Adhesive Flow Control Needle Sealing With a Leakage Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for controlling adhesive flow have a limited service life due to pressure-tightness components failing, leading to undesirable adhesive accumulation and frequent replacements.
Innovation Solution
A device with a housing comprising lower and upper parts, each with recesses for sealing elements, a spacer with a through opening and transverse bore connecting the leakage space, and a needle that remains sealed by pressing against the needle's surface, allowing adhesive to flow into the leakage space if one sealing element fails, providing self-repair and extended service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing elements are used to ensure pressure tightness against adhesive flow, then the device can control adhesive flow effectively, but the service life is limited by sealing element failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a leakage chamber as a buffer zone between the adhesive flow path and the actuator chamber. This chamber is designed to catch and contain adhesive leaks before they can reach and damage the actuator components. The chamber acts as a predetermined safety buffer that absorbs the harmful effect of sealing element failure, allowing the device to continue functioning even after a sealing element deteriorates.
2Reliability
If sealing elements are pressed against the needle surface to maintain seal, then adhesive flow is controlled reliably, but adhesive can accumulate on the needle surface during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the needle from the actuator chamber and places it in a separate leakage chamber that is isolated from the actuator components. This spatial separation allows the needle to be cleaned of adhesive accumulations in the leakage chamber without affecting the actuator's operation. The needle can be removed and cleaned independently, preventing adhesive buildup from interfering with the actuation mechanism.
3Reliability
If multiple housing parts are used to create separation chambers, then flow control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the leakage chamber and the actuator chamber into a single integrated housing structure. The housing includes both chambers as distinct functional spaces, but they are formed as part of the same overall housing component rather than requiring completely separate housings. This integration reduces assembly complexity while maintaining the functional separation needed for reliable flow control and leak containment.
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 solution increases the device's lifespan by allowing the leakage space to fill with adhesive before reaching the second sealing element, creating a reliable separation of fluid and actuator spaces, with a self-repair effect when adhesive hardens, preventing further leaks.
Implementation Method 1
This effect is achieved when the adhesive located in the leakage chamber hardens and, in doing so, at least partially closes the leak in the first sealing element through which the adhesive entered the leakage chamber.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for controlling the flow of adhesives, comprising: a housing comprising a first housing part and a second housing part, a leakage chamber formed from the housing parts, wherein a first sealing element and a second sealing element are arranged in each of the housing parts, a needle housed in the housing and passing through the leakage chamber, wherein the sealing elements are pressed against the surface of the needle, and a spacer arranged between the sealing elements, wherein the spacer has a through-opening surrounding the needle and at least one transverse bore.