Adhesive Elastomer Sealing for Intermediate Plate Leak-Tightness
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intermediate plates in fluid-operated control units, such as gear units, face challenges in maintaining a leak-tight seal under deformation and high fluid pressures, as conventional sealing systems fail to effectively compensate for structural variations and deformations without damaging the sealing materials.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a resilient elastomer material layer with adhesive properties on the intermediate plate, which can be applied using methods like screen printing or roller coating, to stick to the housing parts and compensate for deformations parallel to the plate's plane without moving relative to the housing parts, thus preventing damage and ensuring a durable seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sealing systems are used in intermediate plates, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the seal fails to maintain leak-tightness under deformation and high fluid pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element transitions from rigid to elastomeric material, fundamentally changing the physical parameters of the sealing component. This enables the seal to dynamically adapt to deformations and pressure variations, maintaining leak-tightness under conditions where conventional rigid seals would fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system employs composite construction by integrating elastomeric material with the intermediate plate structure. This combination leverages the flexibility and sealing capability of elastomers while maintaining the structural integrity of the plate, achieving both reliability and functional performance.
2Reliability
If rigid sealing elements are used, then the manufacturing is simple, but the sealing element cannot compensate for deformations without suffering friction damage
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element transitions from rigid to elastomeric material, fundamentally changing the physical parameters of the sealing component. This enables the seal to dynamically adapt to deformations and pressure variations, maintaining leak-tightness under conditions where conventional rigid seals would fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is constructed from elastomeric material that can flex and deform elastically. This flexibility allows the seal to accommodate housing deformations and surface irregularities without experiencing damaging friction, while maintaining continuous contact for effective sealing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the sealing element moves relative to the housing part during deformation, then it can accommodate structural changes, but friction damage occurs to the sealing material
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is constructed from elastomeric material that can flex and deform elastically. This flexibility allows the seal to accommodate housing deformations and surface irregularities without experiencing damaging friction, while maintaining continuous contact for effective sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic elastomeric seal that can adapt its shape and position in response to deformations. The elastomeric material absorbs dimensional changes through elastic deformation rather than relative movement, eliminating friction damage while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
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 elastomer material layer provides a reliable, pressure-resistant seal that maintains leak-tightness even under deformation, ensuring the integrity of the fluid passages and reducing the risk of damage from friction, while allowing for shear movements to accommodate structural changes.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomer material that is resilient and is appliable adhesively to stick to the respective housing part
Implementation Method 2
The advantage of an elastomer material of this kind is not only its resilience, in order to be able to compensate for varying differences in height between the central unit and the respective housing part
Data Source
AI summary
In order, in the case of an intermediate plate for mounting between housing parts of a fluid-operated control unit, in particular a gear unit, including a central unit that is constructed in the shape of a plate and, on either side of the central unit, a respective sealing system for sealing between the central unit and the housing part opposed thereto, this sealing system including sealing elements which are arranged on the respective side of the central unit and provide sealing around passages, to achieve the best possible seal between the central unit and the respective housing part, it is proposed that the respective sealing system should include as the sealing element at least one layer of an elastomer material that is resilient and is appliable adhesively to stick to the respective housing part.