Separable Seal Assembly With Peel Initiators for Low Stiction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compressive stress over time causes existing seals, gaskets, or O-rings to form bonds with coupled components, leading to stiction that resists or retards the rapid or instantaneous separation of components, which can fail to meet specified separation time or speed requirements in applications like rocket stages.
Innovation Solution
A separable component assembly with a seal having peel initiators that introduce discontinuities on its interface surface, reducing stiction by creating a stress concentration that facilitates peeling and thus reduces the force needed for separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal is used under compressive stress to maintain sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but stiction increases making separation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is segmented into multiple discrete elements (first seal element and second seal element) separated by a gap. This segmentation allows each element to independently deform and seal against its respective component while reducing the overall bonding area and stiction force between the seal and the components, enabling easier separation after the mission.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the seal remains static for long periods, then mission duration is extended, but stiction increases retarding separation speed
Solution Approach 1:
The seal elements are designed to be elastically deformable, transitioning from a static sealed state during the mission to a dynamic separation state when needed. The elastic properties allow the seal to maintain compression over long periods while enabling rapid recovery and separation when the mission is complete, addressing both extended duration and rapid separation requirements.
3Reliability
If compressive stress is applied to the seal, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the force required to overcome bonding increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the seal into multiple elements with gaps between them, the compressive stress is distributed across separate elements rather than a continuous seal. Each element maintains sufficient compression for effective sealing while the gaps reduce the total bonding area, thereby reducing the force required to overcome bonding during separation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the sealing system have different properties: the seal elements maintain high compressive stress for effective sealing at the interface, while the gap regions have zero stress and no bonding. This local differentiation allows effective sealing where needed while minimizing overall bonding forces.
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
Enables the components to separate within a specified time period or with a specified minimum separation speed, ensuring proper operation by reducing the force required to overcome bonding between the seal and mating components.
Implementation Method 1
a peel initiator on the seal defining one or more discontinuities in a portion of the second interface surfaces so as to facilitate the reduction in the amount of stiction or the stiction phenomenon between the first and second components
Data Source
AI summary
A separable component assembly is disclosed. The separable component assembly can include a first component having a first interface portion. The separable component assembly can also include a second component coupled to the first component. The second component can have a second interface portion. In addition, the separable component assembly can include a seal disposed between the first and second interface portions. The seal can have a first interface surface associated with the first interface portion. The seal can also have a second interface surface in contact with the second interface portion. Additionally, the seal can have a peel initiator defining a discontinuity in a portion of the second interface surface. Upon separation of the first and second components from one another, the discontinuity can create a stress concentration in the second interface surface that initiates peeling of the second interface surface away from the second interface portion.