Sealing Ring with Pressurized Chamber

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pipeline couplings used in thick material conveyance systems experience leakage due to axial and radial displacement of pipeline sections under pressure, leading to loss of sealing effectiveness and potential material escape, especially when spacer bars deform under delivery pressure.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating connecting channels between the pipeline system's interior and the pressure chamber within the sealing ring ensures constant pressurization and effective sealing, even under operating pressure, using radially extending recesses in the spacer web of the sealing ring to maintain the spacer function and prevent spacer bar deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the pipeline sections are allowed to move relative to each other with axial play to accommodate articulated mast movement, then the system adapts to height differences and position changes, but the axial and radial displacement of pipeline sections causes leakage at the pipeline coupling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to position changesVSAvoidsealing tightness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure chamber is connected to the pipeline system interior through the recess, allowing hydraulic pressure from the conveyed thick material to pressurize the pressure chamber. This pressurization generates radial contact pressure on the sealing surfaces, ensuring tight sealing even when pipeline sections move relative to each other due to axial play

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The contact pressure between the sealing lips and the outer circumferential surfaces of the pipeline sections is dynamically changed based on delivery pressure. As delivery pressure increases, the pressure chamber pressurization increases, which in turn increases the radial contact pressure, adapting the sealing force to the operating conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 guarantees permanent tightness of the pipeline coupling, maintains optimal vibration and noise damping, and prevents spacer bar deformation, ensuring reliable sealing and reduced assembly costs.

Implementation Method 1

The spacer bar is arranged centrally in the axial direction of the sealing ring... the spacer bar already setting the pipe sections to be connected to the maximum possible clearance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

an annular so-called flange seal is usually used... into which the two front ends of the pipeline sections to be connected are inserted from both sides... Sealing is effected by sealing lips or surfaces that lie against the outer circumference of the pipeline section in question. To increase the contact pressure of the sealing lips, the flange seal or the sealing ring is provided with an inner pressure chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP1945984B1Pipeline coupling with a sealing ring, and pipeline system for the delivery of thick matter
Publication Date: 2010.03.10 SCHWING GMBH
  • EP1945984B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1945984B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1945984B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Pipeline coupling (6) for connecting individual pipeline sections (51, 52), and pipeline system, wherein individual pipeline sections (51, 52) are clamped together at their end faces by pipe-clamp-like split couplings, and a sealing ring (10) is arranged inside the split coupling part (8), said sealing ring (10) having at least one pressure chamber (12) and at least two spaced-apart sealing surfaces (1 1) which, under the delivery pressure of the medium to be delivered, bear in a sealing manner against the outer circumference of the respective pipeline sections (51, 52), and wherein the sealing ring (10) furthermore has an encircling distance web (13) which points radially inwards and extends between the end faces of the clamped pipeline sections (51, 52), wherein at least one connecting passage which is permanently effective under delivery pressure is provided in the pipeline coupling (6) between the interior of the pipeline system and the pressure chamber (12) in the sealing ring (10), preferably by apertures (15) in the distance web (13).