Membrane Vent Structure With Adhesive Sealing for Leak Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ventilation components using O-rings as sealing members face limitations in reliability due to restricted contact area and potential leakage issues, especially on rough surfaces, and require additional components like washers for enhanced sealing.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation component with a gas-permeable membrane and a sealing member, which includes pressure-sensitive adhesive or adhesive, sandwiched between the housing and an annular surface, increasing contact area and eliminating the need for additional components like washers, thereby enhancing sealing reliability and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an O-ring is used as the sealing member, then the sealing function is provided, but the contact area is restricted and leakage may occur on rough surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member material is changed from elastic rubber (O-ring) to adhesive-based materials (pressure-sensitive adhesive, adhesive, or cured product). This parameter change allows the sealing member to increase its contact area with the housing outer surface, conforming to surface irregularities and providing more reliable sealing without requiring a larger component size.
2Reliability
If an O-ring and washer are used for sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function previously requiring two separate components (O-ring and washer) is merged into a single sealing member made of adhesive-based material. This integrated sealing member can provide both the sealing function and the foreign matter prevention function that the washer provided, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining or improving sealing reliability.
3Reliability
If additional components like washers are used, then sealing reliability is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is designed as a single integrated component that combines the sealing function and the foreign matter barrier function. This eliminates the need for separate washer components, reducing the number of assembly steps, lowering manufacturing complexity, and reducing overall component count while maintaining enhanced sealing reliability.
4Reliability
If an O-ring is used as the sealing member, then the sealing function is provided, but additional components like washers are required
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive-based sealing member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the sealing function by conforming to the housing outer surface, and it also serves as a barrier against foreign matter entry. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate washer components, reducing the total number of parts while maintaining comprehensive protection.
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 provides improved reliability and reduced leakage, increased corrosion resistance, and lower manufacturing costs by increasing the contact area between the sealing member and the housing, while simplifying the structure and reducing the need for additional components.
Implementation Method 1
the sealing member includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, an adhesive, and a cured product of an adhesive
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilation component (1a) includes a supporting portion (10), a gas-permeable membrane (20), and a sealing member (30). The supporting portion (10) has a ventilation path (12) and an annular surface (14). When the ventilation component (1a) is attached to a housing (2), the ventilation path (12) extends in a direction perpendicular to an opening plane of an opening (2a), and extends through the supporting portion (10). The annular surface (14) faces an outer surface (2e) of the housing (2), and surrounds the ventilation path (12) in plan view. The gas-permeable membrane (20) closes the ventilation path (12) in a ventilatable manner. The gas-permeable membrane (20) allows a gas to pass therethrough in a thickness direction of the gas-permeable membrane (20). The sealing member (30) is sandwiched between the outer surface (2e) of the housing (2) and the annular surface (14) to seal a gap between the outer surface (2e) of the housing (2) and the annular surface (14). The sealing member (30) includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, an adhesive, and a cured product of an adhesive.