MEMS Sensor Sealing Assembly With Mechanical Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pressure sensors in vehicle air conditioning systems face challenges in achieving a tight and reliable seal between the sensor element and the refrigerant medium, often relying on oil reservoirs for protection, which can lead to less-than-ideal sealing due to limited installation space and additional sealing processes.
Innovation Solution
A sealing device with a mechanical clamping mechanism using a channel and sealing element, where the channel and sealing element are designed for a form-fit connection, allowing for a tight and reliable seal, even in confined spaces, by utilizing a metal sealing element and a plastic channel with a recess and funnel-shaped insertion chamfer for easy insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pure pressing-in of sealing element is used, then installation space is saved, but sealing tightness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure is segmented into distinct functional components: a sealing element for creating the seal and a clamping element for applying and maintaining clamping force. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the sealing element focused on tightness and the clamping element on force application, resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping element is pre-configured with clamping arms that are biased in a clamped state, ready to immediately engage and secure the sealing element when activated. This preliminary preparation of the clamping mechanism ensures that the sealing element is quickly and reliably secured without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms, thereby improving sealing tightness while managing structural complexity.
2Reliability
If additional sealing processes are added, then sealing tightness is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing and clamping functions are merged into a single integrated assembly operation. The clamping element is designed to work in conjunction with the sealing element as a unified system, where the clamping arms directly secure the sealing element in place. This merging eliminates the need for separate sealing processes (such as welding, adhesive bonding, or additional fastening steps), thereby achieving high sealing tightness while maintaining manufacturing simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
3Reliability
If mechanical clamping with form fit is used, then sealing reliability is improved, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping element features localized clamping arms that apply force specifically at critical sealing points, rather than requiring uniform clamping across the entire assembly. The form-fit connection is designed with specific geometric features (such as tapered surfaces or complementary shapes) at the interface between the sealing element and clamping arms. This localized approach ensures reliable and permanent sealing at key locations while simplifying the overall insertion process, as only precise local engagement is required rather than complex global alignment.
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 solution provides a simple, cost-effective, and extremely tight seal, ensuring a reliable and permanent closure of spaces filled with different fluids, enhancing the sealing performance beyond conventional methods by allowing for elastic deformation and form-fit fixation.
Implementation Method 1
The channel and the sealing element are designed in such a way that the sealing element is sealingly fixed in the channel via a mechanical clamping... allowing for elastic deformation and form-fit fixation
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing device for sealing a space filled with a fluid in a MEMS sensor system. The sealing device includes a sealing unit, the sealing unit encompassing a channel, which is connected to the one space, and a sealing element for sealing the channel being situated in the channel in such a way that the channel and/or the sealing element are/is designed in such a way that the sealing element is sealingly fixed in the channel via a mechanical clamping.