KR101972961B1 - Assembly for connecting pipes - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a connection assembly formed to provide improved sealing. According to the present invention, the assembly, which connects first and second pipes including first and second flanges extended in a radial direction while facing each other, comprises: a gasket interposed between the first and second flanges to seal the connection part of the first and second pipes, and comprising a ring-shaped body and first and second surfaces formed on the body and coming into contact with the first and second flanges, respectively; a pair of holders formed to be placed on surfaces opposite to the surfaces of the first and second flanges coming into contact with the gasket; a clamp combined with the holders, and formed to press the holders to attach the first and second flanges and gasket to each other; and a reinforcement structure placed on one of the first and second surfaces of the gasket, and formed to reinforce sealing by the gasket. The reinforcement structure is made of a frame assembly extended in a circumferential direction of the gasket. The frame assembly includes: a plurality of connected frames placed on one of the first and second surfaces; and a plurality of hollow cells each formed by the frames.

Description

Assembly for pipe connection {ASSEMBLY FOR CONNECTING PIPES}

The present invention relates to a plumbing fixture for transferring fluids, and more particularly, to an assembly for connecting pipes used for conveying fluid in fraudulent plumbing fixtures.

In general, plumbing equipment may be used to transfer the fluid. More specifically, plumbing can be made up of pipes and attachments such as pumps, valves, etc. provided to the pipes or to supply fluids that are gas or liquid to or from the desired location or device. . For example, a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus uses various kinds of reaction gases to form a thin film on a wafer, and piping equipment may be applied to the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus to supply such reaction gases to the reaction chamber.

Such a plumbing facility may be composed of a plurality of pipes connected to each other, and thus may have an arrangement suitable for a place or a device to be installed. The connection of these pipes is firstly required to be securely sealed, which is important for the stable transport of fluid without leakage. It is also important that the pipes be easily separated in preparation for defects and breakages. Therefore, the connection or connection structure of the pipes needs to consider this sealing and maintenance first. In particular, when the plumbing equipment transports the toxic reaction gas in the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus mentioned above as an example, the sealing and maintenance of the pipes may be more important.

Basically, permanent joining, such as welding, can be used to connect the pipes. However, this permanent coupling can reliably connect the pipes at low cost but does not allow the pipes to be easily separated for maintenance. Meanwhile, the pipes may be detachably connected to each other using an assembly of various coupling parts. However, such separable couplings are advantageous for the maintenance of plumbing fixtures but do not provide higher sealing and durability than permanent couplings.

Accordingly, in plumbing installations, there is a need for a connecting structure or method that allows for easier and detachable connection of pipes and at the same time more securely seals the pipes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connection assembly capable of easily connecting pipes to be separated and reliably sealed.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an assembly for connecting first and second pipes, each of which includes first and second flanges facing each other and extending radially, A first interposed between the first and second flanges to seal the connection of the first and second pipes, the first and second flanges being formed in the ring-shaped body and the body and in contact with the first and second flanges, respectively; A gasket configured to have second surfaces; A pair of holders configured to be disposed on surfaces opposing surfaces in contact with the gaskets of the first and second flanges; A clamp coupled to the pair of holders and configured to press the holders to bring the first and second flanges and the gasket into close contact with each other; And a reinforcing structure disposed on any one of the first and second surfaces of the gasket, the reinforcing structure configured to reinforce the sealing by the gasket, the reinforcing structure extending along the circumferential direction of the gasket. The frame assembly may comprise: a plurality of frames disposed on one of the first and second surfaces and connected to each other; And it may provide a pipe connection assembly including a plurality of hollow cells each formed by the frames.

The reinforcement structure may further include a rib disposed adjacent to the frame assembly on either one of the first and second surfaces and configured to support the frame assembly. More specifically, such ribs include: a first rib extending along the circumferential direction of the gasket and configured to contact an inner circumference of the frame assembly; And a second rib extending along the circumferential direction of the gasket and configured to contact the outer circumferential portion of the frame assembly.

In addition, the reinforcing structure may be embedded in the body outside the frame assembly, and may include an anchor member (anchor member) configured to dig into a member disposed around it when pressure is applied from the outside. More specifically, the anchor member comprises: a first anchor member configured to dig into the body of the gasket by an external pressure; And a second anchor member configured to dig into the rib by an external pressure.

Furthermore, the gasket may include a restraint mechanism disposed adjacent the reinforcement structure and configured to restrain the crack to prevent the growth of cracks generated in the gasket.

The connection assembly according to the invention may comprise a reinforcement structure additionally provided in the gasket to seal the pipes to which it is connected. Thus, the connection assembly of the present invention can provide the pipes with a tighter seal by this reinforcement structure. In addition, the reinforcement structure is structurally stable and compactly formed, so that the connection assembly of the present invention can increase the strength of the gasket while providing a reinforced seal even at a low production cost using this reinforcement structure.

In addition, the connection assembly of the present invention can connect and seal the pipes using holders and clamps that can be easily fastened and detached from each other. Thus, the connection assembly of the present invention can easily separate the pies through such easy separation of the holder and clamp.

