Elastomeric Clamping for Fluidic Components Under Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for clamping fluidic components, particularly micro-engineered nozzles made of brittle materials, face challenges in maintaining leak-tightness under alternating fluid pressures and have difficulty in predicting service life, requiring significant effort and care for assembly and are not suitable for long-term use.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a holder with an elastomeric shaped part that surrounds the fluidic component, featuring a chamfered design and an annular projection on the mating part to generate uniformly distributed internal tension in the elastomeric part, ensuring pressure-tightness even under fluctuating pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elastomeric shaped part is used to surround the fluidic component, then pressure-tightness is improved, but assembly complexity increases due to the need for precise chamfering and uniform tension distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric shaped part is pre-chamfered before assembly to create a precise geometry that will generate uniform internal tension when compressed by the projection. This preliminary preparation ensures that during assembly, the tension distributes evenly across the elastomeric part, maintaining pressure-tightness while simplifying the assembly process by eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the elastomeric shaped part by introducing a specific chamfer angle and dimensions. This parameter modification allows the elastomeric part to transform from a simple sealing element into a tension-generating component that automatically distributes forces uniformly when compressed, resolving the contradiction between reliability and assembly complexity.
2Reliability
If great force is applied to press the fluidic component into the holder, then pressure-tightness is improved, but the risk of damaging brittle components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric shaped part acts as an intermediary between the holder and the brittle fluidic component. Instead of directly pressing the component into the holder with great force, the elastomeric part is compressed by the projection, which then generates uniform internal tension to secure the component. This intermediary mechanism distributes the clamping force evenly, achieving pressure-tightness while preventing damage to brittle components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a flexible elastomeric shaped part that can deform under compression to generate the necessary clamping force. This flexible element surrounds the fluidic component and, when compressed by the projection, creates uniform internal tension that secures the component without requiring direct high-force contact that could damage brittle materials.
3Reliability
If the elastomeric shaped part is compressed to generate internal tension, then leak-tightness under alternating pressures is improved, but the volume of the elastomeric part must be precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric shaped part is pre-chamfered with specific geometric parameters before assembly. This preliminary action ensures that when the projection compresses the elastomeric part during assembly, the resulting internal tension is uniformly distributed. The pre-defined chamfer geometry controls the volume and deformation characteristics, achieving leak-tightness under alternating pressures while simplifying manufacturing by providing clear geometric guidelines.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the geometric parameters of the elastomeric shaped part by introducing a chamfer with specific dimensions and angles. This parameter change allows precise control over the volume and deformation behavior of the elastomeric part during compression. The chamfered geometry ensures that the volume is optimized to generate sufficient internal tension for leak-tightness while accommodating the compression from the projection, reducing the need for extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.
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 solution provides reliable, long-term leak-tightness under varying fluid pressures with reduced assembly complexity and minimal dead volume, ensuring the elastomeric part fills the space effectively, maintaining pressure-tightness even at high pressures (up to 40 MPa) and low pressures (0.1 MPa).
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric shaped part (4) which surrounds the fluidic component (5) over its entire circumference... the projection (11) projects into the holder (1) and deforms the elastomeric shaped part (4), as a result of which a uniformly distributed internal tension is generated in the elastomeric shaped part (4)
Data Source
AI summary
A fluidic component is arranged in an elastomeric shaped part the contour of which is matched to the outer contour of the component and to the inner contour of a holder. The elastomeric shaped part is chamfered towards the fluidic component on its pressure side. When the holder is assembled the elastomeric shaped part is deformed by a projection provided on a mating part and is put under uniformly distributed internal tension, after which the elastomeric shaped part surrounds the fluidic component to its full height.