Winged Ring Seal Geometry for Leakproof Fluid Pathways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing technologies in semiconductor manufacturing environments face challenges in sealing fluid pathways, particularly in environments with high heat, corrosive gases, and aggressive fluids, and they require seals that can withstand such conditions.
Innovation Solution
The ring seal is designed to provide a progressive compression method that gradually increases sealing surface area with a straight wall ID bore, using a retainer as a centering device to reduce material requirements by 20-30%, and incorporates a protective lip to prevent damage during handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional C seals are used with sharp sealing edges, then sealing capability is achieved, but the sealing edges can scratch during handling and installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a protective coating on the sealing edges before they come into contact with mating surfaces. This coating acts as a cushion that prevents direct metal-to-metal contact during handling and installation, thereby preventing scratches while maintaining sealing capability. The coating is applied in advance to protect the vulnerable sealing edges throughout the assembly process.
2Reliability
If metallic gaskets are used to resist leakage, then diffusion resistance is improved, but the gaskets require precise machining and have complex cross sections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the geometric parameters of the gasket cross-section to simplify its structure. Specifically, the gasket is designed with a uniform thickness and simplified radial profile, eliminating complex features while maintaining effective sealing parameters through optimized contact surface geometry and material selection. This reduces manufacturing complexity while preserving leakage resistance.
3Reliability
If conventional seals are used, then sealing is achieved, but material requirements are high leading to increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies taking out by extracting only the essential sealing function from the gasket structure. Instead of using excessive material, the design isolates the critical sealing elements to the minimum necessary cross-sectional area while maintaining structural integrity. The gasket is designed with optimized material distribution, concentrating material only where sealing contact is required, thereby reducing overall material requirements while maintaining sealing performance.
4Temperature
If seals are designed for high temperature resistance, then thermal stability is improved, but the sealing edges become more vulnerable to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a heat-resistant metallic gasket body with a protective coating material that has both thermal stability and mechanical toughness. The composite structure allows the gasket to withstand high temperatures while the protective coating layer shields the sealing edges from mechanical damage. This multi-material approach resolves the contradiction between thermal resistance and edge vulnerability.
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 ring seal achieves a high-quality, leakproof seal with elastic recovery, capable of withstanding high temperatures and pressures, and reduces material requirements while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
Metal seals provide plastic deformation to achieve extraordinarily low leak rates between substantially planar parallel surfaces
Implementation Method 2
the sidewalls provide elastic recovery of the ring seal during repeated cycles of compression and decompression
Data Source
AI summary
A ring-shaped gasket has a body, and a wing that deflects at least a portion of the stress of compression from the axial center of the ring seal. The wing compresses in both the axial and the radial direction when tightened between seal surfaces. When the wing is further compressed, the portion of the wing contacting the seal surface moves in a radial direction from farther away from the center of the ring seal to closer to the center of the ring seal. The outer radial surface of the ring seal has a wing trough and a central trough separated by a peak. The troughs may have a V-shape a U-shape, or may have a regular arrangement of blind cavities projecting into either one or both of the axial end surfaces.