The effects obtainable in the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and additional effects not mentioned may be clearly understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing a connection assembly according to the invention coupled with pipes;
2 is an exploded perspective view of the connection assembly of the present invention shown with the pipes to be joined.
3 is a partial cross-sectional view of part “A” of FIG. 1 showing the connection assembly coupled with the pipes.
4 is a plan view showing a gasket of the connecting assembly according to the present invention.
5 is an enlarged view of a portion “B” of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 5.
8 is an enlarged plan view of the anchor member illustrated in FIG. 7.
9 is a plan view illustrating a modification of the anchor member of FIG. 8.
10 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 5 showing a reinforcing structure to which the anchor member of FIG. 9 is applied.
FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged view showing a modification of the restraint mechanism shown in FIG. 5.
12 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 11.
FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 5.
14 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modification of the reinforcing structure of the gasket.

Embodiments of an assembly for pipe connection according to the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings are described in detail below.

In the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that the detailed description of the related known technology may obscure the gist of the disclosed embodiment, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are only for easily understanding the disclosed embodiments, it is not limited to the technical spirit disclosed by the accompanying drawings, all changes, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should be understood to include.

Regardless of the reference numerals, the same or similar components will be given the same reference numerals and redundant description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the size and shape of each component member shown for convenience of description may be exaggerated or reduced.

Terms including ordinal numbers such as first and second may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, the terms “consist of,” “comprise,” or “have” are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, action, component, part, or combination thereof described on the specification, one or It is to be understood that no other features or numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof are excluded in advance.

Embodiments described herein relate to an assembly configured to connect pipes in a plumbing fixture. However, the principles and configurations of these embodiments can be applied substantially the same for the connection and closure of members other than pipes.

1 is a perspective view showing a connection assembly according to the invention coupled with pipes, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connection assembly of the invention shown with the pipes to be joined. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of part “A” of FIG. 1 showing the connection assembly coupled with the pipes. With reference to these figures, an assembly for pipe connection according to the invention is described next.

First, referring to FIG. 1, an assembly for pipe connection (hereinafter referred to as "connection assembly") of the present invention is basically between two first and second pipes 10, 20 in a plumbing installation, precisely these Disposed at the ends of and configured to connect them to each other. The first and second pipes 10, 20 may be arranged such that their ends face each other for interconnection. As shown in FIG. 2, the first and second pipes 10, 20 are formed at the ends facing each other, and the first and second flanges 11, 21 are similarly disposed to face each other. ) May be included. More specifically, the first flange 11 extends radially from the end of the first pipe 10 in a predetermined length and faces the first surface 11a and the first surface facing the second flange 21. It may include a second surface 11b opposite to 11a. Similarly, the second flange 21 also extends radially from the end of the second pipe 20 to a predetermined length and faces the first surface 21a and the first surface 21a facing the first flange 11. It may comprise a second surface (21b) opposite. In practice, the connection assembly of the present invention is provided on the first and second flanges 11, 12 to join these flanges 11, 12, so that the first and the second pipes 10, 20 as a whole. Can be connected. Accordingly, the connection assembly of the present invention may be defined to include the flanges 11 and 21 associated with the gasket 100, the holder 200, and the clamp 300 which will be described later for the coupling of the pipes 10 and 20. Can be. Furthermore, the present invention may also encompass assemblies, ie piping assemblies, which also comprise such connecting assemblies 100-300 and the pipes 10 and 20 connected thereto.

For the connection of such pipes 10, 20, the connection assembly of the invention may first comprise a gasket 100. The gasket 100 is interposed between the first and second flanges 11, 21 so that the connection of the first and second pipes 10, 20, ie the first and second flanges 11, 21. ) May be configured to seal. To be precise, the gasket 100 fills the gap between the first and second pipes 10, 20 (or the first and second flanges 11, 21), and thus is configured to close the gap. Can be. The gasket 100 may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the flanges 11 and 21, that is, a ring-shaped body. In addition, the gasket 100 may be configured to contact the flanges 11 and 21 respectively for sealing. Furthermore, the gasket 100 may be made of a material having elasticity, and thus may be closely attached to the flanges 11 and 21 to provide a seal while being deformed between the flanges 11 and 21 when pressed. More specifically, the gasket 100 or its body may be connected to the first flange 11, precisely the first surface 100a facing and contacting the first surface 11a thereof, and the first surface 100a. It may comprise an opposite second flange 21, a second surface 100b which is exactly in contact with the first surface 21a thereof. The first and second pipes 10 and 20 may be sealed by the close contact between the first and second surfaces 100a and 100b and the first and second flanges 11 and 21.

Meanwhile, the gasket 100 may not be in uniform contact with the flanges 11 and 21 due to various factors, and thus the first and second pipes 10 and 20 may not be securely sealed. For example, the gasket 100 and the flanges 11 and 21 may not be uniformly in contact with each other due to the difference in precision in manufacturing, and the gasket 100 or the flanges 11 and 21 generated during use may Deformation and breakage may cause gaps between them. For this reason, the gasket 100 may include a reinforcement structure 110 provided on either one of its first and second surfaces 100a, 100b, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 2 and 3 show the reinforcement structure 110 provided on the first surface 100a as an example, and the reinforcement structure 110 will now be described with reference to these examples of FIGS. 2 and 3.

