Elastic Sealing Fastener Structure for Tolerance-Compensated Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fasteners face difficulties in assembling with components and achieving an effective seal due to design configurations and manufacturing/assembly tolerances, making the process challenging and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A fastener with an elastic sealing portion that deforms under compression to form a seal, compensating for manufacturing and assembly tolerances, and includes a support portion and connecting portions to securely connect and clamp components together.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fasteners are used without elastic sealing portions, then the structure is simpler and manufacturing is easier, but assembly difficulty increases and sealing effectiveness deteriorates due to tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by incorporating an elastic sealing portion (sealing ring) into the fastener structure. This flexible component deforms under compression to conform to the mating surface, creating an effective seal that compensates for manufacturing and assembly tolerances between components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies this principle by utilizing the elastic properties of the sealing portion, which changes its physical state from relaxed to compressed during assembly. The elastic deformation allows the sealing portion to adapt its shape and dimensions to ensure proper sealing contact despite tolerance variations.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional fasteners without elastic sealing portions are used, then manufacturing is easier and device complexity is lower, but assembly difficulty increases due to tolerance accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by pre-designing the elastic sealing portion to anticipate and compensate for tolerance accumulation before assembly occurs. The elastic material is selected and dimensioned to provide sufficient deformation capacity that absorbs the impact of tolerance variations, making the assembly process more forgiving and easier to perform.
3Ease of operation
If elastic sealing portions are added to fasteners, then sealing effectiveness improves and assembly ease increases, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by separating the fastener into distinct functional segments: the rigid fastening portion that provides structural connection and the elastic sealing portion that provides sealing functionality. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently for its specific function, simplifying the overall manufacturing approach despite the added complexity.
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 sealing portion facilitates easier assembly and forms an effective sealed connection, enhancing manufacturing and assembly efficiency while preventing fluid leakage between components.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing portion is elastic and extends around the circumference of the side wall portion
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure describes a fastener used to connect a first and second component. The fastener includes a flat support portion and a first connecting portion. The connecting portion extends along the fastener's axis and has a side wall and a sealing section. The side wall extends from the edge of the support portion, and the sealing section extends from the outside of the side wall back toward the support portion but doesn't go beyond it. The sealing section is elastic and wraps around the side wall. When the fastener is compressed by the connected component, the elastic sealing section deforms to create a tight seal. This deformation also helps absorb manufacturing and assembly variations, making the fastener easier to produce and install.