Moisture Control Module Heat Shrinkage Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional moisture control modules for gas analyzers suffer from air leakage and production defects due to fraying of braid fibers and loose pipe insertion in hollow fibers, making them difficult to produce and prone to molding defects.
Innovation Solution
A moisture control module is created by heating the braid fiber and hollow fiber at a prescribed temperature to fuse the braid fiber and fix the hollow fiber to a pipe via heat shrinkage, preventing fraying and ensuring a secure, air-tight seal, using a process involving a heater press with a flared hole to facilitate fusion and shrinkage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the end of the braid fiber is left non-treated, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the fiber frays when touched causing molding defects
Solution Approach 1:
The braid fiber end is pre-treated by heat fusion before the molding process to prevent fraying during subsequent handling and molding operations
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical fraying prevention method (such as coating or binding) is replaced by thermal fusion method, where heat is applied to melt and bond the fiber ends together
2Ease of manufacture
If a space exists between the pipe and hollow fiber, then the assembly is easy to manufacture, but air leakage occurs leading to production defects
Solution Approach 1:
The physical state of the hollow fiber is changed by applying heat, causing it to shrink and close the gap between the pipe and hollow fiber, achieving air tightness
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow fiber undergoes thermal contraction when heated, reducing its diameter to eliminate the space between itself and the pipe, thereby preventing air leakage
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 effectively prevents fraying of braid fibers and ensures a secure, air-tight seal, simplifying production and improving the quality of the moisture control module by eliminating air leakage and molding defects.
Implementation Method 1
the braid fiber and the hollow fiber in a region with a prescribed length from the end have been heated at a prescribed temperature from outside, whereby by such heating, with respect to the braid fiber, fraying can be prevented by fusion
Implementation Method 2
with respect to the hollow fiber, it is possible to fix it to the pipe by head shrinkage
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a moisture control module which has a function to reduce or increase moisture in a gas permitted to flow in a hollow fiber and which is substantially free from air leakage and easy to produce; a process for producing such a moisture control module; and an apparatus for producing such a moisture control module. A moisture control module comprising a tubular hollow fiber 1, a braid fiber 3 plaited into a braid to cover the exterior of the hollow fiber 1, and a pipe 5 inserted in an end of the hollow fiber 1, wherein as the hollow fiber 1 and the braid fiber 3 present in a region with a prescribed length from said end have been heated at a prescribed temperature from outside, the braid fiber 3 is fused, and at the same time, the hollow fiber 1 is fixed by heat shrinkage to the pipe 5.