Integrated Seal Filter Press Plate Eliminating Groove Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Filter press systems in industries like food and pharmacy face contamination issues due to products being pressed into seal grooves, leading to reduced seal effectiveness and frequent, costly cleaning needs.
Innovation Solution
A plate component with a firmly integrated seal made from a different thermoplastic material, eliminating grooves and providing an escape volume to distribute pressure, ensuring a continuous, contamination-free surface for enhanced sealing without gaps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seals are installed in grooves on filter plates, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but contamination occurs when products are pressed into the grooves
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the groove structure from the filter plate design. Instead of placing seals within grooves, the seals are now integrated directly into the plate component without any groove structures, thereby removing the source of contamination while maintaining sealing functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The seal and plate component are merged into a single integral structure. The seal is firmly connected to the plate component, forming an integrated system where the seal extends from the contact surface into the plate volume, eliminating the need for separate groove installations and reducing contamination risk
2Reliability
If seals are installed in grooves, then sealing is achieved, but regular cleaning and seal removal are required
Solution Approach 1:
The seal and plate component are merged into a single integral structure through firm connection, eliminating the need for separate installation and removal operations. This integration allows the seal to remain in place during cleaning operations, reducing maintenance downtime
Solution Approach 2:
The integral design allows the filter press system to be cleaned without removing the seal, enabling the sealing system to serve itself during maintenance operations. The seal remains functional while the surrounding surfaces are cleaned, eliminating the need for specialized seal removal and reinstallation procedures
3Reliability
If seals are installed in grooves, then sealing is provided, but cleaning the grooves is expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure is completely extracted from the design, eliminating the complex cleaning operations required for groove maintenance. Without grooves, standard cleaning procedures can be applied to the entire surface without requiring specialized tools or procedures for confined spaces
Solution Approach 2:
The integral seal design simplifies the overall system structure, reducing the need for expensive specialized cleaning equipment and procedures. The simplified geometry allows for more economical cleaning operations while maintaining sealing effectiveness
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a continuous surface is provided without grooves, then contamination is prevented, but seal integration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal and plate component are merged into a single integrated unit with the seal firmly connected to the plate. This integration achieves the continuous surface goal while managing complexity through unified manufacturing processes for the combined structure
Solution Approach 2:
The plate component and seal are made from different thermoplastic materials with different elastic moduli, creating a composite structure that achieves both the continuous surface requirement and manageable integration complexity through material property optimization
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
This configuration provides a reliable, low-maintenance, and cost-effective sealing system with extended seal life and improved sealing efficiency by preventing contamination and distributing pressure effectively.
Implementation Method 1
an escape volume is provided into which material of the seal can at least partially move if pressure is applied to the seal by a second component of a filter press system
Implementation Method 2
the material of the seal shifts at least partially in a direction parallel to the contact surface and towards the chamber area
Data Source
Figure 1~2.
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a plate component for a filter press system made of a first thermoplastic material having at least one seal made of a second thermoplastic material for sealing a pressure-loaded chamber area, wherein the seal is fixedly connected to the plate component, and wherein the second thermoplastic material preferably has a different elasticity module, particularly a lower elasticity module, than the first thermoplastic material. The seal is provided, at least partially, in an area of a contact surface of the plate component for attaching the plate component to a further component of the filter press system, and extends, at least in part, into the plate component in a direction that is vertical to the contact surface.