Adjustable Sealing Sleeve Locking With Adhesive Tooth Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional adjustable sealing sleeves face issues with locking mechanisms that are complex, prone to malfunction, and vulnerable to material fatigue, leading to temporary or incomplete sealing of pipeline systems.
Innovation Solution
A locking device for adjustable sealing sleeves, featuring a housing with a locking element and a spring element, where the locking element engages with a row of teeth on the band, and an adhesive reservoir releases adhesive to permanently bond the locking element to the chamber and/or the row of teeth, ensuring a permanent seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking gear with guide gear and tension spring is used to maintain sleeve expansion, then the locking function is achieved, but the mechanism becomes complex and prone to malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex locking gear and guide gear components from the conventional sealing sleeve, retaining only the essential tension spring and locking element. This extraction of unnecessary components simplifies the locking mechanism while preserving its core function of maintaining sleeve expansion against material fatigue.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex gear system that actively engages to lock the sleeve, the invention inverts the approach by using a simple tension spring that passively maintains constant tension on the locking element. The locking element simply engages with teeth on the band ends, and the spring's continuous tension ensures permanent locking without complex mechanical interactions.
2Ease of manufacture
If spring elements made of plastic-like material are used in the locking device, then the device can be manufactured easily, but material fatigue causes cracks and failure leading to loss of seal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the locking element from plastic-like material to metal material. This parameter change eliminates material fatigue issues while maintaining ease of manufacture through standard metal forming processes. The metal locking element can withstand constant tension from the spring without developing cracks or failing over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure combining metal locking element with the band system. The metal locking element provides fatigue-resistant locking function, while the band material provides sealing functionality. This composite approach allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromising overall reliability.
3Reliability
If a rotatably mounted locking gear is used to engage with teeth in the slot, then the locking mechanism can maintain tension, but the rotational mounting creates vulnerability to material fatigue and malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rotatably mounted locking gear and guide gear components entirely, replacing them with a simple locking element that slides linearly along the band. This eliminates the rotational mounting and its associated complexity while maintaining the ability to engage with teeth and maintain tension through the spring's constant force.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical gear engagement system with a simpler direct engagement system. Instead of rotational gear interactions, the locking element directly engages with teeth on the band ends through linear movement, driven by the spring's tension. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical interactions that are prone to fatigue and malfunction.
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 solution provides a reliable and permanent locking mechanism that prevents the inner diameter of the sealing sleeve from changing, ensuring a durable and effective seal in pipeline systems without requiring manual operation.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element (33) in operative connection to the locking element (37), wherein the spring element (33) is elastically spring-loaded
Implementation Method 2
an adhesive reservoir (1), containing an adhesive that can be released to permanently bond the locking element (37) to the chamber (35) and/or the row of teeth (39)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a locking device for locking a set internal diameter of an adaptable sealing sleeve which is made of a belt that has two overlapping ends, comprising a housing (31) with a locking element (37) and a spring element (33). The locking element is movably arranged in a chamber (35) of the housing and is operatively connected to the spring element, and the locking device comprises an adhesive storage container (1) in which an adhesive is arranged that can be released in order to securely connect the locking element to the chamber and/or to the row of teeth by means of an adhesive so that the lock of the sealing sleeve is permanent.