Cable Seal With Variable Pressure O-Rings For Diameter Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seals for cables and hoses in bushings are complex and costly to produce, making them unsuitable for standardization and efficient use across different applications.

Innovation Solution

A seal design featuring a pressure element with two O-rings of different diameters, where the pressure element is screwed onto a housing with aligned threads, creating a variable pressure area that compresses and expands the O-rings to seal cables or hoses effectively, allowing for standardization and adaptation to various diameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex specialized seals are used for different cable diameters, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidseal design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure element with variable pressure area serves multiple functions: it adjusts to different cable diameters, maintains sealing pressure, and accommodates various cable sizes using the same basic seal structure. This eliminates the need for multiple specialized seals for different cable types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure area of the pressure element is made variable rather than fixed, allowing it to adapt to different cable diameters. By changing the pressure area parameter, the same seal can effectively seal different cable sizes without requiring specialized designs for each diameter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple specialized seals are produced for different applications, then sealing precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing precisionVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A single pressure element design with variable pressure area replaces multiple specialized seals, allowing standardization of the sealing component while maintaining precision for different cable diameters through adjustment of the pressure area rather than through custom manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If fixed pressure area seals are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different cable diameters is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to different diameters
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure area is designed as a variable parameter rather than a fixed dimension. This allows the same manufactured component to adapt to different cable diameters by adjusting the pressure area, combining manufacturing simplicity with operational versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design enables efficient sealing of cables and hoses using standardized O-rings, reducing production costs and accommodating different diameters without the need for specialized sealing elements, while ensuring effective sealing against environmental influences.

Implementation Method 1

By further screwing/screwing the pressure element onto the housing, the pressure surfaces are brought closer together and the pressure area is narrowed. The first sealing ring and the second sealing ring are pressed against one another via the first pressure surface and the second pressure surface.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

Due to the different diameters of the sealing rings, they are deflected from one another via their outer surface. This leads to a radial expansion of the first sealing ring and a radial compression of the second sealing ring. Due to the compression of the second sealing ring and the expansion of the first sealing ring, these seal against each other, as well as against the pressure surfaces, the cable/hose and the bushing.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3266084B1Cable seal
Publication Date: 2019.10.23 HARTING ELECTRIC GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3266084B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3266084B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a cable seal for feed-throughs (2) on housings (1). Cables (20) or hoses are fed through the feed-through (2) into the housing (1) and are sealed by means of two sealing rings (10, 11). Because of different diameters of the sealing rings (10, 11), the sealing rings are radially expanded or compressed by means of an axial force and the cable (20) is sealed to the housing (1) tightly with respect to the surroundings. The axial force on the sealing rings (10, 11) is produced by means of a pressing element (3) that can be screwed on.