Sprinkler Riser Seal Cartridge Hard Plastic Core

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sprinkler riser seals made of soft rubber lose dimensional stability over time, leading to ineffective sealing against pressure and blow-by issues during pressurization, and fail to provide adequate resistance during retraction.

Innovation Solution

An internally molded hard plastic core within the rubber seal maintains dimensional stability, combined with a flexible lip seal and a cylindrical extension for high-pressure sealing, allowing for a configurable seal that limits water blow-by while minimizing resistance during retraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a soft rubber seal is used for the sprinkler riser, then the seal is flexible enough to allow riser retraction, but the rubber loses dimensional stability over time causing seal deterioration and blow-by

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveriser retraction flexibilityVSAvoidseal effectiveness over time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The seal cartridge uses a composite construction combining a hard plastic core (providing dimensional stability) with a soft rubber seal portion (providing flexibility). This composite structure allows the seal to maintain its shape and sealing effectiveness over time while still being flexible enough to permit riser retraction during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If the rubber seal is made thicker to maintain dimensional stability, then the seal retains proper tolerances longer, but the resistance during riser retraction increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedimensional stabilityVSAvoidresistance during retraction

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The seal cartridge is segmented into distinct functional zones: a hard plastic core that maintains dimensional stability and a thinner soft rubber seal portion that provides flexibility with minimal retraction resistance. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the seal cartridge have different material properties tailored to their specific functions. The core is hard and dimensionally stable for maintaining seal geometry, while the seal portion is soft and flexible for allowing riser movement. This local differentiation of material quality resolves the contradiction between stability and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Force

If the seal is made softer to reduce resistance during retraction, then the riser retracts more easily, but the seal becomes less effective at preventing blow-by during pressurization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretraction resistanceVSAvoidblow-by prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The composite structure of a hard core with a soft seal portion allows the seal to be effective at preventing blow-by during pressurization while maintaining low retraction resistance. The hard core provides structural integrity for high-pressure sealing, while the soft rubber portion ensures easy riser retraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Stability of the object's composition

If a hard seal material is used to maintain dimensional stability, then the seal remains effective over time, but the seal becomes less flexible for riser retraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedimensional stabilityVSAvoidriser retraction

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The seal cartridge is divided into a hard core structure and a soft seal portion, allowing the hard material to provide dimensional stability while the soft material enables riser retraction. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between hardness for stability and softness for flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The seal cartridge has different material qualities in different locations: the core is hard for stability while the seal portion is soft for flexibility. This local quality differentiation allows the seal to simultaneously achieve dimensional stability and operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8534572B2Sprinkler to top riser and housing seal cartridge for gear drive sprinkler

Publication Date: 2013.09.17 KAH JR CARL L C

AI summary

A riser seal cartridge for an irrigation sprinkler. The cartridge is formed of a rigid self support shell, and a sealing member formed of a resilient material covering the shell in areas which provide the seal. The sealing member includes a first portion which seals the top end of the sprinkler body, a second portion which seals an outer surface of the riser, a third portion which connects the first and second portions, and a fourth portion extending from the third seal portion which provides a seal for the support shell lower end portion. The first seal portion provides a high pressure seal to prevent leakage when the riser is in a fully extended position; and the second seal portion provides a low pressure seal during pressure build-up as the riser is extending.