Subsea Hydraulic Coupling Seal to Prevent Drag and Galling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Undersea hydraulic couplings face challenges with sealing functionality, leading to drag and galling issues when the male member enters the female member, which affects fluid flow and component durability.
Innovation Solution
A female member design featuring a tubular seal with inclined shoulders and a biasing element, such as a spring ring, to securely position and seal the male probe, reducing drag and galling through radial sealing surfaces and internal biasing mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional seal design is used in the hydraulic coupling, then the structure is simple, but sealing functionality is insufficient leading to drag and galling issues
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into multiple sealing elements including a primary seal, secondary seal, and tertiary seal arranged in series along the probe. Each seal engages with corresponding grooves in the female coupling member, creating multiple independent sealing zones that collectively provide superior sealing functionality compared to a single traditional seal design.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal structure employs a nested arrangement where the primary seal, secondary seal, and tertiary seal are positioned concentrically along the probe diameter. The seals are nested within grooves of the female coupling member, with each subsequent seal providing backup sealing functionality and engaging with progressively smaller diameter surfaces.
2Reliability
If the male member enters the female member of a coupling, then fluid communication is established, but drag and galling occur affecting component durability
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple seals act as intermediary elements between the male probe and female coupling member surfaces. These seals provide a compliant interface that reduces direct metal-to-metal contact during insertion and operation, thereby minimizing drag forces and preventing galling on the coupling surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal design incorporates materials and geometries that change their physical parameters under operating conditions. The seals are designed to deform elastically under compression from biasing springs, adapting their shape to conform to the probe and coupling bore surfaces, which reduces friction and prevents galling during relative motion.
3Reliability
If a single seal is used to seal the junction, then the structure is simple, but sealing efficiency is insufficient under hydrostatic pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into multiple independent seals positioned at different locations along the probe. Each seal is responsible for sealing a specific zone, with the primary seal handling the main sealing function and secondary/tertiary seals providing backup sealing and preventing fluid bypass under high hydrostatic pressure conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal arrangement provides beforehand cushioning against pressure-induced leakage. The multiple seals are pre-positioned and pre-compressed by biasing springs to create a robust sealing barrier before hydrostatic pressure is applied, preventing fluid escape even under extreme pressure conditions.
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 enhances sealing efficiency, reduces the risk of galling, and prevents seal implosion under hydrostatic pressure, ensuring reliable fluid communication and component longevity in subsea applications.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing element is configured to circumferentially bias a portion of the outer surface of the tubular seal toward the cylindrical sidewall of the recess
Implementation Method 2
The ends have second inclined shoulders being inclined toward one another at the through-bore of the tubular seal. The second inclined shoulders are configured to position against the first inclined shoulders of the body.
Data Source
AI summary
An undersea hydraulic coupling member having a ring-shaped seal with multiple sealing surfaces extending radially inwardly therefrom is disclosed. The multiple sealing surfaces help guide the probe of the male coupling member into the female member without the risk of drag or galling of the receiving chamber or metal seal retained therein. The seal has an interfit with reverse inclined shoulders in the female member to restrain the seal from moving radially inwardly due to vacuum or low pressure. The seal also includes an internal biasing element to restrain the seal from moving radially inwardly during de-mating of the coupling members.