The reinforcement structure 110 is basically formed on the first surface 100a of the gasket 100 and may be formed of a member protruding therefrom by a predetermined length or height. In addition, the reinforcement structure 110 may be continuously formed along the circumferential direction of the gasket 100 or the first surface 100a thereof, as shown. The reinforcement structure 110 may be made of a material that is elastically deformable like the body of the gasket 100. Thus, when the gasket 100 is disposed between the flanges 11, 21, the reinforcing structure 110 is different from other portions of the first surface 100a, the facing flange, ie the first flange 11. First and foremost, contact can always be maintained, and thus a stable seal can be secured basically. In addition, when the first surface 100a and the first flange 11 are in close contact with each other, the reinforcing structure 110 may serve to further strengthen the sealing of the pipes 10 and 20 or the flanges 11 and 21. have. Furthermore, since the reinforcement structure 110 is partially but increases the thickness of the gasket 100, the overall strength and rigidity of the gasket 100 may be increased. More detailed features of such a reinforcement structure 110 are described in more detail later with reference to additional drawings.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, the gasket 100 may include a cover 120 provided on either one of its first and second surfaces 100a, 100b. 2 and 3 show, by way of example, a cover 120 provided on the second surface 100b opposite the reinforcement structure 110, which cover 120 is also shown in detail in FIG. 6. In the following, the cover 120 will be described with reference to the examples of FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, but the cover 120 having the same structure has a reinforcing structure on the first surface 100a instead of the second surface 100b. It may also be provided with 100. Furthermore, a combination of the reinforcement structure 110 and the cover 120 may be provided on both the first and second surfaces 100a and 100b.

The cover 120 is provided at the radial end of the body of the gasket 100, as shown, and may be configured to enclose an adjacent flange, ie a second flange 21 in the drawing. In addition, the cover 120 may be formed of a plurality of members provided at a predetermined interval spaced apart from the radial end of the body of the gasket 100, as shown on the other hand at the radial end of the gasket 100 It may also consist of a single member extending continuously in the circumferential direction. More specifically, the cover 120 has a first rib extending parallel to the central axis of the gasket 100 toward the adjacent flange, ie the second flange 21, from the radial end of the body of the gasket 100. rib) 121. In addition, the cover 120 may include a second rib 122 extending radially inward of the gasket 100 from an end of the first rib 121. The first rib 121 of the cover 120 is configured to cover the radial end of the second flange 21, and the second rib 122 is formed of the second flange 21 in contact with the gasket 100. It is configured to cover the second surface 21b opposite to the first surface 21a. Accordingly, the cover 120 may be configured to completely surround the second flange 21 together with the body of the gasket 100. The cover 120 may be made of a material that is elastically deformable like the gasket 100. Thus, the cover 120 is deformed when it is covered by the second flange 21, and by the generated restoring force, the body of the gasket 100 is pulled toward the second flange 21 to lift the second surface 100b thereof. It can be in close contact with the second flange 21. For this reason, the cover 120 allows the gasket 100 to more securely seal the pipes 10, 20. In addition, the cover 120 may wrap the second flange 20 so that the gasket 100 is firmly coupled thereto without being separated from the second flange, that is, the second pipe 20.

In addition, the connection assembly of the present invention may include a holder 200 mounted to the first and second pipes 10 and 20. The holder 200 is a member configured to uniformly apply pressure to the flanges 11 and 21 and the gasket 100 therebetween. The holder 200 may be formed of a plurality of divided members, but may be formed of a single member that is continuously formed to uniformly contact the flanges 11 and 21 for uniform pressure. More specifically, the holder 200 may include a ring-shaped body having an inner diameter equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the pipes 10 and 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It can be fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the field (10, 20). Holder 200 may be disposed on flanges 11 and 21 to pressurize flanges 11 and 21 and gasket 100. Such a holder 200 may be placed only on either of the flanges 11, 21, but the flanges (such as to press both flanges 11, 21) to achieve uniform sealing by the gasket 100. The connection assembly may include a pair of holders 200 disposed at 11 and 21, respectively. In this case, the pair of holders 200 are opposed to surfaces in contact with the gasket 100 of the first and second flanges 11, 21 (ie, the first surfaces 11a, 21a). And (ie, second surfaces 11b, 21b) and may cover these surfaces 11b, 21b. Thus, the flanges 11, 21 and the gasket 100 are disposed between the pair of holders 200 and can be evenly pressed by these holders 200.

Each holder 200 may also include a recess 210 that is configured to engage the clamp 300 described below. The recess 210 is disposed on a surface or portion opposite to the surface or portion facing the flanges 11 and 21 of each holder 200, and may extend continuously along the circumferential direction of the holder 200. . The recess 210 may receive a portion of the clamp 300 so that the clamp 300 may be stably coupled thereto without being separated from the holder 200. In addition, any one of the pair of holders 200 may include a seat 220 configured to receive a cover 120 of the gasket 100 disposed adjacently. As described above, since the cover 120 is disposed on the second flange 21, the seat portion 220 is formed in the holder 200 disposed on the second flange 21. It may be formed on the surface in contact with the second flange 21 of the holder 200. The seat 220 may be configured to have a shape corresponding to the cover 120, and may be continuously formed along the circumferential direction of the holder 200 to accommodate the cover 120 as a whole. Therefore, the seat portion 220 prevents excessive pressure from being applied by the holder 120 to the cover 120 by accommodating the entire cover 120, thereby preventing damage to the cover 120. have.

