Elastomer Bellows Mounting for Low-Profile Dynamic Opening Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bellows designs face challenges in efficiently securing low-profile, flexible, and durable coverage for dynamic openings between moving parts while providing protection from debris, dust, and humidity, particularly when materials like silicone have poor bond strength with common adhesives.
Innovation Solution
A movable assembly using an elastomer bellows secured by protrusions and a retainer, with adhesive connections and recessed channels, allows for secure attachment to enclosures without fasteners, ensuring low-profile and flexible protection across moving parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If adhesive bonding is used to secure the bellows to enclosures, then the attachment method is simple and fast, but the bond strength is insufficient when using materials like silicone
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting feature is segmented into multiple functional elements: a base portion for adhesive bonding, a protrusion for mechanical interlocking, and a recessed channel for additional mechanical engagement. This segmentation allows the mounting system to combine the simplicity of adhesive application with the strength of mechanical interlocking, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and bond strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting feature uses a composite approach by combining adhesive material with mechanical structural elements (protrusion and recessed channel). This composite mounting system leverages both the bonding capability of adhesives and the interlocking strength of mechanical features, achieving both simple application and strong attachment.
2Length of stationary object
If a low-profile design is used for the bellows, then the stack height is reduced and flexibility is improved, but the available surface area for secure attachment is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting feature extends the attachment interface into the vertical dimension with the protrusion rising from the base portion, and creates a three-dimensional engagement system with the recessed channel. This dimensional approach allows secure attachment without increasing the overall stack height of the bellows, resolving the contradiction between low-profile design and attachment security.
3Strength
If protrusions are used to extend through openings for secure attachment, then mechanical interlocking strength is improved, but the assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion and recessed channel are pre-formed as integral features of the mounting structure during manufacturing. This preliminary formation of mechanical interlocking features eliminates the need for separate assembly steps to create these features, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining strong mechanical interlocking.
Data Source
AI summary
A movable assembly with an elastomer bellows forming a cosmetic covering and providing ingress protection of a dynamic opening between a pair of enclosures. On one side of the dynamic opening, the bellows is secured to an enclosure by protrusions of that enclosure that extend into mating openings in the bellows and a retainer that engages those protrusions. An adhesive secures the protrusions to the retainer to form a secure clamped connection of the bellows to the enclosure. On the other side of the dynamic opening, the bellows is secured to another enclosure without the use of fasteners or adhesives. Teeth in openings of the second enclosure are secured in a recessed channel of the bellows created by a protrusion and a flange. As the two enclosures move relative to one another, the bellows is stretched and compressed such that the dynamic opening between the two enclosures is cosmetically covered with ingress protection.