Flexible Seal Carriage Assembly for Fast Liquid-Jet Seal Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid jet cutting systems face frequent seal assembly failures and downtime due to short operating life, complex installation processes, and damage during shipping, necessitating improved systems and methods for seal assembly replacement.
Innovation Solution
A seal carriage designed to transport, align, and install seal components efficiently, reducing damage and installation errors by using a deformable body with a flexible region and abutments to maintain component order and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If seal components are shipped separately without a protective structure, then shipping costs and handling complexity are reduced, but the components are damaged during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple seal components (seal, O-ring, backup ring, hoop) and their protective packaging into a single integrated seal carriage assembly. This merging allows the components to be shipped together in a pre-assembled state with built-in protection, eliminating the need for separate packaging while preventing damage during transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where the seal components are positioned within recesses of the carriage body, with the O-ring nested on the seal, the backup ring nested on the O-ring, and the hoop nested on the backup ring. This nesting arrangement protects each component while maintaining a compact shipping configuration.
2Ease of operation
If multiple seal components are installed manually in a complicated process, then installation flexibility is maintained, but installation time and error rate increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assembling all seal components in the correct sequence and orientation on the carriage before shipment. The components are positioned in advance with proper alignment features, so that during installation, the entire assembly can be transferred to the plunger in a single motion without manual assembly steps, significantly reducing installation time and error rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal carriage serves as an intermediary device that holds and positions all seal components during shipping and installation. This intermediary structure ensures proper alignment and sequence of components, allowing for quick and accurate installation by simply transferring the pre-assembled carriage contents to the plunger without requiring manual assembly operations.
3Reliability
If precise grease application is required during installation, then seal assembly performance is optimized, but the installation process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-applying the precise amount of grease to the O-ring during the manufacturing process before the seal components are shipped to the customer. This eliminates the need for the installer to manually measure and apply grease, ensuring optimal seal performance while simplifying the installation process to merely transfer the pre-prepared components to the plunger.
Data Source
AI summary
A disposable seal carriage for use with a liquid jet cutting system can include a body having a first end portion, a longitudinal axis, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion along the longitudinal axis. The first end portion can have a first outer width as measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second end portion can have a second outer width as measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the first outer width can be greater than the second outer width. The seal carriage can further include a flexible region extending through at least a portion of the body along a portion of the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the body includes a plurality of exterior projections positioned between the first and second end portions.