Dual-Coated Bellows Material for Flame Resistance and Flexibility

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bellows technologies face challenges in balancing high flame resistance and cost-effectiveness, as silicone rubber coatings provide excellent flame resistance and color stability but are expensive, while organic elastomer coatings are cheaper but less flexible and prone to color changes, and cannot meet flame resistance requirements on their own.

Innovation Solution

A material web reinforcement is coated with silicone rubber on one side and organic rubber on the other, with both layers being fully vulcanized before assembly, allowing for a flame-resistant exterior and flexible, color-stable surface while maintaining cost-effectiveness with a suitable interior coating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If silicone rubber coating is used on the reinforcement, then flame resistance and color stability are improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame resistanceVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different rubber coatings to different sides of the reinforcement: silicone rubber on the exterior side for flame resistance and color stability, and organic rubber on the interior side for flexibility and cost-effectiveness. This local differentiation allows each side to have optimized properties for its specific functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure with reinforcement members coated with dual rubber layers. The combination of silicone rubber and organic rubber on opposite sides of the reinforcement forms a composite material system that integrates the advantages of both materials: flame resistance from silicone rubber and flexibility from organic rubber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If organic elastomer coating is used on the reinforcement, then cost is reduced, but flame resistance and color stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidflame resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different rubber coatings to different sides of the reinforcement: silicone rubber on the exterior side for flame resistance and color stability, and organic rubber on the interior side for flexibility and cost-effectiveness. This local differentiation allows each side to have optimized properties for its specific functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure with reinforcement members coated with dual rubber layers. The combination of silicone rubber and organic rubber on opposite sides of the reinforcement forms a composite material system that integrates the advantages of both materials: flame resistance from silicone rubber and flexibility from organic rubber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Stability of the object's composition

If silicone rubber coating is used on the reinforcement, then color stability and weather resistance are improved, but flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor stabilityVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different rubber coatings to different sides of the reinforcement: silicone rubber on the exterior side for flame resistance and color stability, and organic rubber on the interior side for flexibility and cost-effectiveness. This local differentiation allows each side to have optimized properties for its specific functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure with reinforcement members coated with dual rubber layers. The combination of silicone rubber and organic rubber on opposite sides of the reinforcement forms a composite material system that integrates the advantages of both materials: flame resistance from silicone rubber and flexibility from organic rubber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution achieves high flame resistance and weather resistance on the exterior while ensuring flexibility and color retention, while meeting interior performance requirements, thus offering a cost-effective and durable bellows solution.

Implementation Method 1

After the coating has been applied, vulcanization to form the respective elastomer takes place, with the vulcanization process taking place using commercially available crosslinking agents present in the mixture ingredients, if appropriate at elevated temperature.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVulcanization:

Data Source

PatentEP2404748B1Sheet material for making bellows for connecting vehicle compartments and process for making that material

Publication Date: 2013.07.03 HUBNER GMBH

Figure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a material web for the manufacture of a bellows of a transition between two articulated vehicles as well as the bellows of a passenger boarding bridge or passenger stairs, wherein the material web has at least one reinforcing element, wherein the reinforcing element is coated on both sides with a plastic layer, wherein the at least one reinforcing element has on one side a coating based on a silicone rubber and on the other side a coating based on an organic rubber.