Elastomeric Cover Sealing for Breathing Gas Ducts
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing respiration systems with gas ducts in anesthesia apparatuses require complex manufacturing processes due to the need for precise vulcanization of packing cords, which limits the compensation of height differences and reduces the rigidity of the cover plate, affecting the sealing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A plate-shaped elastomeric cover with groove-like depressions is used, reducing material thickness within the depressions and maintaining full thickness outside for increased rigidity, allowing for simple injection molding and improved sealing through intrinsic stress and sealing contours, such as lip portions, to securely fit over partitions and seal gas ducts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If packing cords are vulcanized into grooves in the cover plate, then sealing of gas ducts is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases and rigidity of the cover plate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the sealing function and the structural cover plate into a single integrated elastomeric component. The grooves are directly formed in the elastomeric cover material itself, eliminating the need for separate packing cords and their vulcanization process. This integration simplifies manufacturing while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses elastomeric material with varying local thickness to achieve both sealing and structural functions. The reduced thickness in groove areas provides sealing compliance, while the full thickness in other areas maintains rigidity. This composite thickness approach within a single material solves the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and structural integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If packing cords are used to seal gas ducts, then height differences can be compensated to a limited extent, but sealing efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the thickness parameter of the elastomeric cover material locally. By reducing the thickness in the groove areas, the elastomer can deform more easily to accommodate height differences and tolerances, while maintaining full thickness elsewhere to preserve overall rigidity and sealing pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover plate has different local properties: reduced thickness in groove areas for compliance and tolerance compensation, and full thickness in other areas for rigidity. This spatial variation in material properties allows the single component to simultaneously achieve both tolerance compensation and effective sealing.
3Reliability
If the cover plate is made rigid to ensure uniform pressing of the sealing area, then sealing uniformity is improved, but the cover cannot compensate for height differences
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric cover plate exhibits local quality variation through its thickness design. The reduced thickness in groove areas provides local flexibility for tolerance compensation, while the full thickness in other areas maintains overall rigidity for uniform sealing pressure distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric material provides dynamic compliance through its inherent elasticity. The material can deform locally to accommodate height differences while maintaining overall structural integrity, transitioning between rigid and flexible states as needed for different functional requirements.
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 enhances the manufacturing simplicity and sealing efficiency of the respiration system, allowing better tolerance compensation and easier replacement of the cover without affecting the more expensive housing, while maintaining gas tightness and rigidity.
Implementation Method 1
The cover has a reduced elastomer material thickness in an area of the groove-like depressions. Each groove-like depression extends along one of the partitions such that a portion of the front surface of each partition is located within one of the groove-like depressions.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for supplying a patient with breathing gas, which has a housing provided with gas ducts and a corresponding cover (5), shall be improved such that the cover (5) can be manufactured in a simple manner and possesses good sealing properties. To accomplish the object, provisions are made for the cover (5) to consist of a one-piece, plate-like elastomer material and for groove-like depressions (10) extending in the direction of partitions (6) to be present as a seal for the gas ducts (8).