In addition, the connection assembly of the present invention may include a clamp 300 mounted on the holder 200. The clamp 300 may extend parallel to the central axis of the pipes 10, 20 to be coupled to both the pair of holders 200. That is, the clamp 300 may be engaged with the holders 200 while being disposed on the gasket 100, the flanges 11 and 21 and the outer circumferential portions of the holders 200. More specifically, referring to FIGS. 1-3, the clamp 300 may include a first block 310 and a second block 320 disposed adjacent to the first block 310. Can be. In addition, the first and second blocks 310 and 320 may be connected to each other by a fastening member 330 penetrating them, for example, a bolt. One of the first and second blocks 310 and 320 may be screwed to the fastening member 330, and accordingly, the other of the first and second blocks 310 and 320 may be different depending on the rotation direction of the fastening member 330. You can move close to or away from it. Therefore, when the fastening member 330 rotates in either direction, any one of the first and second blocks 310 and 320, which are screwed to it, for example, the second block 320 is far from the first block 310. Can be forklifted. In this state, the clamp 300 may be disposed on the outer periphery of the gasket 100, the flanges 11 and 21 and the holders 200. Thereafter, when the fastening member 330 rotates in another direction, the second block 320 may be moved toward the first block 310. By the movement of the second block 320, the clamp 300 may tighten the outermost holders 200 while reducing the gap between the first and second blocks 310 and 320. Therefore, the clamp 300 may press the flanges 11 and 21 uniformly by pressing the holders 200. In addition, the gasket 100 may be in close contact with the flanges 11 and 21 while being deformed by such pressure, and may seal the pipes 10 and 20. In order to uniformly perform such pressing, the connection assembly may include a plurality of clamps 300 coupled to the holders 200 as shown. In addition, through the opposite process as described above, the clamp 300 can be simply released from the holder 200, so that the pipes 10 and 20 can also be easily separated for maintenance.

In more detail, the clamp 300 may include protrusions 311 and 321 formed at ends of the first and second blocks 310 and 320, respectively. These protrusions 311 and 321 may be inserted into and recessed in the recesses 210 of the holders 200, respectively. Accordingly, the clamp 300 may stably press the holders 200 without being separated from the holders 200. In addition, the clamp 300 may include a rib 312 formed in the first block 310 and a recess 322 formed in the second block 320 and configured to receive the rib 312. . By combining the ribs 312 and the recesses 322, the first and second blocks 310 and 320 may be aligned with each other while tightening the holder 200, and may stably press the holders 200. . Furthermore, each holder 200 may have an inclined surface 211 formed adjacent to its inner circumference, as shown in FIG. 3. The inclined surface 211 may be disposed to be connected to the recess 210. Accordingly, the ends engaging with the holder 200 of the first and second blocks 310 and 320, more precisely, the protrusions 311 and 321 may be guided to the recess 210 by the inclined surface 211, thereby providing a stable coupling. And pressurization may be performed.

Following the configuration of each of the components of the connection assembly described above, the detailed configuration of the reinforcement structure 110 of the gasket 100 is described in detail below with reference to the associated drawings. 4 is a plan view showing a gasket of the connecting assembly according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of the portion “B” of FIG. 4. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG.

4 and 5, the reinforcing structure 110 is a unit frame 111 disposed on any one surface of the gasket 100, for example, the first surface 100a. It may include. The unit frame 111 may have various shapes, for example, may have a honeycomb shape having high structural strength. As shown in the drawing, the unit frame 111 may include a plurality of members connected to each other at predetermined intervals. Accordingly, the unit frame 111 may relatively form a cell 112 corresponding to a space having a predetermined size therein. The cell 112 may have a structure that is closed by the first surface 100a of the gasket 100 and opens toward an adjacent flange, ie, the first flange 11. The reinforcement structure 110 may actually include a plurality of such unit frames 111 to form a stable structure. In addition, the reinforcement structure 110 may also include a plurality of cells 112 formed by the unit frames 111. Accordingly, the reinforcement structure 110 may be substantially a frame assembly including a plurality of frames 111 and cells 112. The frame assembly, ie substantially the frames 111, may be integrally formed with the body of the gasket 100, and on the other hand, may be manufactured separately and attached to the body of the gasket 100. In addition, the frames 111 may be made of a material that is elastically deformable like the body of the gasket 100.

