Lamination Stack Channel Sealing for High-Pressure Coolant Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet metal packages with glued sheet metal parts face challenges in achieving stable pressure resistance and leak-free performance under high hydraulic pressures, which is crucial for fluid cooling applications.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the introduction of a first liquid fluid, such as Silan, into the liquid channel to fill and seal gaps between sheet metal parts, followed by a second liquid fluid with an amino group to create a highly viscous mass for enhanced sealing, is employed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional bonding methods are used for sheet metal parts, then manufacturing is simple, but pressure resistance and leak-free performance are insufficient under high hydraulic pressures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure resistanceVSAvoidsealing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The method introduces sealing agents (silane and amino group-containing fluid) into the fluid channel before final assembly and operation. These agents proactively penetrate and seal potential defect areas between sheet metal parts and adhesive layers, preventing leakage before it occurs under high pressure conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses silane and amino group-containing fluids as intermediary substances that facilitate sealing between sheet metal parts and adhesive layers. These intermediaries chemically react to form highly viscous masses that fill and seal gaps, bridging the interface between dissimilar materials (metal and adhesive) to achieve reliable pressure resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If bonding stability is increased to withstand high pressure, then pressure resistance improves, but manufacturing complexity and process difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleak-free performanceVSAvoidbonding process ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing agents (silane and amino group-containing fluid) are introduced through existing fluid channels and automatically penetrate to defect areas themselves. The silane reacts with moisture or the amino group-containing fluid to form highly viscous sealing masses that self-fill gaps and cracks without requiring external intervention or complex application equipment, simplifying the manufacturing process while achieving reliable sealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If rapid sealing is achieved to maintain productivity, then production speed improves, but sealing quality and reliability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing speedVSAvoidsealing quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes rapid chemical reactions between silane and amino group-containing fluids to achieve quick sealing. The chemical reaction parameters are optimized to produce highly viscous masses rapidly, which then quickly fill and seal gaps between sheet metal parts. This chemical approach enables both rapid sealing (maintaining productivity) and reliable defect coverage (ensuring sealing quality).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 method effectively seals even the smallest spaces between sheet metal parts, enhances pressure resistance, and prevents coolant leakage, making the sheet metal package suitable for high-pressure fluid cooling applications.

Implementation Method 1

Due to its comparatively low surface tension, the pressurized silane can penetrate even the smallest spaces between the sheet metal parts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Implementation Method 2

Due to a chemical reaction between the amino group and the silane, a highly viscous mass can be created at the defect areas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 3

sheet metal parts bonded to one another by at least one adhesive layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4542836A1Lamination stack and method for sealing at least one fluid channel in said lamination stack
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 VOESTALPINE STAHL GMBH
  • EP4542836A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4542836A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4542836A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A sheet metal stack (3) and a method for sealing at least one liquid channel (2) in this sheet metal stack (3) are shown. For high reproducibility, it is proposed that a first liquid fluid (6) comprising silane is introduced into the at least one liquid channel (2), that this first liquid fluid (6) is held in the liquid channel (2) under a first pressure (p1) for a first holding time and is then discharged from the liquid channel (2), in particular by blowing, and subsequently that a second liquid fluid (8) containing at least one amino group is introduced into the at least one liquid channel (2).