Servicable Gladhand Filter Seal Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gladhand assemblies lack an effective seal and filter system that can prevent debris from entering the air brake system and are difficult to clean during servicing.
Innovation Solution
A gladhand assembly design featuring a port with a filter member and a seal member, where the filter member includes a metallic mesh filter with a cylindrical shape and a re-closable aperture, and the seal member has a dome-shaped top surface and a flat bottom surface to ensure a durable and easy-to-clean air seal, preventing debris ingress while maintaining airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional seal and filter basket system is used in gladhand assemblies, then the structure is simple, but the seal effectiveness is insufficient and debris can enter the air brake system
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is divided into multiple functional segments: a seal portion with lip for engaging the port opening, a filter portion with mesh structure, and a support portion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall system reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member combines different material properties in a single component: the seal lip uses elastomeric material for sealing, the filter portion uses mesh structure for filtration, and the support portion provides structural integrity. This composite approach improves seal effectiveness while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate components.
2Ease of repair
If a traditional filter basket is used, then the structure is simple, but it is difficult to clean during servicing
Solution Approach 1:
The filter system is segmented into a removable filter member that can be easily extracted from the port for cleaning or replacement. The filter member includes a mesh structure that captures debris while allowing airflow, and its modular design enables easy maintenance without disassembling the entire gladhand assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter member is designed to be extractable from the port opening, allowing it to be removed for cleaning or replacement during servicing. This extraction capability significantly improves maintainability while the filter member itself remains a relatively simple mesh structure that does not add excessive complexity to the overall system.
3Reliability
If a re-closable aperture film is used in the seal member, then debris prevention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The film with re-closable aperture is integrated into the seal member, combining the sealing function, filtration function, and debris prevention function into a single component. This merging approach improves debris prevention capability while avoiding the complexity of adding separate components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible film with re-closable aperture is incorporated into the seal member to provide an additional barrier against debris. The film's flexibility allows it to conform to the port opening while the re-closable aperture provides enhanced debris prevention. This thin film addition improves reliability without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
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 design provides a more effective seal and filtration system that prevents debris from entering the air brake system, is easier to clean, and maintains airflow, improving the durability and reliability of the gladhand assemblies.
Implementation Method 1
The filter member includes at least one sidewall and a first opening at a first end of the filter member including a rim
Implementation Method 2
The film includes a re-closable aperture
Data Source
AI summary
A gladhand assembly having a conduit for carrying a fluid and a port having a sidewall defining an interior region. The port also having a first opening in communication with an external environment and a second opening in communication with the conduit. The port includes a first recess in the interior region and disposed in the sidewall. There is a filter member including a sidewall and a first opening including a rim. The rim extends outwardly from the sidewall in a radial direction and is seated on the first recess in the sidewall of the port. There is a seal member configured to engage with and close the first opening in the port and the seal member includes a film having a first surface facing the external environment and a second surface facing the interior region of the port. The film includes a re-closable aperture.