Profiled Press-Fitting Sealing Ring for Leak Detection and Uniform Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing leak-before-press sealing rings for press fittings face reliability issues due to large leak paths that require heavy crimping, potential material pile-ups, and unpredictable sealing behavior, leading to increased manufacturing costs and likelihood of leakages, especially with varying tolerances.
Innovation Solution
A profiled leak-before-press sealing ring with alternating arc-shaped and linear-shaped ring portions, connected by arc-shaped third type ring portions, ensuring smooth transitions and uniform sealing, which automatically closes leak paths upon pressing and provides a reliable seal around the circumference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large leak paths are created before pressing to enable detection of forgotten press fittings, then reliability of leakage detection is improved, but heavy crimping action is required which increases device complexity and may cause material pile-ups
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring employs different geometric profiles (arc-shaped vs. linear-shaped portions) at different locations around the circumference. The arc-shaped portions create larger local leak paths for reliable detection, while the linear-shaped portions with smaller angles create less resistance during pressing, eliminating the need for heavy crimping tools and reducing material pile-up risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring is divided into multiple alternating segments of first type (arc-shaped) and second type (linear-shaped) ring portions. This segmentation allows different functional zones: arc-shaped portions optimized for leak detection and linear-shaped portions optimized for easy pressing, resolving the contradiction between detection reliability and pressing simplicity.
2Reliability
If outwards curved first type ring portions are pressed radially inward to close leak paths, then sealing is achieved, but excess sealing ring material accumulates forming pile-ups that may disturb crimping and increase leakage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The linear-shaped second type ring portions have smaller circumferential angles and are designed to require less radial compression during pressing. This local design variation reduces material displacement and prevents pile-up formation at the pressing interface, eliminating the harmful effect of material accumulation while still achieving reliable sealing.
3Ease of operation
If minimal contact between pipe end and inward curved second type ring portions is provided, then insertion is facilitated, but installer cannot feel the sealing ring presence and pipe end may slip out prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The arc-shaped first type ring portions are positioned to contact the pipe end outer surface during insertion, providing sufficient friction and tactile feedback to the installer. The linear-shaped second type portions maintain minimal contact to facilitate smooth insertion. This localized differentiation simultaneously achieves ease of insertion and reliable detection of sealing ring presence.
Data Source
AI summary
A profiled leak-before-press sealing ring includes a plurality of arc-shaped first and linear-shaped second type ring portions that lie alternating around a center axis. The second type ring portions extend linear-shaped with straight inner and outer surfaces in a tangential direction. The first type ring portions have curved inner and outer surfaces of constant radii around the center axis. The ring further includes a plurality of third type ring portions that extend arc-shaped in between respective ones of the arc-shaped first and linear-shaped second type ring portions, and that each connect with its head ends to head ends of neighbouring ones of the first and second type ring portions. The arc-shaped first, the linear-shaped second, and the arc-shaped third type ring portions all have a same evenly large dimensioned cross-sectional shape.