Variable Height Gasket for Wide Pipe Diameter Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tapping sleeve designs have a limited range of pipe diameters on which they effectively seal, requiring multiple sleeves to be stocked for different diameters and leading to inefficiencies in inventory management and operational performance.
Innovation Solution
The improved tapping sleeve assembly features a gasket with a non-uniform aperture seal and circumferential seal beads, allowing for increased flexibility and sealing force across a wider range of pipe diameters by adjusting the thickness and offset of the seal in proportion to the pipe diameter, enabling effective sealing from minimum to maximum diameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a constant height cross section gasket bead geometry is used, then the manufacturing is simple, but the range of pipe diameters that can be sealed is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket bead geometry transitions from constant height to variable height, with different sections of the gasket having different thicknesses. Specifically, the gasket has a first section with a first thickness and a second section with a second thickness greater than the first thickness, allowing different regions to accommodate different pipe diameters effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the gasket bead from constant to variable height. The variable height gasket bead profile allows the sealing surface to adapt to different pipe outer diameters, enabling a single gasket design to seal across a wider range of pipe sizes.
2Reliability
If the aperture seal is located immediately adjacent to the branch transition, then the sealing is effective for standard diameters, but the adaptability to varying pipe diameters is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture seal is offset from the branch transition in the longitudinal direction, creating a sealing zone that is distributed along the length of the pipe rather than concentrated at a single point. This longitudinal distribution allows the seal to accommodate variations in pipe diameter more effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The offset aperture seal acts as an intermediary sealing mechanism between the branch transition and the pipe surface. By positioning the seal away from the rigid branch transition area, it allows for flexibility in accommodating different pipe diameters while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
3Reliability
If multiple tapping sleeve sizes are stocked for different pipe diameters, then each size seals effectively on its designated diameter, but inventory complexity and management costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tapping sleeve assembly with variable height gasket bead geometry is designed to perform multiple sealing functions across different pipe diameters. A single universal design can seal on various pipe outer diameters within a specified range, eliminating the need for multiple specialized sizes and simplifying inventory management.
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
This design doubles the range of pipe diameters that can be sealed with a single tapping sleeve size, reducing inventory needs and enhancing operational efficiency by maintaining sufficient sealing force and pressure across varying pipe diameters.
Implementation Method 1
a gasket (32) disposed between the first member and the main fluid conduit, the gasket having a protruding aperture seal (22) configured to extend around the branch aperture
Implementation Method 2
the connection assembly configured and arranged to tighten the first and the second members to the main fluid conduit
Data Source
AI summary
A tapping sleeve assembly comprising a sleeve configured to clamp a main conduit, a gasket between the sleeve and main conduit, the gasket having a protruding aperture seal offset a distance from a branch aperture in the sleeve, the aperture seal having a first inwardly protruding portion extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main conduit, an inwardly protruding circumferential seal bead extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis from the first portion of the aperture seal, the seal bead having a main length portion having a thickness less than the thickness of the first portion of the aperture seal, the seal bead having a junction end portion between the main length portion and the first portion of the aperture seal, the junction end portion having a non-uniform thickness, the aperture seal having a non-uniform thickness, and the offset distance being non-uniform.