RFID Sealing Device for Traceable Pipeline Seal Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing devices, such as O-rings, become brittle over time and lose identifiable seal-specific information, making tracing and management difficult.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an electronic data medium, like an RFID transponder, into the sealing device that allows for flexible data management, including writing, reading, and protection of seal-specific information, which can be integrated within the seal or externally, ensuring data availability and preventing accidental changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If seal-specific information is marked on the outer surface of the sealing device, then the information is initially identifiable, but the sealing device becomes brittle over time and the information is no longer identifiable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/optical information carriers (markings on the outer surface) with an electronic data storage system. The data medium with electronic data memory is integrated into the sealing device, allowing seal-specific information to be stored electronically rather than physically marked on the seal surface. This substitution eliminates the problem of information becoming unidentifiable when the seal material becomes brittle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of seal-specific information stored in an electronic data medium rather than relying on physical markings. The information is copied into a durable electronic format that does not degrade with the seal material, ensuring long-term identifiability throughout the service life of the sealing device.
2Reliability
If the data medium is integrated into the seal, then the assignment is clear and inseparable, but the seal material may corrode and affect the data memory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sealing device into two functional parts: the seal element made of seal material and the data medium as a separate integrated component. This segmentation allows the data medium to be protected from direct contact with corrosive seal materials and media, while maintaining a clear and inseparable assignment relationship. The data medium can be positioned in a protected location within the sealing device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a protective barrier or intermediary structure between the corrosive seal material and the data medium. This intermediary protects the electronic data memory from corrosion while maintaining the integrated design, ensuring that the data remains accessible and the assignment relationship is preserved without direct exposure to harmful factors.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the data medium is located outside the seal, then corrosion risk is eliminated, but the spatial assignment between seal and data medium becomes less direct
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the data medium is housed within a protective enclosure or housing that is itself part of the sealing device assembly. The data medium is nested within the sealing device structure but spatially separated from the seal material, allowing corrosion protection while maintaining clear association through the hierarchical nesting relationship.
4Device complexity
If traditional markings are used on the seal surface, then the structure remains simple, but tracing and management become difficult when the seal degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple mechanical markings with an electronic data storage and communication system. The data medium with electronic data memory enables automated reading, writing, and management of seal-specific information, significantly improving tracing and management ease despite the increased technological complexity of the data storage system.
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing device for sealing a pipeline arrangement, a method for the production of a sealing device, and a pipeline system including a sealing device and a pipeline arrangement. The sealing device includes a seal and data medium assigned to the seal with electronic data memory to which seal specific information can be or is written.