Dual-Sealing Plug Structure for High-Pressure Cooling Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing plugs in cooling assemblies fail to maintain a secure fluid seal under high hydraulic pressures, leading to leakage, and lack a mechanism to prevent overtightening, which can cause damage to the plug or channel.
Innovation Solution
A seal plug with collinearly arranged first and second sealing portions, including an o-ring for friction fit and threads for secure engagement, designed to withstand high pressures and prevent overtightening, featuring a low height profile to maximize injection mold cavity volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a threadless o-ring plug is used to seal the fluid channel, then the plug installation is simple and quick, but the plug cannot withstand high fluid pressure and may loosen or eject from the channel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two sealing mechanisms (o-ring friction fit and threaded engagement) into a single plug design. The o-ring provides the initial seal and friction fit for easy installation, while the threads provide additional mechanical anchoring to withstand high fluid pressures, preventing plug ejection.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug utilizes composite sealing mechanisms rather than a single material or mechanism. It integrates an elastomeric o-ring with a threaded plug body, combining the sealing properties of rubber with the mechanical strength of threaded fastening to achieve both ease of installation and high-pressure reliability.
2Reliability
If a threaded pipe plug is used to seal the fluid channel, then the plug can withstand high fluid pressure, but the plug may be overtightened causing cracking of the plug or channel
Solution Approach 1:
The o-ring component serves as a cushioning element that compresses during installation to provide sealing and friction resistance. This cushioning effect allows the plug to be tightened sufficiently to engage the threads and withstand pressure, while the o-ring's elasticity prevents damage from excessive tightening forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-sealing mechanism changes the force-displacement characteristics during installation. The o-ring's compressible nature provides a progressive resistance that gives tactile feedback to the installer, indicating when adequate sealing is achieved without requiring excessive force that could cause cracking.
3Reliability
If a conventional sealing plug is used with sufficient height, then the plug can provide adequate sealing, but the plug occupies excessive volume reducing injection mold cavity space
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into two distinct components: the o-ring for primary sealing and the threads for mechanical anchoring. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the o-ring providing sealing in a compact radial configuration rather than requiring extensive axial length.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric o-ring acts as a flexible sealing element that can conform to the channel wall in a compact space. Its ability to deform and seal radially eliminates the need for a long axial engagement, reducing the plug's height profile and maximizing injection mold cavity volume.
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 seal plug provides a secure fluid seal under high pressures, minimizes leakage, and prevents damage from overtightening, while optimizing injection mold capacity by reducing plug height and volume usage.
Implementation Method 1
the o-ring forms a friction fit with the fluid channel wall to mitigate the flow of the cooling liquid to the outside of the injection mold
Implementation Method 2
as a manufacturer engages the threads of the threaded pipe plugs with threads formed into wall of the fluid channel, the threaded pipe plug forms a seal with the fluid channel
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the innovation relate to a seal plug which includes a plug body having a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion, an o-ring disposed about an outer periphery of the first sealing portion, and a set of threads disposed about an outer periphery of the second sealing portion. The second sealing portion defines a tool engagement portion.