Wedge Adjustment Rings for Misaligned Pipe Flange Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for compensating for spatial offsets between pipeline flanges, caused by welding distortion or installation issues, require complex on-site reworking without suitable machine tools, leading to inefficiencies and challenges in achieving a tight seal.
Innovation Solution
The use of adapting rings with a wedge shape and angular offset, allowing for radial centering and compensation of axial, angular, and parallel offsets between flanges through a method involving orientation, turning, and integrally joining of the rings to form a flexible and effective flange connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional methods are used to compensate for offset between flanges, then the offset can be compensated, but the work becomes complicated and requires complex on-site reworking without suitable machine tools
Solution Approach 1:
The adapting ring is divided into multiple segments that can be assembled together on-site. Each segment can be independently positioned and adjusted, allowing complex offset compensation to be achieved through simple assembly of multiple simple components rather than requiring complex machine tools
Solution Approach 2:
The adapting ring acts as an intermediary component between two flanges with offset. Instead of modifying the flanges themselves (which would require complex reworking), the adapting ring mediates the connection by absorbing the offset through its wedge shape and adjustable segments
2Reliability
If conventional methods are used to compensate for offset between flanges, then the offset can be compensated, but on-site work becomes complicated without suitable machine tools
Solution Approach 1:
The adapting ring is pre-manufactured with a wedge shape and segmented structure that incorporates the offset compensation capability. This preliminary preparation allows the complex geometry to be created in a controlled manufacturing environment rather than requiring complex machine tools at the installation site
Solution Approach 2:
The adapting ring design allows for self-adjustment and self-centering during assembly. The wedge shape automatically positions the ring correctly, and the segments can be assembled without specialized equipment, making the on-site work simple and equipment-independent
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement for equalizing an offset between two pipe flanges, includes an arrangement for equalizing an offset between two pipe flanges, having adjustment rings, each having a recess which extends along an axis and about which a ring material extends in a circumferential direction, wherein at least two of the adjustment rings have two contact surfaces, the contact surfaces having flat, substantially circular contact surfaces at least along circular tracks concentric to the axis. A cross section of the ring material has a varying axial ring material thickness in the circumferential direction such that at least two of the adjustment rings have a wedge shape having an angular offset of the two contact surfaces relative to each other. The arrangement has at least three adjustment rings to flexibly compensate for different offset phenomena.