Flexible Slip Joint Seal for Low-Torque Angular Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional slip joint apparatuses are limited by high torque requirements for assembly, lack of dynamic angular movement capability, and are prone to failure under stress due to misalignment and vibration, necessitating the use of more expensive bellows couplings.

Innovation Solution

A sealing means with a first surface and side walls that allow pivotable and angular movement, reducing torque requirements and enabling both initial tolerance absorption and dynamic angular movement, while maintaining a seal with a smaller contact area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a conventional sealing gasket with flat base surface and vertical side walls is used, then sufficient clamping pressure and contact pressure are achieved, but high torque is required for assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamping pressureVSAvoidtorque requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing gasket transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure. The side walls are designed to be flexible and deformable, allowing the gasket to adapt its shape during clamping. This flexibility enables the gasket to maintain sealing contact while reducing the torque needed for assembly, as the material itself deforms to create the sealing force rather than relying solely on mechanical clamping pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the sealing gasket by making the side walls flexible rather than rigid. This parameter change allows the gasket to deform under lower clamping forces, achieving the same sealing effect with reduced torque. The flexible side walls can bend and conform to the mating surfaces, creating effective seals with less applied force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If a conventional rigid sealing gasket is used, then structural stability is maintained, but dynamic angular movement capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoiddynamic angular movement capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing gasket is designed with flexible side walls that can dynamically adapt to angular movements between connected pipes. The flexibility allows the gasket to bend and follow angular displacements while maintaining sealing contact. This dynamic capability enables the joint to accommodate thermal expansion, vibration, and misalignment without compromising the seal or requiring complex bellows couplings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs a flexible sealing gasket with deformable side walls that act as a flexible element between rigid pipe components. This flexible shell can bend and deform to accommodate angular movements while maintaining the sealing function. The flexible gasket serves as a simple alternative to rigid bellows couplings, providing angular movement capability without significant cost or complexity increases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional slip joint apparatus is used, then assembly is simple, but the joint is prone to failure under stress from misalignment and vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidjoint durability under stress

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the mechanical properties of the sealing gasket by introducing flexibility in the side walls. This parameter change allows the gasket to absorb stresses from misalignment and vibration through elastic deformation rather than rigid contact. The flexible gasket can dynamically adapt to stress conditions, preventing joint failure while maintaining the simplicity of slip joint assembly without requiring complex alignment procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If a larger contact area sealing gasket is used, then sealing reliability is improved, but torque requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidtorque requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible side walls of the sealing gasket enable effective sealing with reduced contact area. The flexibility allows the gasket to conform closely to the mating surfaces, creating effective sealing contact along the flexible sidewalls rather than requiring a large flat contact area. This conformance capability maintains sealing reliability while reducing the clamping force and torque needed to achieve and maintain the seal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS12607264B2Sealing means, improved slip joint apparatus and/or methods of use thereof

Publication Date: 2026.04.21 TECONNEX

AI summary

Manners of sealing for use with slip joint apparatuses are provided that includes a first surface which is arranged to contact a surface of an item in use, and one or more side wall surfaces extending away from the first surface. The first surface and/or said one or more side wall surfaces are arranged so as to allow a degree of pivotable and/or angular movement of at least the first surface of the sealing with respect to the item surface with which it contacts in use.