Double-Eccentric Filter Lid for Low-Friction Isolator Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter units for barrier systems, particularly in pharmaceutical applications, face challenges in maintaining uniform air distribution due to internal installations such as spindle drives or pistons, which hinder essential air flow and require high frictional forces for lid operation, leading to inefficient sealing and potential leakage.
Innovation Solution
A filter unit with a double-eccentrically pivotable lid design, where the pivot axis is offset from both the closure section plane and the vertical longitudinal median plane, reducing frictional forces and allowing for a shorter contact time with the annular seal, combined with a cavity system for tolerance compensation and reduced installation space, ensuring efficient sealing without flexing the seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a centrally pivoted lid is used to close the opening, then the lid can be simple in design, but high frictional forces occur between the lid and annular seal, requiring high torques for displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by offsetting the pivot axis from the center of the lid. The pivot axis is positioned at a distance from the closure section plane and from the vertical longitudinal median plane, creating an asymmetric configuration that reduces the contact area and duration between the lid and annular seal during rotation, thereby reducing frictional forces and required torque
2Device complexity
If the lid pivots centrally through the opening, then the closure is simple, but the lid contacts and flexes the annular seal, causing potential leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric positioning of the pivot axis relative to the annular seal creates a closure mechanism where the lid contacts the seal at an offset position. This reduces the flexing and deformation of the annular seal during lid displacement, maintaining sealing reliability while keeping the closure mechanism simple
3Reliability
If internal installations such as spindle drives are placed in the filter unit interior, then the lid can be actuated reliably, but uniform air distribution in the interior is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drive mechanism from the interior of the filter unit and positions it externally. The pivot axis is arranged outside the interior enclosed by filter means, allowing the lid to be actuated reliably through external rotary joints while maintaining uniform air distribution within the filter unit interior without obstruction from internal installations
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a closure device (28) for a filter unit (1) for the mutual and releasable insertion into a return air duct or exhaust air duct (2) of a barrier system (3), comprising a main body (30), an opening (6) in the main body (30) that can be peripherally bounded by an annular seal (11), a lid (10) that can be switched between an open position in which the opening (6) is open and a closed position in which it bears in a sealing manner against the annular seal (11) in order to selectively open and close the opening (6) and that has passing through it an imaginary longitudinal axis (A), wherein the lid (10) is connected in an articulated manner to the main body (30) so as to be able to pivot by means of at least one rotary articulation (40) through which there passes a pivot axis (S). The lid (10) is designed so as to be able to pivot at least double-eccentrically, wherein the first eccentricity arises from the fact that the pivot axis (S) is arranged at a distance (A1) from a plane (E1) in which a closure section ( ) of the lid (10) lies, and wherein the second eccentricity arises from the fact that the pivot axis (S) is arranged at a distance (A2) from a vertical longitudinal mid-plane (E2) which passes vertically through the center of the lid (10) when the latter is in its closed position.