Brush Seal for Vehicle Cab Chassis Gap Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sealing solutions for the gap between a vehicle chassis and cab, such as rubber seals, are ineffective due to large vertical movements that cause tearing and increased costs, and existing solutions fail to provide a durable and inexpensive seal that maintains functionality during relative movements.
Innovation Solution
A brush seal with varying bristle lengths and configurations, including a fin, is used to bridge the gap between the chassis and cab, allowing for flexible sealing against complex structures and accommodating relative movements, made from materials like polyethylene terephthalate or polyamide bristles and a metal or plastic body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rubber seals are used to seal the gap between the radiator and the cab, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the seals are likely to be torn apart by large vertical cab movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a brush seal consisting of numerous flexible bristles that can bend and deform to accommodate large vertical movements between the cab and chassis. The bristles act as flexible elements that maintain sealing contact without tearing, replacing the rigid rubber seal with a flexible brush structure that absorbs relative motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The brush seal changes its physical state and configuration in response to movement parameters. The bristles deform elastically under vertical displacement, changing their shape and position while maintaining sealing function. This allows the seal to adapt to varying gap sizes caused by cab suspension movement without failing.
2Reliability
If multiple rubber components are used to seal complicated cab surfaces, then sealing coverage is improved, but material costs and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The brush seal is designed as a universal sealing solution that can accommodate complicated cab surfaces with various structures and mounted items. The flexible bristles conform to irregular surfaces and adapt to different geometries, allowing a single brush seal design to replace multiple specialized rubber components for different sealing locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The brush seal is composed of numerous individual bristles that act as separate sealing elements. This segmentation allows each bristle to independently adapt to surface irregularities and mounted structures, providing comprehensive sealing coverage across complicated surfaces without requiring multiple separate seal components.
3Ease of operation
If the cab is made tiltable for engine access, then maintenance accessibility is improved, but clearance requirements and seal complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The brush seal is designed to accommodate the dynamic tilting motion of the cab. The flexible bristles can bend and reposition themselves as the cab tilts forward for engine access, maintaining sealing effectiveness throughout the range of motion without requiring additional seals or complex adjustment mechanisms.
4Length of moving object
If the engine compartment is made compact to maximize cargo space, then vehicle length is reduced, but flow resistance increases and cooling efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The brush seal extracts and seals the air leakage paths at the front and sides of the radiator, preventing warm air from escaping and being drawn back through the radiator. This eliminates the harmful air circulation pattern that causes energy loss, allowing the compact engine compartment to maintain effective cooling despite reduced airflow path length.
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
The brush seal provides a simple, durable, and cost-effective solution that enhances cooling efficiency, reduces emissions, and allows for higher engine power while minimizing noise by maintaining airflow and preventing air leakage, even during cab movements.
Implementation Method 1
a brush seal with varying bristle lengths and configurations... allowing for flexible sealing against complex structures and accommodating relative movements
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Seal adapted to sealing between a vehicle chassis (10) and a vehicle cab (14). To provide a simple, inexpensive, durable and effective such seal, the seal takes the form of a brush (28).