In such a frame assembly, the plurality of unit frames 111 may be connected to each other to have a compact structure instead of being spaced apart from each other. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the plurality of frames 111 may be continuously arranged in a row. That is, the reinforcement structure 100 may include only one row in which a plurality of frames are arranged in a line, and thus may have an overall compact structure. If necessary, the reinforcement structure 100 may include a plurality of frame rows as described above. In addition, in such a connection, as shown in FIG. 5, unit frames 111 adjacent to each other may share at least one member or portion 111a required to form each frame 111. have. Accordingly, the reinforcement structure 110, that is, the frame assembly, may be more compactly formed with a stable structure by the plurality of connected frames 111, and thus the first surface 100a of the relatively narrow gasket 110 may be used. Can be configured to be disposed on

As already briefly described above, the reinforcement structure 110 made of the frame assembly protrudes to the first surface 100a to have a predetermined length (or height) and a predetermined width, and the gasket 100 or the first surface thereof ( It may be formed continuously along the circumferential direction of 100a). Therefore, when the gasket 100 is disposed between and closely adhered to the flanges 11 and 21, the reinforcing structure 110 may always be in close contact with the flanges facing each other, that is, the first flange 11. Sealing can be secured. In addition, since the reinforcement structure 110 has a stable and compact structure, as described above, the reinforcement structure 110 can achieve the sealing efficiently and at the same time reinforce the strength of the gasket 100 itself. Furthermore, since the reinforcing structure 110, that is, the frame assembly has a hollow structure by the cell 112, it is possible to achieve a reliable sealing without significantly increasing the production cost by using a large number of materials.

Meanwhile, the reinforcing structure 110, that is, the frame assembly is pressed by the flanges 11 and 21 and may be severely deformed. In this case, unlike the central portion of the frame assembly, the inner and outer circumferences of the frame assembly may be peeled from the body of the gasket 100 by severe deformation. Accordingly, the reinforcement structure 110 may further include ribs 113 and 114 arranged adjacent to the frame assembly, ie, the plurality of frames and the cells 111 and 112, and configured to support the frame assembly.

First, the reinforcement structure 110 may include a first rib 113 extending along the circumferential direction of the gasket 100 and disposed adjacent to an inner circumference of the frame assembly. In addition, the reinforcement structure 110 may also include a second rib 114 extending along the circumferential direction of the gasket 100 and disposed adjacent to the outer circumferential portion of the frame assembly. In addition, the ribs 113 and 114 may protrude to the first surface 100a to have a predetermined length (or height) and a predetermined width. The ribs 113 and 114 may be integrally formed with the body of the gasket 100 like the frame 111 described above, and may be separately manufactured and attached to the body of the gasket 100. In addition, the ribs 113 and 114 may be made of a material that is elastically deformable like the gasket 100 body. Further, the ribs 113 and 114 may have various shapes, but may have a structurally stable elliptical cross section as shown as an example.

The first and second ribs 113, 114 at the inner and outer circumferences of the frame assembly may be in contact with or connected to the frame assembly, precisely its frames 111. More specifically, the connecting portion where the members meet in the frame 111, that is, the corner or edge 111b, may be practically fragile. Thus, the first and second ribs 113 and 114 may be in contact with or connected to the corners or corners 111b of the frame 111 to support them. Considering this configuration, in the reinforcement structure 110, the frame assembly may be disposed between these ribs 113 and 114 while being firmly supported by the ribs 113 and 114. In addition, if the ribs 113 and 114 contact the adjacent flange, for example the first flange 11 in the drawing, earlier than the frame assembly, the ribs 113 and 114 deform first and stably support the frame assembly from the point at which the deformation starts. Can be. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 6, the ribs 113, 114 may have a length or height greater than the frame 111 to contact the adjacent flange 11 prior to the frame assembly. Accordingly, such first and second ribs 113 and 114 may protect and simultaneously support the frame assembly from being peeled or broken when the reinforcing structure 110 is pressed, and thus, by the reinforcing structure 110. A secure and stable seal can be achieved.

In addition, even if the reinforcing structure 110, i.e., the frame assembly is supported by the ribs 113, 114, there may still be a possibility of being broken and peeled under the high pressure exerted by the flanges 11, 21 or other harsh environments generated during use. have. Also, for the same reason, the ribs 113 and 114 may also be broken. For this reason, in order to secure the reinforcement structure 110 including the frame assembly and the ribs to the gasket 100 more firmly even under severe use environments, the reinforcement structure 110 is anchor member 130, 113a, 114a. ) May be included.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 5 showing a reinforcing structure, and FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the anchor member shown in FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a modification of the anchor member of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 5 showing a reinforcing structure to which the anchor member of FIG. 9 is applied. Referring to these drawings in more detail the anchor member as follows.

First, the anchor member 130 may be embedded in the frame assembly, precisely the body of the frame 111. The anchor member 130 may be located only in the body of the frame 111 before the pressure is applied by the adjacent flange, the first flange 11 in the drawing. However, when pressure is applied to the frame 111 from the outside, that is, when the flange 11 presses the frame 111, it is pushed by the generated pressure and can move out of the body of the frame 111. More specifically, when the frame 111 is pressed, the frame 111 deforms and expands in other directions except for the pressing direction, and this expansion is shown by a small arrow in FIG. A pressure relative to the anchor member 130 may be applied therein. Finally, the moved anchor member 130 may protrude out of the body of the frame 111 and dig into a portion of the adjacent members, ie, the gasket 110 or the ribs 113 and 114, as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 7. have. As shown in FIG. 8, the anchor member 130 may include an elongated body shaped like a stake and a sharp end E formed on the body so as to dig into the gasket 110 well. have. This end E may be oriented towards a portion of the adjacent gasket 110 to dig into it. In addition, the anchor member 130 may be disposed in the frame assembly, that is, the body of the frame 111 in parallel with the pressing direction so as to move smoothly by the pressure applied. Accordingly, the anchor member 130 may be moved by the applied pressure to firmly connect or fix the frame assembly, that is, the frame 111 to the gasket 110 and the ribs 113 and 114. For this reason, the anchor member 130 prevents breakage or separation of the frame assembly, thereby enabling a reliable sealing by the frame assembly.

