Automatic Seal Damper Delaying Lowering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automatic seals with a damper experience a delay in the movement of the sealing strip compared to the force introduction element, causing the force introduction element to protrude more than necessary, which can lead to space constraints and render the seal unusable in certain applications.

Innovation Solution

The first spring is prestressed in the non-actuated state, reducing the distance the force introduction element needs to travel to initiate movement of the damper, allowing for reduced protrusion and improved space efficiency by ensuring the tension of the first spring is greater than or equal to the restoring spring and the minimum force required to actuate the damper.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a damper is used to delay the movement of the sealing strip, then the sealing performance is improved, but the force introduction element protrudes more from the holding element

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidprotrusion of force introduction element
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The first spring is pre-tensioned in the unactuated state to store the minimum force required to actuate the damper. This preliminary action eliminates the need for the force introduction element to travel an additional distance to build up force, thereby reducing its protrusion while maintaining the damper's sealing function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The tension parameter of the first spring is changed from zero (in the prior art) to a pre-tensioned state equal to or greater than the sum of the restoring spring tension and the minimum damper actuation force. This parameter change allows the system to achieve damper actuation with reduced force introduction element displacement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Volume of moving object

If the first spring is pre-tensioned to reduce protrusion, then the space efficiency is improved, but the force required to actuate the seal increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace efficiencyVSAvoidactuation force
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The first spring is pre-tensioned to store the minimum force required to actuate the damper in advance. This preliminary action ensures that when actuation is needed, the force introduction element does not need to travel an additional distance to build up the required force, thereby reducing protrusion while the total actuation force remains manageable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 solution reduces the protrusion of the force introduction element, enabling the seal to be used in tighter spaces by eliminating the delay in movement transmission and ensuring efficient actuation of the sealing strip without compromising the sealing performance.

Implementation Method 1

the first spring is tensioned in an unactuated state of the seal when the force introduction element is in the first position, so that the distance that the force introduction element has to travel in order to introduce the force into the first spring, which is necessary for the damper to enable movement, is reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring pre-tensioning: Spring

Implementation Method 2

the damper is arranged at least indirectly between the motion transmission parts and the holding means... the damper dampens any movement of the rod in the direction of the force exerted by the first spring... the movement of the sealing strip from the first to the second position is also delayed compared to the movement of the force application element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3754146B1Automatic seal with damper for delaying lowering
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 ATHMER
  • EP3754146B1 patent drawingFigure 1~1a
  • EP3754146B1 patent drawingFigure 2~2a
  • EP3754146B1 patent drawingFigure 3~3a

AI summary

The invention relates to an automatic seal comprising: - a one- or multi-part retaining element (1), - a force application element (470) which is slidably mounted on the retaining element (1) from a first position to a second position, - a sealing strip (9) which is movable relative to the retaining element (1) from a first position to a second position, - a mechanism (42, 62) which is at least indirectly coupled to the force application element (470) and the sealing strip (9) so that a movement of the force application element (470) can be transmitted as a movement of the sealing strip (9) from the first position to the second position, - motion transmission parts (48, 41, 5, 61, 7) which transmit a movement of the force application element (470) to the mechanism (42, 62), - a first spring (473) and a damper (8),wherein - the first spring (473) is arranged at least indirectly between the force application element (470) and the motion transmission parts (48, 41, 5, 61, 7) and - the damper (8) is arranged at least indirectly between the motion transmission parts (48, 41, 5, 61, 7) and the holding means (1), - wherein the first spring (473) is tensioned when the force application element (470) is in the first position.