Automotive Sealing Member Reducing Attachment Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing automotive sealing members require excessive force for attachment and may partially detach from the flange due to reaction forces, compromising the seal and workability, especially for longer sealing members.
Innovation Solution
The automotive sealing member incorporates an outer foam on the inner face of the outer wall and a bottom foam on the inner face of the bottom wall, with a gap between them smaller than the thinnest portion of the flange, allowing the outer foam to contact the exterior face and the bottom foam to contact the tip end of the flange, reducing reaction forces and improving seal integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sponge seal is provided at the corner formed by the outer wall and the bottom wall to seal the gap between the flange tip end and the mount base, then the seal integrity is improved, but the attachment force required increases significantly and the sealing member may partially detach after attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is divided into two separate components: the seal lip (made of rigid or semi-rigid material) that contacts the flange inner face, and the sponge seal (made of elastic material) that contacts the flange tip end. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the attachment process
Solution Approach 2:
The seal lip acts as an intermediary element between the mount base and the flange during attachment. It guides the flange into position and makes contact first, allowing the mount base to approach the flange without the sponge seal creating excessive resistance. The seal lip mediates the interaction between the rigid mount base and the flange, enabling smooth attachment
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the sponge seal is positioned to contact the flange tip end, then noise blocking performance is improved, but the workability during attachment process deteriorates due to increased resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The seal lip makes preliminary contact with the flange inner face before the sponge seal can contact the flange tip end. This preliminary action by the seal lip establishes the attachment path and reduces resistance, allowing the attachment process to proceed smoothly before the noise-blocking sponge seal engages
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the sealing structure have different material properties: the seal lip is made of rigid or semi-rigid material suitable for guiding and initial contact, while the sponge seal is made of elastic material optimized for noise blocking. This local quality differentiation allows each part to fulfill its specific function without compromising overall performance
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 configuration reduces the force required for attachment, minimizes separation of the sealing member from the flange, and enhances cabin quietness by effectively blocking external noise.
Implementation Method 1
an outer foam 25 made of an elastic foaming material and coming into contact with the exterior face of the flange 110, a bottom foam 26 made of an elastic foaming material
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure can reduce a force required for the attachment of a sealing member to a flange of a body of an automobile, thereby facilitating the attachment, and can reduce the separation of the attached sealing member from the flange to ensure good seal.An outer foam 25 which comes into contact with an exterior face of a flange 110 facing the outside of a cabin is provided for an inner face of an outer wall 20. A flexible seal lip 21a is provided for an inner face of an inner wall 21. A bottom foam 26 bulges from an inner face of a bottom wall 22. A distance between the outer and bottom foams 25 and 26 in a width direction of the automobile is smaller than a thickness of a thinnest portion of the flange 110.