More specifically, the anchor member 130 may include a first anchor member 131 configured to dig into the body of the gasket 100 by external pressure. In addition, the anchor member 130 may include a second anchor member 132 configured to dig into the ribs 113 and 114 by external pressure. The first anchor member 131 may be disposed in a part of the frame 111 contacting the first surface 100a, generally at the center of the frame 100, and may be disposed by the applied pressure. It can be inserted directly into the body of the gasket 100 through. In addition, the second anchor member 132 may be disposed at or near the edge or corner 111b of the frame (see FIG. 5), and may be disposed in the adjacent ribs 113 and 114 through the edge 111b by the applied pressure. Can be inserted directly.

The reinforcement structure 110 may further include auxiliary anchor members 113a and 114a embedded in the bodies of the ribs 113 and 114. The anchor member 130 may be a main anchor member relative to the auxiliary anchors 113a and 114a. The auxiliary anchor members 113a and 114a may have the same structure as the anchor member 130 described above as shown in FIG. 8. In addition, the auxiliary anchor members 113a and 114a may be dug into the body of the gasket 100 adjacent to the ribs 113 and 114 in the same manner as the anchor member 130 described above, as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 7. That is, the auxiliary anchor members 113a and 114a move by the pressure applied while being disposed in the ribs 113 and 114, and may be inserted directly into the body of the gasket 100 while protruding out of the ribs 113 and 114. Accordingly, the auxiliary anchor members 113a and 114a may rigidly connect or fix the ribs 113 and 114 forming the reinforcing structure 110 to the gasket 110 like the frame assembly, and the ribs 113 and 114 may be fixed. Prevents breakage or separation

In addition, such main and auxiliary anchor members 131, 132, 113a, and 114a may have a modified shape for a more rigid connection as shown in FIG. 9. Referring to FIG. 9, the anchor members 131, 132, 113a and 114a may include two separate blades 1a and 1b disposed at the ends of the body thereof. More specifically, the ends of the blades (1a, 1b) may be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval. In addition, the ends of the blades (1a, 1b) may include inclined surfaces (1c) facing or facing each other, that is, extending or inclined in opposite directions for this separation. Due to this configuration, the blades spaced apart from each other when the main and auxiliary anchor members 131, 132, 113a and 114a according to the modification of FIG. 9 are moved and inserted into the body or ribs 113 and 1114 of the adjacent gasket 100. A portion of the body or ribs 113, 1114 of the gasket 100 is relatively inserted between the fields 1a, 1b, so that the blades 1a, 1b are opposite to each other, as shown in FIG. It can happen. The blades 1a and 1b thus opened may act as a larger resistance in the body and the ribs 113 and 114 of the gasket 100. Therefore, the reinforcement structure, that is, the frame 111 and the ribs 113 and 114 may be more firmly coupled to the gasket 111 by the modified main and auxiliary anchor members 131, 132, 113a and 114a.

On the other hand, the pressure exerted by the adjacent flanges 11 and 12 during use may generate stress on the gasket 100, and fatigue may occur when the stress is applied for a long time. In addition, such fatigue may cause cracks in the gasket 100, and the cracks generated may continue to grow in harsh use environments where pressure is applied. As a result, the grown cracks may cause breakage of the gasket 100, and the broken gasket 100 may not provide the closure as intended. For this reason, the gasket 100 may include a restraint mechanism 140 configured to prevent the growth of cracks caused therein, with reference to the associated figures, the restraint mechanism 140 is described in more detail below.

5 is a partially enlarged view of part “B” of FIG. 4, and FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged view showing a modification of the restraint mechanism shown in FIG. 5. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG.

In general, stress is concentrated at sites where the cross section changes rapidly, and cracks (C) can easily occur at such sites. As described above, since the reinforcement structure 110 protrudes from the surface of the gasket 100 as a whole, the first surface 100a in the drawing, the crack C may be more likely to be generated from the reinforcement structure 110. . Thus, basically, the restraint mechanism 140 may be disposed adjacent to the reinforcement structure 110. More specifically, a structurally stable frame assembly is disposed inside the reinforcement structure 110, ie, part of the gasket 100 between the ribs 113, 114. On the other hand, a part of the gasket 100 existing outside the reinforcing structure 110 is not provided with a structure for reinforcing strength. Therefore, the crack C may be more likely to occur and grow from the inner circumference of the reinforcing structure 110, that is, the inner circumference of the first rib 113 and the outer circumference of the reinforcing structure 110, that is, the outer circumference of the second rib 114. have. Accordingly, the restraint mechanism 140 may be part of the gasket 100 present outside the reinforcement structure 110, more precisely the inner circumference of the reinforcement structure 110 (ie, the inner circumference of the first rib 113) and / or reinforcement structure. It may be disposed adjacent to the outer circumference of the 110 (ie the outer circumference of the second rib 114). 5, 11, and 12 show the restraint mechanism 140 disposed adjacent the outer periphery of the reinforcement structure 110 as an example.

