Sealing Sleeve With Annular Beads For Pipe Bundle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe bundle sealing end pieces fail to provide adequate sealing against gas and liquid ingress at both the insertion and pipe outlet openings, particularly for non-circularly symmetrical cross-sections.
Innovation Solution
A sealing sleeve with two sleeve shells, a split sealing mat, and a sealing disk that can accommodate inner pipes with varying cross-sectional shapes, featuring radially inward annular beads and grooves to form multiple circumferential sealing surfaces, ensuring tightness against non-ideal cylindrical shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a sealing sleeve with a single sealing surface is used, then the structure is simple, but adequate sealing against gas and liquid pressures is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mat is divided into multiple annular beads (typically three) arranged axially at different positions, creating multiple discrete sealing surfaces. Each annular bead forms an independent sealing contact with the pipe bundle casing, and the annular grooves between them allow elastic deformation. This segmentation provides redundant sealing paths, ensuring that if one sealing line is compromised, others maintain the seal against gas and liquid ingress.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a sealing sleeve designed for circular cross-sections is used, then the design is simple, but it cannot adequately seal non-circular pipe bundles
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mat is constructed from elastomeric material that provides flexibility and elastic deformation capability. When the sealing sleeve is clamped, the elastomeric sealing mat deforms to conform to the actual outer contour of the pipe bundle, whether circular, polygonal, or elliptical. This flexibility allows the sealing surface to adapt to various cross-sectional shapes while maintaining continuous contact for effective sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system incorporates dynamic adaptability through the elastic properties of the sealing mat and the clamping mechanism. The clamping device applies radial force that causes the elastomeric sealing mat to dynamically deform and adjust to the pipe bundle's cross-sectional shape. This dynamic adjustment ensures optimal sealing contact regardless of whether the pipe bundle has a circular, polygonal, or irregular cross-section.
3Reliability
If multiple annular beads are used to seal non-circular cross-sections, then sealing reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric sealing mat serves as a flexible element that inherently adapts to various pipe bundle cross-sections. This flexibility reduces the need for complex rigid sealing structures with multiple adjustable components. The elastomeric material's ability to deform and conform simplifies the overall design while maintaining reliable sealing across different geometries.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system uses composite construction combining the rigid sealing sleeve structure with a flexible elastomeric sealing mat. This composite approach allows the rigid outer structure to provide mechanical strength and positioning, while the elastomeric inner layer provides adaptive sealing contact. The combination achieves reliable sealing for non-circular cross-sections without requiring the entire structure to be complex.
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 reliable sealing against gas and liquid pressures up to 10 bar, effectively sealing pipe bundles with polygonal or elliptical cross-sections by adapting to different shapes and pressures through the use of elastomeric materials and a clamping device.
Implementation Method 1
the elastically deforming annular beads can escape into the annular groove, so that at least one circumferential closed enveloping sealing surface between at least one of the annular beads and the envelope is formed
Implementation Method 2
a clamping device that can be attached to the outside of the sleeve shells for bracing the sleeve shells against one another and for pressing the sealing mat radially against the casing of the pipe assembly
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
In a sealing sleeve for a pipe assembly with at least two inner pipes for receiving electrical conductors, such as cables, and a flexible covering surrounding the at least two inner pipes, comprising at least two sleeve shells encompassing the pipe assembly, in particular sleeve half-shells that define an insertion opening and a pipe outlet opening, a sealing mat divided longitudinally along the sealing sleeve, a sealing disc for sealing the pipe outlet opening with at least two passages, each of which can receive an inner pipe forming a circumferential closed inner pipe sealing surface, and a clamping device attachable to the outside of the sleeve shells for mutually clamping the sleeve shells and for radially pressing the sealing mat against the covering of the pipe assembly, it is provided that the sealing mat has several circumferential,radially inwardly extending annular beads onto the covering seal the insertion opening and form a circumferential annular groove between two annular beads, into which the respective elastically deformed annular beads move when clamped, so that a circumferential closed sealing surface is formed between at least one annular bead and the covering.