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CN-122016296-A - Seal detection system and method

CN122016296ACN 122016296 ACN122016296 ACN 122016296ACN-122016296-A

Abstract

A seal detection device comprising at least one seal having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface is partially comprised of a side surface and an axial surface. The at least one seal is provided with at least one seal mark and the seal mark is placed on a side or axial face of the at least one seal. The at least one seal may also be provided with a unique code and may be associated with associated seal data (e.g., seal material, installation date, last maintenance date, next scheduled maintenance/replacement, material safety data sheet, etc.).

Inventors

  • M. C. sitco
  • L - J - casterman

Assignees

  • 特瑞堡密封系统德国有限责任公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20180911
Priority Date
20170911

Claims (16)

  1. 1. A seal-testing device, comprising: at least one seal comprising at least one sealing surface and at least one non-sealing surface; At least one seal marker located on an outer surface of the at least one seal, wherein the at least one seal marker is configured to be in an unreadable undeformed state in an uninstalled condition when not compressed and/or twisted and configured to be in a readable deformed state in an installed condition when the at least one seal marker is compressed and/or twisted in the installed condition; Wherein the at least one seal mark is a machine-readable optical mark, and An optical device for reading the at least one seal mark; wherein the optical device is configured to display a reference seal surface image associated with the at least one seal marker, thereby enabling a person to compare the reference seal surface image to determine a difference between the reference seal surface image and a current state of the at least one seal; wherein the at least one seal mark is in the readable state only when an installation force is applied to the at least one seal, deforming an area of the at least one seal where the at least one seal mark is located to indicate that the at least one seal is in a properly installed state.
  2. 2. The seal-testing device of claim 1, wherein the outer surface comprises an edge-area surface and an axially-facing surface.
  3. 3. The seal detection device of claim 1, wherein the at least one seal is a gasket.
  4. 4. The seal-testing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one seal-label is associated with at least one related seal-information feature.
  5. 5. The seal detection device of claim 2, wherein the at least one seal mark is located on the edge region surface.
  6. 6. The seal detection device of claim 1, wherein a laser is used for etching the at least one seal mark.
  7. 7. The seal detection device of claim 6, wherein the at least one seal mark is a rectangular data matrix having a depth of 15-20 μιη.
  8. 8. A seal detection system, comprising: at least one seal comprising at least one sealing surface and at least one non-sealing surface; At least one seal marker located on an outer surface of the at least one seal, wherein the at least one seal marker is configured to be in a readable deformed state in an installed condition when the at least one seal marker is compressed and/or twisted in the installed condition, and to be in an unreadable undeformed state in an uninstalled condition when the at least one seal marker is not compressed and/or twisted, the at least one seal marker being associated with at least one related seal information feature of the at least one seal; At least one sealed element comprising a contact surface in communication with the at least one sealing surface of the at least one seal, the at least one seal marking being associated with the at least one sealed element, and Means configured to store the at least one relevant seal information feature; Wherein the apparatus comprises an optical device for reading the at least one seal marker, wherein the optical device is configured to display a reference seal surface image associated with the at least one seal marker, thereby enabling a person to compare the reference seal surface image to determine a difference between the reference seal surface image and a current state of the at least one seal; Wherein the at least one seal mark is in a readable state only when an installation force is applied to the at least one seal, deforming an area of the at least one seal where the at least one seal mark is located to indicate that the at least one seal is in a properly installed state.
  9. 9. A method for monitoring a sealing surface, comprising the steps of: Providing at least one seal comprising at least one sealing surface and at least one non-sealing surface; Providing at least one seal mark on an outer surface of the at least one seal, wherein the at least one seal mark is configured to be in an unreadable undeformed state in an uninstalled condition when not compressed and/or twisted and configured to be in a readable deformed state in an installed condition when the at least one seal mark is compressed and/or twisted in the installed condition; providing an optical device for reading the at least one seal mark; Identifying, by the optical device, the at least one seal marker, wherein the optical device is configured to display a reference seal surface image associated with the at least one seal marker, thereby enabling a person to compare the reference seal surface image to determine a difference between the reference seal surface image and a current state of the at least one seal; acquiring at least one relevant seal information feature associated with the at least one seal marker; providing at least one sealed element comprising at least one sealed element sealing surface; detecting the at least one seal sealing surface and the at least one sealed element sealing surface, and Reinstalling or replacing the at least one seal; wherein the at least one seal mark is in the readable state only when an installation force is applied to the at least one seal, deforming an area of the at least one seal where the at least one seal mark is located to indicate that the at least one seal is in a properly installed state, the method further comprising a final step of rescanning the at least one seal mark to verify the properly installed state.
  10. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method for monitoring the sealing surface is performed by an onsite person, an offsite person, an automated procedure, or a combination thereof.
  11. 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of storing the relevant seal information feature associated with the at least one seal tag.
  12. 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one sealed element is provided with at least one sealed element marking, wherein the method for monitoring the sealing surface further has the step of identifying the at least one sealed element marking.
  13. 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of identifying the at least one seal marker is performed by a person using an image acquisition device or by an automated computer scanner.
  14. 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the steps of acquiring information and detecting the seal include acquiring an image of the at least one seal, visually inspecting the at least one seal and at least one sealed element, and determining whether the at least one seal is in an acceptable state.
  15. 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of reinstalling or replacing the at least one seal comprises comparing the image of the at least one seal with a reference seal surface image, wherein the comparing is accomplished by a person or an automated system using a predetermined threshold to determine whether the at least one seal is to be reinstalled or replaced.
  16. 16. The method of claim 9, wherein a torque clamp is provided between the at least one seal surface and the at least one sealed element surface to collect and analyze torque information.