In addition, the restraint mechanism 140 may consist essentially of a notch formed to have a predetermined depth. This notch can cause a sharp cross-sectional change to form a strong stress field around it, and the growth of the surrounding cracks C can be prevented by this stress field. More specifically, as discussed above, the crack C is likely to generate and grow radially from the outer circumference of the reinforcing structure 110, that is, the outer circumference of the second rib 114, and thus is shown in FIG. As such, the restraint mechanism 140 may include a first notch 141 extending radially from the outer periphery of this reinforcement structure 110. In addition, to effectively restrain crack C, the restraint mechanism 140 may include a pair of first notches 141 spaced apart from one another and arranged side by side. Due to the spaced and side-by-side arrangement of the pair of notches 141 described above, the stress fields formed therebetween can overlap and strengthen one another. Thus, due to the arrangement described above, the pair of first notches 141 can be more effectively constrained to prevent the crack C from growing using the enhanced stress field. In addition, in the case where the first notch 141 is extended too long, an area in which the cross section of the gasket 100 is reduced increases, which may result in lowering the strength of the gasket 110. Accordingly, the restraint mechanism 140 may include a plurality of second notches 142 that are smaller and discontinuous than the first notch 141. As shown as an example, the second notches 142 may have a circular shape or a cross section as a whole. As shown, the second notches 142 may be disposed on the longitudinal extension line or the center line F of the first notch 141 to be spaced apart from the first notch 141. In connection with the notch 141, a continuous stress field for restraining the crack C may be formed along the radial direction of the gasket 100. In addition, the second notches 142 may be alternately arranged on the centerlines F of the pair of first notches 141, which arrangement is more than using the same number of second notches 142. It may be advantageous to form a stress field in a large area. That is, the second notches 142 may be alternately arranged in zigzag on the center lines F of the pair of first notches 141. As described above, the restraint mechanism 140 basically restrains the pair of first notches 141 and the second notch 142 disposed on the center line F thereof for restraining the crack C. It can be included as one functional set. 5 illustrates only one set of first and second notches 141 and 142, a plurality of such sets may be arranged at predetermined intervals from each other along the circumferential direction of the gasket 100. As shown in FIG. Furthermore, although the constraining mechanism 140 has been described as being disposed on the outer circumference of the reinforcing structure 110 with reference to FIG. 5, the constraining mechanism 140 of the same configuration is also disposed on the inner circumference of the reinforcing structure 110. Can be.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, for more effective restraint of crack C, the restraint mechanism 140 further includes a filler 143 disposed within the first notch 141. can do. The filler 143 may be configured to completely fill the space in the first notch 141. The filler 143 is made of a material that can be elastically deformed like the body of the gasket 100 disposed around the filler 143, and may further be made of a material having a higher strain rate than the body of the gasket 100. . Thus, when the gasket 100 is pressed and deformed by the adjacent flanges 11, 21, the filler 143 may be deformed by a pressure applied greater than the gasket 100, ie its body. Accordingly, the filler 143 may additionally apply a pressure relative to the body of the gasket 100 around the first notch 141, as indicated by arrows in FIGS. 11 and 12. Such additional pressure may be applied to the crack C formed in the gasket 100 body, and may more effectively restrain the crack C to prevent the growth of the crack C. The filler 143 may be equally applied to the second notch 142, and may have the same effect as described with reference to the first notch 141. Furthermore, as indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 12, the pillars 143 may be formed to extend from the first and second notches 141, 143 to protrude from the gasket 100, precisely its first surface 100a. . The protrusions of the pillars 143 may have a configuration similar to that of the reinforcement structure 110 described above, and thus, in addition to the reinforcement structure 110, the strength of the gasket 100 and the sealing by the gasket 100 may be further increased. It can play a role of strengthening.

On the other hand, in order to provide a tighter seal, the gasket 100, precisely its reinforcement 110, may include an additional seal mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of part “B” of FIG. 4, and FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D of FIG. 5 to show the first pillar of the reinforcing structure. 14 is a partial sectional view which shows the modification of the reinforcement structure of the gasket containing the 2nd filler of a reinforcement structure.

First, referring to FIGS. 5 and 13, the reinforcement structure 110 may further include a first filler 112a disposed in and filling the cell 112 thereof. The first filler 112a may be made of a material that can be elastically deformed like the body of the frame 111 disposed around the first filler 112a. Therefore, when the reinforcing structure 110, precisely the frame 111 is pressed by the adjacent flange 11, the first filler 112a may also act as an additional sealing structure while contacting and pressing the flange 11. have. In particular, as shown, the first pillar 112a may comprise a stable structure having a broad plane that is entirely flat and uniformly in contact with the flange 11. Thus, even when the adjacent frame 111 is broken by the excessive pressure exerted on the flange 11, the first pillar 112 can be provided without failing and still provide a seal for the flange 11. Further, if the thickness or height t of the first filler 112a is equal to or greater than the height or thickness of the adjacent frame 111, the first filler 112a is earlier than the frame 111 or the frame. It can be modified simultaneously with (11). In this case, when the first filler 112a is excessively deformed by the pressure, the frame 111 may be damaged first by the first filler 112a. In order to prevent the frame 111 from being damaged by the first filler 112a, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the thickness or the height t of the first filler 112a is the thickness of the adjacent frame 111. Or smaller than height. Due to this thickness or height t, the first pillar 112a may be less deformed from a delayed time point than the adjacent frame 111, and thus may not break the frame 111 during deformation.

