Crimping Insert Groove Structure for Vibration-Resistant Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inserts crimped onto supports face issues with mechanical strength and sealing integrity due to vibrations, friction, and deformation of seals under various conditions such as lubrication and surface treatments, leading to potential detachment and loss of tightness.

Innovation Solution

An insert design featuring a barrel with a crimping section and a flange with a constant thickness and a fold forming a groove to house a seal, ensuring contact with the support for enhanced mechanical strength and sealing, while maintaining a constant pressure to prevent detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a seal is placed around the barrel and under the head of the insert, then sealing is provided, but the seal is sensitive and can be damaged when inserting the insert into its destination housing, and the joint can come apart due to vibrations and friction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing integrityVSAvoidvibrations and friction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The insert is divided into functionally distinct segments: a barrel for insertion, a head for sealing, and a crimping section for mechanical attachment. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the head provides sealing while the crimping section provides vibration resistance through deformation into the support material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The crimping section is designed to deform into a crimping bead during installation, creating a preliminary mechanical lock before the insert is fully subjected to service conditions. This preliminary action prevents vibrations and friction from causing detachment during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the insert exerts pressure on the seal to maintain sealing, then sealing force is provided, but the spring effect transmits forces normal to the support surface which tend to detach the flange

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing forceVSAvoidmechanical strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The head is designed with a specific geometry that concentrates sealing pressure locally on the support surface while the crimping section distributes mechanical loads over a larger area. This local quality differentiation allows effective sealing without compromising overall mechanical strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing function and mechanical attachment function are merged into a single integrated insert structure. The head provides sealing while the crimping section provides mechanical attachment, eliminating the need for separate sealing components and reducing the risk of detachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the insert is lubricated for automotive needs or subjected to surface treatments, then functionality is improved, but the seal becomes more susceptible to damage and loss of tightness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with lubrication and surface treatmentsVSAvoidseal tightness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The seal is designed as a sacrificial element that can be replaced if damaged during installation or surface treatment processes. The insert structure is designed to maintain functionality even if the seal is compromised, allowing for easy replacement of the seal without replacing the entire insert assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 solution provides effective mechanical strength and sealing between the insert and support, preventing untimely detachment and maintaining assembly tension even under vibrational conditions, ensuring reliable performance in automotive, naval, or aeronautical applications.

Implementation Method 1

a barrel extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising a crimping section configured to deform into a crimping bead for crimping the insert on the support

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

a flange having a surface oriented towards the crimping section and extending along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The flange has a constant thickness and has a fold forming a groove located on the surface and intended to receive a seal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 3

The flange has a constant thickness and has a fold forming a groove located on the surface and intended to receive a seal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFolding: Folding

Data Source

PatentEP3366932B1Crimping insert, attachment element and assembly comprising such an insert and methods for manufacturing such parts

Publication Date: 2021.10.27 BOLLHOFF OTALU SA

Figure 1
Figure 2

AI summary

Insert to be crimped onto a support, comprising a body (3) having: - a shaft (4) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) and having a crimping section (6) configured to deform into a crimping bead to crimp the insert onto the support, and - a collar (5) having a surface (13) oriented towards the crimping section (6) and extending along an axis (B) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A), the collar (5) having a constant thickness (18) and having a fold (14) forming a groove (15) located on the surface (13) and intended to receive a sealing gasket (16).