Sealed Swivel Joint Assembly for Low-Friction Pneumatic Feed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swivel joint devices experience high rotational friction, wear, energy consumption, and pressure drops due to leaks, which affect the operation of pneumatic tools, especially in applications like pipe cutting and processing.
Innovation Solution
A swivel joint device with a sealed duct design featuring a solid internal member, ball bearings for low friction rotation, and a sealing assembly with annular grooves and thrust elements to maintain a tight seal under pressure, allowing for easy maintenance and replacement of worn seals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a non-axial duct is used to connect external and internal members, then pneumatic connection is achieved, but rotational friction increases and wear occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sealing function from the rotating connection by introducing a separate sealing ring that rotates with the internal member while maintaining a fixed sealing interface with the external member. This separates the rotation function (handled by ball bearings) from the sealing function, eliminating rotational friction at the sealing interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring acts as an intermediary element between the internal and external members. It provides a controlled interface that maintains pneumatic sealing while accommodating relative rotation through the ball bearing mechanism, preventing direct contact and friction between the internal member and external member walls.
2Ease of operation
If a non-axial duct is used for fluid supply, then pneumatic tools can be fed, but pressure drops occur due to leaks and pneumatic resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring extracts the sealing function from the rotating connection, creating a dedicated sealing interface that prevents leaks. This ensures that pressurized fluid maintains constant pressure throughout the duct system, eliminating pressure drops caused by leakage at the rotation interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring is designed as a replaceable, maintenance-friendly component that can be easily replaced when worn. This ensures consistent sealing performance over time, preventing pressure drops that would occur with deteriorating seals in non-replaceable configurations.
3Reliability
If seals are worn, then maintenance is needed, but restoration should be simple and easy
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is segmented into a modular sealing ring that can be independently removed and replaced. The sealing ring is designed as a separate component from the main internal member, allowing it to be extracted and replaced without disassembling the entire device, making maintenance simple and quick.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is extracted into a separate, removable sealing ring component. This allows the seal to be independently maintained by simply removing and replacing the ring, rather than requiring complex restoration procedures on integrated sealing surfaces.
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
The device provides low resistance to rotation, maintains an excellent seal for pressurized fluids, reduces maintenance needs, and is suitable for various applications including pipe cutting and processing, while minimizing energy consumption and leaks.
Implementation Method 1
The rotation members (11) consist of ball bearings
Implementation Method 2
low resistance to rotation
Implementation Method 3
a sealing ring (23) made of elastomeric material and assigned to slide against the middle ring (21) so as to seal the gap between the internal and external members
Implementation Method 4
an annular thrust element (25) acting against the side face of the sealing ring (23) opposite the middle ring (21) so as to push the sealing ring (23) against the middle ring (21)
Implementation Method 5
The expansion chamber (37) is in flow connection with the first connection (5) and cooperates with the elastic elements (41) to exert an abutment thrust force
Data Source
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AI summary
A swivel joint device with a sealed duct comprises at least an external member (3) provided with at least one respective first connection (5) for a pressurized fluid and one internal member (7) provided with at least one respective second connection (9) for the pressurized fluid. The internal member (7) is at least partially internal to the external member (3). The device (1) further comprises a set of rotation members (11), having a common rotation axis (R) and interposed between the internal (7) and external (3) members for free rotation around the rotation axis (R) of one of the members (7, 3) with respect to the other (3, 7). The inner member (7) has a ring element (15) protruding outwards and peripherally provided with an annular groove (17) facing the at least one internal outlet of the at least one first connection (5) of the external member (3). The ring element (15) is laterally provided with right and left annulus shoulders and its annular groove (17) is in fluid communication with a set of supply ducts (19) of the internal member (7) which connect such annular groove to the at least one second connection (9) of the internal member (7). Each right or left shoulder of the ring element (15) is in abutment with a first flat side face of a respective middle ring (21). The second side face of the middle ring (21) is flat and an external edge thereof is in a sliding abutment with a side flat face of a respective sealing ring (23) kept adherent against the middle ring (21) by an annular thrust element (25) acting against the portion of the sealing ring (23) opposite the side face of the latter (23) which slides against the middle ring (21).