Air Dryer Cartridge Sealing Interface for Axial Movement Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air dryer cartridges face issues with sealing between the desiccant container and the air dryer cartridge due to relative axial movement caused by vibrations, temperature differences, and humidity, leading to structural complexity and unintentional sealing failures.
Innovation Solution
A sealing interface with axial and radial sealing surfaces and a sealing element, such as an O-ring, that compensates for axial and radial movements using isotropic and elastomeric properties, and a sealing groove to maintain contact and pretension, ensuring a higher sealing performance and extended lifetime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sealing elements are used between desiccant container and air dryer cartridge, then sealing is provided, but relative axial movement due to vibrations and temperature differences causes unintentional sealing issues and increased material wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional single-plane sealing to multi-dimensional sealing by incorporating both axial sealing surfaces (perpendicular to the longitudinal axis) and radial sealing surfaces (parallel to the longitudinal axis). This creates a three-dimensional sealing interface that accommodates relative axial movement while maintaining sealing effectiveness, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the sealing interface by introducing both axial and radial sealing surfaces with specific angles and dimensions. The axial sealing surface is inclined at an angle between 10° and 30° relative to the radial sealing surface, creating optimized contact conditions that reduce material wear while maintaining sealing performance throughout the service life.
2Reliability
If multiple sealing surfaces are introduced to improve sealing, then sealing performance increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing functions into a single integrated sealing interface that combines both axial and radial sealing surfaces. Instead of using separate sealing elements for different directions, the invention integrates multiple sealing actions into one unified structure, improving sealing performance while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate sealing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing interface serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides sealing in both axial and radial directions, accommodates relative movement, and distributes contact pressure. This multi-functional design achieves superior sealing performance without proportionally increasing structural complexity, as the same sealing interface performs multiple protective roles.
3Reliability
If axial movement compensation is provided to handle vibrations and temperature differences, then sealing reliability improves, but contact pressure distribution becomes uneven causing material wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved or inclined sealing surfaces instead of flat perpendicular surfaces. The axial sealing surface is inclined at an angle between 10° and 30° relative to the radial sealing surface, creating a tapered contact zone that distributes pressure more evenly across the sealing element. This curved geometry accommodates axial movement while preventing concentrated stress points that would cause material wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the geometric parameters of the sealing surfaces, specifically the inclination angle of the axial sealing surface (10°-30°) and the dimensions of the sealing interface. These parameter changes ensure uniform pressure distribution during axial movement, reducing material wear while maintaining reliable sealing under varying operational conditions.
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 provides enhanced sealing performance, reduced material wear, and increased durability by adapting to operational changes, thus improving the structural simplicity and reliability of the sealing interface and air dryer cartridge.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastomeric and isotropic sealing element, especially in the form of an O-ring, being arranged, in a mounted state, between the first sealing structure and the second sealing structure, wherein, with regard to a longitudinal axis of the sealing interface, at least one axial sealing surface and at least one radial sealing surface for contacting the sealing element in the mounted state are formed by the first sealing structure and/or the second sealing structure
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing interface for sealing between a desiccant container and a base of an air dryer cartridge for a vehicle includes a first housing structure assignable to the desiccant container, wherein at least one first sealing structure is formed by the first housing structure; a second housing structure assignable to the base of the air dryer cartridge, wherein at least one second sealing structure is formed by the second housing structure; a sealing element, especially elastic and isotropic sealing element, arranged, in a mounted state, between the first sealing structure and the second sealing structure. With regard to a longitudinal axis of the sealing interface, at least one axial sealing surface and at least one radial sealing surface for contacting the sealing element in the mounted state are formed by the first sealing structure and/or the second sealing structure.