Protective Bellows With Liquid Detection for Mechanical Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Protective bellows used in mechanical joints can deteriorate, allowing water or conductive liquids to accumulate undetectably, which is problematic, especially near electrical equipment or sensitive components prone to corrosion.
Innovation Solution
A bellows with a corrugated side wall incorporating elementary electrical circuits that detect the presence of conductive liquids by closing a circuit when an electrically conductive liquid bridges between conductive elements, triggering an alert signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective bellows is used to cover a mechanical joint, then the joint is protected from dust and foreign matter, but water or conductive liquids can accumulate inside the bellows without detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical inspection methods with an electrical detection system. Conductive elements and conductive tracks form an electrical circuit that automatically detects water accumulation through electrical conductivity changes, eliminating the need for manual mechanical inspection of the bellows interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary substance that triggers the detection mechanism. The conductive liquid itself becomes the medium that closes the electrical circuit between conductive elements, transforming the harmful substance into the detection signal.
2Device complexity
If conventional bellows are used without detection systems, then the structure remains simple, but water accumulation cannot be detected until damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates thin conductive tracks and conductive elements directly onto the inner surface of the flexible bellows wall. This allows the detection system to conform to the bellows' flexible structure without adding significant complexity, maintaining the original form factor while enabling water detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows detection system is self-monitoring through the conductive elements integrated into its structure. The system automatically detects water accumulation without requiring external inspection devices or complex additional components, as the bellows itself contains the sensing capability.
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
Enables simple and effective detection of water or conductive liquids within the bellows, preventing damage to protected components and ensuring the integrity of mechanical joints.
Implementation Method 1
each elementary electrical circuit comprising: a first conducting element and a second conducting element, extending along the first flank and/or the second flank of the corrugation... a first conducting track and a second conducting track, connected respectively to the first conducting element and the second conducting element... such that when an electrically conductive liquid extends from the first conductive element to the second conductive element, the closure of the elementary electrical circuit is detected
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~2C
Figure 2D~2E
AI summary
The invention relates to a bellows (1) for covering a mechanical joint (A), the bellows comprising a corrugated, cylindrical side wall extending about a longitudinal axis (Z), the side wall comprising: - an alternation of crests (4n) and troughs (3n), forming corrugations (2n); - flanks (5n,1, 5n,2), each flank extending between a crest and a trough, each corrugation comprising a first flank (5n,1) and a second flank (5n,2) opposite one another, separated by the same trough; the bellows being characterised in that it comprises at least one elementary electrical circuit (8n) associated with a corrugation (2n), the elementary electrical circuit associated with a corrugation comprising: - a first conductive element (6n,1) and a second conductive element (6n,2), extending along the first flank (5n,1) and/or the second flank (5n,2), the first conductive element being spaced apart from the second conductive element; - a first conductive track (7n,1) and a second conductive track (7n,2), connected to the first conductive element (6n,1) and to the second conductive element (6n,2), respectively; the elementary electrical circuit being such that: - the first conductive track and the second conductive track are connected, or configured to be connected, to a detector of closing of the elementary electrical circuit (9n, 9).