Flexible Seal Removal of Viscous Material on Non-Planar Metal Surfaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing viscous materials from non-planar metal surfaces, such as those with curved cross-sectional shapes or surface irregularities, are ineffective due to the rigidity of traditional seals, which fail to conform to the surface topography, leading to incomplete removal of coolants or other applied substances.
Innovation Solution
A system employing a flexible seal with a biasing mechanism, comprising actuators or springs, that can move independently or in concert to conform to the surface topography of the metal article, ensuring complete removal of viscous materials by maintaining contact across the width of the metal article.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rigid seal is used to remove viscous materials, then the seal structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the seal cannot conform to non-planar metal surfaces, resulting in incomplete removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible seal made of elastomeric material that can conform to non-planar metal surfaces. The flexibility allows the seal to adapt to curved cross-sectional shapes and surface irregularities, ensuring complete removal of viscous materials while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the seal from rigid to flexible by selecting elastomeric materials with appropriate durometer values (e.g., 30-90 Shore A). This parameter change enables the seal to deform and conform to varying surface geometries, achieving complete viscous material removal without complex mechanical adjustments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid seal is used, then the device complexity is low, but the seal cannot adapt to varying surface topographies, reducing removal effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible elastomeric seal naturally adapts to varying surface topographies through its inherent flexibility. The seal can conform to different cross-sectional shapes and surface irregularities without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, achieving high adaptability with minimal added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible element that can deform and adapt to different metal article geometries. This dynamic capability allows the seal to maintain effective contact across varying surface topographies while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple.
3Manufacturing precision
If a flexible seal is used to conform to non-planar surfaces, then removal completeness improves, but the seal structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible elastomeric seal that inherently conforms to non-planar surfaces through its material properties. The simplicity of this approach lies in using the material's natural flexibility rather than complex mechanical systems to achieve surface conformity, thus improving removal completeness without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal may incorporate composite material structures, such as elastomeric materials combined with reinforcing fibers or layered constructions, to achieve the desired balance between flexibility for surface conformity and structural integrity. This allows the seal to maintain its conforming capability while managing the complexity through material selection rather than mechanical design.
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 flexible seal effectively removes viscous materials from metal articles with non-planar surfaces by conforming to their shape, ensuring thorough removal without damaging the surface, improving the efficiency of cooling and cleaning processes in metal rolling mills.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible seal with a biasing mechanism, comprising actuators or springs
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided herein are systems and methods for removing a viscous material from a material article. In particular, a viscous material removal system (100) can include a seal (110) and a biasing mechanism (120). The viscous material removal system can also serve as a viscous material containment system. The systems can provide viscous material removal from planar and non-planar articles, as well as articles having surface irregularities or a topography including ridges and valleys. A method for removing viscous materials can include contacting the seal to the material article, maintaining contact of the seal across a width of the material article via the biasing mechanism, and passing the material article over the seal, thus removing the viscous material from the material article.