Disposable Elastomer Coil Reducing Transport Weight

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for transporting and processing elastomer strands are inefficient due to the use of heavy, durable materials that increase transport costs and require costly return trips for empty coils, limiting the utilization of transport space and material resilience.

Innovation Solution

A device utilizing lighter materials like foam, cardboard, and recycled plastic for the coil and packaging, with a form-fit and force-fit connection between the ring element, coil core, and end wall parts, allowing for easier disposal and reduced material costs, while maintaining transport and production safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If heavy durable materials are used for the coil, then transport safety and production reliability are improved, but transport costs increase and return trips are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport and production safetyVSAvoidcoil weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The coil is divided into multiple functional parts with different material requirements: the ring element (connection component) is made of durable material for reliability, while the coil core and end pieces (bulk components) are made of lightweight disposable material to reduce weight and cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the coil have different material properties tailored to their specific functions: the ring element requires high strength for connection reliability, while the coil core and end pieces can use lightweight materials since they only need to hold the elastomer strand

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Weight of moving object

If lightweight disposable materials are used for the coil, then transport costs are reduced and disposal is simplified, but transport and production safety may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoil weightVSAvoidtransport and production safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coil structure is segmented into critical connection parts (ring element) and non-critical bulk parts (coil core, end pieces), allowing lightweight materials to be used where safety is not compromised while maintaining overall reliability through durable connection components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coil uses a composite construction combining different material types: durable material for the ring element and lightweight disposable material for the coil core and end pieces, optimizing both weight and reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Loss of substance

If the coil is designed for return trips to the manufacturer, then material utilization is improved, but transport volume efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial utilizationVSAvoidtransport volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The coil is designed as a disposable component made primarily of lightweight cardboard and foam materials, eliminating the need for return trips and allowing optimal transport volume utilization, with only the small ring element requiring recycling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 significantly reduces transport costs and improves the utilization of transport space by using lighter materials, enabling easy disposal of the coil at the processing site and eliminating the need for costly return trips, thus lowering overall elastomer strand processing costs.

Implementation Method 1

the part designed as a ring element is connected to the end wall part by positive locking

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPositive locking: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 2

and to the coil core by frictional locking

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFrictional locking: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3233685B1Device for receiving an extruded elastomer strand during transport to a processing location
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 CQLT SAARGUMMI TECH S A R L
  • EP3233685B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2(c)
  • EP3233685B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)
  • EP3233685B1 patent drawingFigure 4(a)~5(c)

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for receiving an extruded elastomer strand (1, 1a), during the transport thereof to a processing location, comprising a reel (2, 2a) that receives the elastomer strand (1, 1a) as a winding, wherein the moving reel (2, 2a) is provided for temporary inclusion into a production facility that continuously processes the elastomer strand (1, 1a), by rotation of the reel (2, 2a), to form seals for doors or boots of vehicle bodies. According to the invention, the average thickness of the reel (2, 2a) resulting from the total mass and the total volume of the material of the reel (2, 2a) is <2.5g/cm3.