Carrier Frame Seal Channel Width for Lip Deformability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Carrier frame seals with channel areas face limitations in deformability due to lack of one-sided expansion possibilities, leading to increased material aging and wear, especially when connecting webs restrict flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A carrier frame seal design with a channel area wider than the sealing profile outside of it, allowing for increased free space and flexibility by widening the channel width and maintaining normal width outside the channel area, enabling better deformation and reduced stress on sealing lips.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the sealing profile is guided through channel areas with identical design as outside channel areas, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the deformability of sealing lips is reduced leading to increased material aging and wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidsealing lip durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the channel area design from the standard sealing profile design. Specifically, the channel area is made wider than the sealing profile width, creating additional free space that allows the sealing lips to deform properly. This local modification at the channel area resolves the contradiction by maintaining simplified manufacturing (the channel is still a standard feature) while improving sealing lip deformability and reducing material aging and wear through the increased deformation space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If connecting webs are arranged under sealing lips to connect sheet metal segments, then the structural stability is improved, but the flexibility of sealing lips is further limited causing greater wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidsealing lip wear resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by applying local quality through the wider channel area design. The additional free space created by making the channel wider than the sealing profile compensates for the flexibility limitation imposed by the connecting webs. This local modification allows the sealing lips to maintain adequate deformability even when constrained by the structurally necessary connecting webs, thereby reducing wear while preserving structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the channel area width is increased to allow sealing profile deformation, then the deformability of sealing lips is enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing lip deformabilityVSAvoidchannel area geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the width parameter of the channel area. The channel area is designed to be wider than the sealing profile width, creating additional free space that enhances sealing lip deformability. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by improving reliability through increased deformability while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing, as the width increase is a straightforward geometric modification rather than a complex structural change.

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

Enhances the deformability and flexibility of sealing lips in channel areas, reducing material aging and wear by providing additional space for elastomer deformation and accommodating thermal expansion, thereby improving the seal's performance and longevity.

Implementation Method 1

accommodating thermal expansion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

providing additional space for elastomer deformation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3025078B1Carrier frame seal having a channel region
Publication Date: 2018.02.28 FEDERAL MOGUL SEALING SYSTEMS GMBH
  • EP3025078B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3C
  • EP3025078B1 patent drawingFigure 4~4A

AI summary

The invention relates to a carrier frame seal (4). Said carrier frame seal comprises a carrier frame (6), having at least one first carrier frame region (8) and one second carrier frame region (10), wherein a channel region (12) is formed in a region between the first carrier frame region (8) and the second carrier frame region (10). A sealing profile (14) is also included, which is arranged at least partially in the channel region (12) between the first carrier frame region (8) and the second carrier frame region (10), and wherein the sealing profile (14) is connected on one side to the first or to the second carrier frame region (8, 10) outside the channel region (12), and wherein a width K of the channel region (12) is greater than a width B of the sealing profile (14) outside the channel region (12).