In addition, referring to FIG. 14, the reinforcement structure 110 may include a thin film 115 that connects adjacent first and second ribs 113 and 114. The thin film 115 is formed over the ends of the first and second ribs 113 and 114 and may extend continuously in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, the reinforcement structure 110 may have a closed space disposed above the frame assembly by the thin film 115, and may include a second filler 117 filled in the space. In addition, the reinforcement structure 110 may include a frame assembly, a plurality of protrusions 116 formed on the correct frame 111. The protrusions 116 may be configured to have a shape that can break, for example, puncture, the thin film 115, as shown. 14 shows the projections 116 having pointed ends. Therefore, when the reinforcing structure 110 is compressed by the adjacent flange 11, the projections 116 can reach the thin film 115 by this compression, and the space formed by the thin film 115 and the interior The thin film 115 may be damaged so that the second filler 117 communicates with the outside.

The second filler 117 may basically consist of a liquid, a gel, or an elastically deformable solid, thereby providing additional sealing to the reinforcement structure 110. In addition, the second filler 117 may comprise a neutralizing agent configured to neutralize fluids, particularly toxic gases or liquids, flowing along the pipes 10, 20. Therefore, even when the fluid leaks due to breakage of the gasket 100, as described above, it occurs through the thin film 115 broken or perforated by the protrusions 116 or on the broken gasket 100. Through the cracks, the second filler 117 may react with the leaked fluid and neutralize it. Furthermore, the second filler 117 may include a coagulant that solidifies when in contact with the outside air. Thus, when the gasket 100 is broken, the second filler 117 contacts external air through the broken or perforated thin film 115 or through cracks generated in the broken gasket 100, thereby promptly closing for sealing. Can be solidified. Thus, the second pillar 117 can be configured to provide a more stable seal for the connection assembly and to ensure safety even in case of leakage. The second filler 117 may be applied to the reinforcing structure 110 together with the first filler 112a described above for more improved sealing performance of the gasket 100.

The foregoing detailed description should not be construed as limiting in all respects, but should be considered as illustrative. The scope of the invention should be determined by reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the equivalent scope of the invention are included in the scope of the invention.

100: gasket 200: holder
300: clamp 110: reinforcement structure
111: Frame 112: Cell
113: first rib 114: second rib

Claims (6)

An assembly for connecting first and second pipes, the first and second pipes respectively facing each other and including radially extending first and second flanges,
A first interposed between the first and second flanges to seal the connection of the first and second pipes, the first and second flanges being formed in the ring-shaped body and the body and in contact with the first and second flanges, respectively; A gasket configured to have second surfaces;
A pair of holders configured to be disposed on surfaces opposing surfaces in contact with the gaskets of the first and second flanges;
A clamp coupled to the pair of holders and configured to press the holders to bring the first and second flanges and the gasket into close contact with each other; And
A reinforcing structure disposed on one of the first and second surfaces of the gasket, the reinforcing structure being configured to reinforce the sealing by the gasket,
The reinforcing structure consists of a frame assembly extending along the circumferential direction of the gasket, the frame assembly comprising:
A plurality of frames disposed on one of the first and second surfaces and connected to each other; And
A plurality of hollow cells each formed by the frames,
The reinforcement structure includes a rib extending along the circumferential direction of the gasket on either one of the first and second surfaces, the rib configured to support the frame assembly, the rib disposed in contact with the edges of the frames. Have a height greater than the heights of the frames,
The reinforcing structure is embedded in the body of the frame assembly, and includes an anchor member configured to dig into a member disposed around it when pressure is applied from the outside, the anchor member comprising:
Body; And
Spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance and extending from an end of the body, each having a pair of blades including inclined surfaces extending in opposite directions, the pair of blades are inserted into the member so as to open in opposite directions Is composed,
The gasket is formed in the body of the gasket adjacent to the reinforcing structure, and includes a restraint mechanism configured to restrain the crack to prevent growth of the crack generated in the gasket, wherein the restraint mechanism includes:
A pair of first notches extending radially from an outer circumferential portion of the reinforcing structure and spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals and arranged side by side; And
A plurality of second notches formed smaller than the first notches and disposed on longitudinal centerlines of the first notches spaced apart from the first notches. delete The method of claim 1,
The rib is:
A first rib extending along the circumferential direction of the gasket and configured to contact an inner circumference of the frame assembly; And
And a second rib extending along the circumferential direction of the gasket and configured to contact the outer circumference of the frame assembly. delete The method of claim 1,
The anchor member is:
A first anchor member configured to dig into the body of the gasket by an external pressure; And
And a second anchor member configured to dig into the rib by external pressure. The method of claim 1,
The restraint mechanism further comprises fillers filled in the first and second notches, the pillars being elastically deformable and made of a material having a higher strain than the gasket.

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