Hygienic Display Unit Sealing for Process Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing measuring devices in process and automation technology often have display units with gaps that can harbor dirt and hinder effective cleaning, particularly in hygienic environments like pharmaceutical or food industries.
Innovation Solution
A display unit with a sealing element featuring a bead-like main part and a seal lip, arranged in a peripheral recess of the front panel, which provides a pressing function and a radial sealing effect, ensuring a gap-free and hygienic interface between the housing and the front panel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing element is arranged between the housing and the front panel, then sealing function is improved, but gaps may still remain that can harbor dirt and hinder cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is divided into two distinct functional parts: a bead-like main part that provides pressing function to secure the front panel, and a seal lip that extends into the free space to provide radial sealing. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its specific function while together they eliminate gaps that could harbor dirt.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal lip extends radially outward from the front panel into the free space between the housing and front panel, creating a sealing surface that contacts the housing in a different dimensional orientation. This radial extension ensures complete gap closure from multiple angles, preventing dirt accumulation while maintaining effective sealing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the seal lip extends into the free space between housing and front panel, then gap-free sealing is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element combines multiple functions into a single integrated component: the bead-like main part provides pressing function to secure the front panel, while the seal lip provides radial sealing. By merging these functions into one element rather than using separate components, the overall structure remains relatively simple while achieving gap-free sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it secures the front panel through the pressing function of the bead-like main part, provides radial sealing through the seal lip, and eliminates gaps that could harbor dirt. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, maintaining structural simplicity while achieving comprehensive sealing.
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 achieves a reliable, gap-free sealing that facilitates easy and thorough cleaning, enhancing hygiene standards in process and automation technology applications.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing element, in particular made of an elastomer, is arranged between the housing and the front panel
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a display unit for a measuring device, comprising a housing (10) with an opening (11) for a display (2). The display (2) is covered by a front panel (20), and a molded seal (30) with a bead-type main part (31) and a seal lip (32) is arranged between the housing (10) and the front panel (20), said seal lip being formed by two limbs which are arranged at an angle to each other and having a shape which complements the contour of the recess of the front panel (20). The bead-type main part (31) is arranged between the inner face of the housing (10) and the front panel (20) in order to achieve a pressing or holding function for the front panel (20), and the seal lip (32) extends into the free area (3) between the housing (10) and the front panel (20) in order to achieve a radial seal effect, wherein the front panel (20) is set back relative to the surface of the housing (10), and the housing (10) inner edge which covers the recess (21) of the front panel (20) has an embossed section (12) in the vertical direction of the front panel (20).