Cavity Sealing Member With Activatable Material for Variable Tolerances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for baffling, sealing, and reinforcement in industries like automotive face challenges with installation within varying tolerances and require rapid activation of activatable materials, especially in diverse cavity configurations.
Innovation Solution
A member comprising a carrier with activatable material and extensions, featuring hinges and fasteners, allowing for flexible adaptation and rapid activation within cavities, including those with varying dimensions and shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional sealing members are used, then installation is simple, but they cannot accommodate varying tolerances and cavity configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member incorporates an activatable material that can change its physical state or properties in response to external stimuli, allowing the member to dynamically adapt its shape or dimensions to accommodate varying tolerances and cavity configurations rather than relying on a fixed rigid structure
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member utilizes changes in material parameters (such as expansion, contraction, or shape transformation) of the activatable material to adjust its geometric properties and fit different cavity configurations, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural complexity
2Reliability
If activatable material is used, then sealing performance is improved, but activation time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The activatable material is positioned and pre-configured on the carrier before installation, so that when activation occurs, the material can rapidly transform into its functional state without delay for positioning or adjustment, thereby reducing activation time while maintaining sealing performance
3Productivity
If rapid activation is achieved, then installation speed is improved, but control precision may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The activatable material is applied selectively to specific regions or zones on the carrier where sealing or reinforcement is needed, allowing for precise local control of activation while maintaining overall rapid installation speed across the entire component
Data Source
AI summary
An article comprising: a carrier (12), activatable material (14) disposed on the carrier, one or more carrier extensions (16) extending from the carrier; wherein the article is adapted to provide sealing, baffling, or reinforcement within a structure's cavity.