Arcuate Sealing Mat for Leak Testing Indented Workpiece End Faces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing methods for workpieces with open end faces and indentations fail to provide a reliable sealing effect due to wear and cracking at critical corner regions, leading to inaccurate leakage measurements.
Innovation Solution
A sealing method using a sealing mat with arcuate sealing elements that protrude into the indentations and are pressed in radial directions, distributing the pressing force evenly across the surface to prevent cracking and wear, and optionally utilizing a pressing mechanism with a holder and pressure shell to exert radial forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional sealing mat with crescent-shaped sealing elements is pressed onto the flat surface with indentations, then the sealing mat can be installed with simple pressing force, but the sealing mat wears at critical corner regions and cracks due to uneven force distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing elements are designed with arcuate (curved) shape matching the curvature of the indentations in the workpiece. This curved geometry allows the sealing elements to conform to the indentation surfaces and distribute pressing forces more evenly across the contact area, preventing stress concentration at corner regions that leads to wear and cracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing force is applied locally at multiple points along the arcuate sealing elements rather than as a single concentrated force. This distributed local pressing action ensures uniform contact pressure across the entire sealing surface, including critical corner regions, thereby preventing wear and maintaining sealing reliability.
2Productivity
If pressing force is applied perpendicular to the flat surface, then the sealing mat can be installed efficiently, but the force is not evenly distributed to all surfaces in the indentation area causing cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The arcuate shape of the sealing elements transforms the perpendicular pressing force into radially distributed forces that follow the curvature of the indentations. This geometric transformation ensures that the pressing force is automatically distributed evenly to all surfaces within the indentation area, including vertical and angled surfaces, achieving both efficient installation and precise force distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing force is distributed across multiple dimensions by using arcuate sealing elements that extend along the curvature of the indentation. Instead of a single-point or linear pressing action, the sealing elements distribute force across a two-dimensional arcuate path, ensuring comprehensive and uniform contact pressure on all indentation surfaces.
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
This method achieves a reliable and durable sealing effect, preventing air leakage and ensuring accurate leakage tests by evenly distributing the pressing force across the indentation surfaces, suitable for both temporary and permanent sealing applications.
Implementation Method 1
pressing the one or more arcuate sealing elements into the one or more indentations with pressing forces in several directions radial to the arc-shape of the sealing elements
Data Source
AI summary
For sealing a test space in a workpiece having at least one open end face having a flat surface with one or more indentations in the workpiece, a sealing mat having a planar basic body and one or more arcuate sealing elements can be used. The sealing mat is placed onto the surface of the open workpiece end face such that the arcuate sealing elements of the sealing mat protrude into the indentations in the workpiece to then press the basic body of the sealing mat against the surface of the open workpiece end face with a pressing force in a direction perpendicular to the flat surface and press the arcuate sealing elements into the indentations with pressing forces in several directions radial to the arcuate shape of the sealing elements.