Elastomeric Sealing Member With H-Shaped Profile For Low Force Enclosure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing technologies, such as gel seals and O-ring seals, either lose effectiveness after repeated use or require high clamping forces to maintain an effective seal, making them unsuitable for applications that need frequent opening and closing.
Innovation Solution
A sealing interface utilizing an elastomeric sealing member with an H-shaped transverse cross-sectional profile or a sheet-like construction, which undergoes a trampoline effect when deformed, allowing for effective sealing with minimal force, thereby reducing the required clamping force and enabling frequent opening and closing without compromising the seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gel seals are used to seal enclosure interfaces, then effective moisture prevention is achieved, but the seal becomes less effective after repeated opening and closing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the sealing member by using an elastomeric material with specific durometer range (20-40 Shore A) and designing it with a thin profile (0.020-0.060 inches thick). This allows the seal to be compliant enough to maintain effectiveness after repeated use while still providing adequate sealing force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a thin elastomeric sealing member that functions as a flexible film. The thin profile (0.020-0.060 inches) allows the seal to deform easily and recover, maintaining sealing effectiveness through repeated opening and closing cycles without the degradation issues of gel seals.
2Duration of action of moving object
If O-ring seals are used to seal components for frequent opening and closing, then the seal can withstand repeated use, but relatively large clamping forces are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin elastomeric sealing member (0.020-0.060 inches thick) that is highly flexible and compliant. This thin flexible seal can deform easily to accommodate surface irregularities and maintain sealing contact with minimal clamping force, unlike rigid O-rings that require significant force to ensure adequate sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters by selecting an elastomeric material with low durometer (20-40 Shore A) and thin profile. These parameter changes enable the seal to achieve effective sealing with reduced clamping force while maintaining durability for frequent opening and closing operations.
3Reliability
If a shaped elastomeric sealing member is pressed into a channel to form radial seals, then effective sealing is achieved, but relatively large force is required to deform the sealing member
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin elastomeric sealing member (0.020-0.060 inches thick) that acts as a flexible film. This thin flexible construction allows the seal to deform easily into the sealing channel with minimal force while maintaining reliable sealing contact, eliminating the need for large deformation forces required by thicker shaped seals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from using thick, three-dimensionally shaped elastomeric seals to a thin, two-dimensional elastomeric film. This dimensional reduction allows the seal to conform to the sealing surface with minimal force while maintaining effective sealing, as the thin profile can flex and adapt more easily than bulky shaped seals.
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 enables effective sealing with reduced force requirements, allowing for the use of less robust latching mechanisms and smaller latches, making it suitable for re-enterable enclosures without compromising the seal's integrity.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric sealing member that undergoes a trampoline effect when deformed to a sealing configuration
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A sealing interface (26) that utilizes an elastomeric sealing member (28) is disclosed herein. The sealing interface (26) is configured to provide effective sealing while requiring only relatively low amounts of force to deform the elastomeric sealing member (28) sufficiently to form an effective seal.