Elastic Guide Means for Automatic Seal Rod Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic seals require manual positioning and fastening of guide means during assembly, which can lead to misalignment and additional assembly effort, as the guide means and force transmission rods need to be manually adjusted to ensure proper alignment.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an elastic connection structure between guide elements with intersecting or skew central axes in a relaxed state, allowing the guide means to be securely fastened to the force transmission rod through tensioning, ensuring stable positioning and guiding without the need for manual correction during assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If guide elements are attached to the seal housing with manual positioning, then the guide means can be secured in the housing, but additional assembly steps and manual adjustment are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly processVSAvoidassembly steps
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide means is designed to self-position and self-align during assembly through the elastic connecting structure. When the guide elements are inserted into the housing, the elastic connecting structure automatically tensions itself, pulling the guide elements into precise alignment without requiring manual positioning or adjustment by the assembler.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The guide elements are pre-connected via the elastic connecting structure before insertion into the housing. This preliminary connection ensures that the guide elements are already positioned relative to each other, eliminating the need for manual alignment during the assembly process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If guide holes have slight oversize relative to rods, then the rods can be easily inserted through the guide holes, but the guide precision and alignment may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverod insertionVSAvoidguide alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic connecting structure provides dynamic adjustment capability. During rod insertion, the elastic structure allows slight flexibility to accommodate the oversize guide holes, but once the rod is in place, the tensioned elastic structure locks the guide elements into precise alignment, ensuring both easy insertion and high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic connecting structure changes its physical state from relaxed to tensioned during assembly. In the relaxed state, it allows the guide holes to be slightly oversized for easy rod insertion. Once the rod is inserted and the structure is tensioned, it enforces precise alignment, effectively changing the dimensional parameters of the guide system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If guide elements are manually adjusted to desired position, then accurate positioning is achieved, but assembly time and effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The guide means performs its own positioning function through the elastic connecting structure. When the guide elements are inserted into the housing, the elastic structure automatically tensions itself and pulls the guide elements into the desired position, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and significantly reducing assembly time while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical adjustment process is replaced by the elastic mechanical action of the connecting structure. Instead of requiring an assembler to manually position and secure the guide elements, the elastic structure automatically performs the positioning function through its tensioning action, reducing both time and human effort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 elastic connection structure securely clamps the guide means onto the force transmission rod, maintaining alignment and allowing for smooth movement, reducing assembly effort and ensuring accurate positioning without the need for manual adjustments.

Implementation Method 1

a guiding means (7) having a first guide element (71, 72) which has a guide hole (75) with a central axis along which a force transmission rod (6) can be inserted and guided, and having a second guide element (71, 72) which has a guide hole (75) with a central axis along which the force transmission rod (6) can be inserted and guided, wherein the first and the second guide elements (71, 72) are connected to each other via an elastic connecting structure (73)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3940183B1Guide means for a force transmitting rod in an automatic seal and automatic seal comprising such a force transmitting rod
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 ATHMER
  • EP3940183B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3940183B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3940183B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a guide means (7) for a force transmission rod (6) in an automatic seal (D) - with a first guide element (71) having a first guide hole with a first central axis through which the force transmission rod (6) can be inserted and guided, wherein - the guide means (7) has a second guide element (72) having a second guide hole with a second central axis, - the first guide element (71) and the second guide element (72) are connected to each other via an elastic connecting structure (73), wherein - in a relaxed state of the connecting structure (73), the first and the second central axes intersect or are skew to each other and - in a tensioned state of the connecting structure (73), the first and the second central axes coincide.