Description

Seal detection system and method The present invention is a divisional application of chinese patent application CN 201880072468.8. Technical Field The present invention relates to seal inspection, and more particularly to a system and method for determining relevant characteristics of a seal. Background The seal detection device is used to determine when the seal should be repaired or replaced. Existing seal detection devices lack the ability to analyze the sealing surface against a known reference or alternatively against an image of the existing sealing surface previously provided. U.S. patent No. 8166891 to Borowski et al discloses concentric circular V-shaped structures on the sealing surface for visual inspection of proper installation. U.S. patent No. 7477374 to Schmidt et al discloses a method and apparatus for inspecting a sealing surface in which an optical deflector is used to scatter light across the sealing surface. U.S. patent No. 7405818 to Heinzen discloses a self-monitoring static seal that uses an optical sensor and a wear indicator on the sealing surface. U.S. patent No. 9168696 to Farrell and U.S. patent No. 9662833 to Farrell et al disclose the use of a laser to alter the optical properties of the sealing surface. U.S. patent No. 8282013 to Stewart et al discloses a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip that has been embedded in an O-ring or other fluid seal during the manufacture of the O-ring or fluid seal. The embedded RFID chip may be used as a passive tag or an on-board chip, which may be used as a radio receiver or transmitter, and store electronic data. The invention of Stewart et al has the disadvantage of adding an additional component to the O-ring or fluid seal, namely an RFID chip, and the need to embed the RFID chip during the manufacturing stage. There is a need in the art for an inexpensive solution to track seal surface conditions and provide guidance in terms of repair and/or replacement requirements. Disclosure of Invention In one exemplary embodiment formed in accordance with the present invention, a seal detection device is provided. The seal detection device includes at least one seal having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface is partially comprised of a side surface and an axial surface. The at least one seal is provided with at least one seal mark and the seal mark is placed on a side or axial face of the at least one seal. The at least one seal may also be provided with a unique code and may be associated with associated seal data (e.g., seal material, date of installation, date of last maintenance, next scheduled maintenance/replacement, material safety data sheet, etc.). In another exemplary embodiment formed in accordance with the present invention, a seal detection system is provided. A seal detection system includes at least one seal having at least one seal sealing surface and an outer surface, the outer surface including an edge region surface and an axially facing (axially facing) surface, at least one seal tag located on the outer surface of the at least one seal, the at least one seal tag configured to be in a readable state with or without installation, wherein the at least one seal tag is associated with at least one relevant seal information feature of the at least one seal, at least one sealed element including a contact surface in communication with the at least one sealing surface of the at least one seal, the at least one seal tag associated with the at least one sealed element, and a device configured to store the at least one relevant seal information feature. In another exemplary embodiment formed in accordance with the present invention, a method for tracking sealing performance between a seal and a sealed element is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a seal configured for a sealed element, marking the seal with a seal mark, identifying the seal with a unique code, marking the sealed element with a sealed element mark, identifying the element with a unique code, visually inspecting a sealing surface of the seal to determine whether the seal is acceptable, visually inspecting the sealed surface to determine whether the sealed surface is acceptable, and optionally identifying a connection torque between the sealed element and the seal to generate torque curve data indicative of a compression condition of the seal. One example of a code that may be placed on the seal and seal element is a unique two-dimensional code (QR code) that is placed as a decal or otherwise. Other possible ways are augmented reality concepts or measuring plates sandwiching the seal between the measuring plate and the surface to be sealed, wherein information about the seal is detected by magnetic, acoustic or capacitive, resistive or impedance. To determine whether the seal surface is suitable for sealing, a reference seal surface image may be stored and associated with the seal's indicia. The user may then acquire a current image of the sea