Exhaust Treatment Unit Sealing Assembly for Error-Proof Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exhaust systems for internal combustion engines face challenges in providing access to exhaust gas treatment units while maintaining a gas-tight seal, and there is a risk of incorrectly assigning sealing elements during assembly.
Innovation Solution
The exhaust system design includes ring-like sealing surfaces and identical sealing elements that clamp onto the exhaust gas treatment unit and support structure, ensuring a gas-tight seal and simplifying assembly by eliminating the risk of incorrect assignment, with features like internal and external clamping sections and curved sealing surfaces for centering and compensation of dimensional inaccuracies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing elements are used between sealing surfaces to ensure gas-tight seal, then sealing reliability is improved, but assembly complexity increases due to risk of incorrect assignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by making the first and second sealing elements identical in construction. Both sealing elements have the same corrugated structure, dimensions, and material properties, eliminating the need for differentiation during assembly. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable sealing while simplifying assembly operations, as workers no longer need to distinguish between different sealing element types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the exhaust gas treatment unit into a modular design with separate sealing elements positioned at different locations (first sealing element between support structure and treatment unit, second sealing element between treatment unit and closing element). This segmentation allows each sealing element to be independently installed and replaced, simplifying maintenance while ensuring gas-tight seals at each interface.
2Ease of repair
If access to exhaust gas treatment unit is enabled by removable closing element, then ease of maintenance is improved, but sealing reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the second sealing element between the exhaust gas treatment unit and the closing element during assembly. This sealing element is installed in advance to ensure that when the closing element is later removed for maintenance access, the sealing integrity is already established. The sealing element remains in place during maintenance operations, preserving gas-tight seals while enabling easy access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by designing a modular assembly where the closing element can be dynamically removed and reinstalled while maintaining sealing integrity through the second sealing element. The sealing element accommodates the dynamic nature of assembly/disassembly operations, ensuring gas-tight seals are maintained throughout the maintenance cycle without compromising reliability.
3Ease of operation
If identical sealing elements are used for both sealing positions, then ease of assembly is improved, but sealing precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by designing the sealing surfaces with complementary geometries that adapt to the identical sealing elements. The first and second sealing surfaces are configured with specific profiles, tolerances, and surface finishes that ensure proper sealing when contacted by the identical corrugated sealing elements. This allows identical components to achieve precise sealing through carefully controlled surface parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curvature in the design of the sealing surfaces, which are configured with rounded profiles and complementary curved geometries. This curvature allows the identical corrugated sealing elements to conform to the sealing surfaces during assembly, ensuring gas-tight seals are achieved despite the simplicity of using identical components. The curved surfaces facilitate proper contact and deformation of the sealing elements for precise sealing.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, comprising an exhaust treatment unit (12) supported on a support structure (34) and elongated in the direction of an exhaust treatment unit longitudinal axis (A), wherein: - a receiving opening (20) with an opening center axis (O) for receiving the exhaust treatment unit (12) in the support structure (34) and a first sealing surface (28) surrounding the opening center axis (O) in an annular manner are provided on the support structure (34), - a second sealing surface (42) surrounding the exhaust treatment unit longitudinal axis (A) in an annular manner is provided on the exhaust treatment unit (12), wherein, when the exhaust treatment unit (12) is received in the support structure (34), the second sealing surface (42) is opposite the first sealing surface (28), - a third sealing surface (44) surrounding the exhaust treatment unit longitudinal axis (A) in an annular manner is provided on the exhaust treatment unit (12).- a closing element (48) which can be fixed to the support structure (34) together with the exhaust gas treatment unit (12) and which has an annular fourth sealing surface (50), wherein, when the closing element (48) is fixed to the support structure (34) together with the exhaust gas treatment unit (12), the fourth sealing surface (50) is opposite the third sealing surface (44), is characterized in that a first sealing element (52) is arranged between the first sealing surface (28) and the second sealing surface (42), that a second sealing element (54) is arranged between the third sealing surface (44) and the fourth sealing surface (50), and that the first sealing element (52) and the second sealing element (54) are identical in construction.