Injection Mold Segmentation for Closable Fluid Connection Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection-molding molds for creating closable fluid connections face issues such as high injection pressure, stress formation, and difficulty in achieving a reliable seal due to the narrow annular gap between the stopper and female element, which affects dimensional accuracy and sealing performance.
Innovation Solution
The design of a mold with separate cavities for the stopper and female element, using distinct runners for each, allowing for the injection of different plastics materials with varying hardness, and incorporating hook members with specific engagement surfaces to optimize the sealing action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a narrow annular gap is used to connect the mould cavities for the stopper and female element, then an integral film joint is formed between the two components, but high injection pressure is required and stress formation occurs affecting dimensional accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the mould cavity system into separate cavities for the stopper and female element, eliminating the narrow annular gap connection. This segmentation allows independent filling of each cavity without the pressure losses and stress concentrations that occur in connected cavities, thereby maintaining dimensional accuracy while still achieving reliable sealing through the designed engagement surfaces and hook members.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a sealing surface on the core that mediates between the separate mould cavities. This intermediary sealing mechanism allows the cavities to be completely separate (avoiding the narrow gap problems) while still ensuring proper sealing and connection between the stopper and female element through the defined engagement surfaces.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the mould cavities are completely separate with distinct runners, then different plastics materials with varying hardness can be injected, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mould is segmented into separate cavities with distinct runners, allowing different plastics materials to be injected into each cavity. This segmentation provides the versatility to select appropriate materials with varying hardness for the stopper and female element, optimizing their functional performance while maintaining a relatively simple overall mould structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The separate cavity design with distinct runners provides multi-functionality, enabling the mould to accommodate different materials and potentially different product configurations. This universal approach allows the same mould structure to produce assemblies with optimized material properties for different applications.
3Productivity
If the stopper is clamped onto the core head and pulled into the seat, then the assembly is formed, but the integral film joint tears and the process requires precise timing
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the mould cavities completely, the invention eliminates the integral film joint that is prone to tearing. The separate cavities allow the stopper and female element to be formed independently and then joined through their designed engagement surfaces and hook members, which provide more reliable mechanical connections compared to the thin film joint in the connected cavity design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the fragile integral film joint with a more robust mechanical connection system using engagement surfaces and hook members. This substitution creates a durable connection that can withstand the assembly process and final product requirements, eliminating the reliability issues associated with tearing film joints.
Data Source
AI summary
A mould and method for the injection-moulding of an assembly for creating a closable fluid connection, and an assembly. The assembly comprises a female element (20) and a stopper (30) which is used to close off a bore (27) in the female element (20). The mould comprises a core with a core (2) with a core body (3) and a head (4). Furthermore, the mould comprises a mould ring which is composed of a plurality of mould parts (10, 11) are designed in such a manner that the mould cavity for the stopper (30), is located at a distance from the mould cavity for the female element (20). The mould parts (10, 11) of the mould ring which lie around the core (2) together delimit an annular sealing surface (15), by means of which the mould ring, in a zone between the mould cavity for the stopper (30) and the mould cavity for the female element (20), bears in a sealing manner against the core (2) during the injection moulding, so that the mould cavities are completely separated from one another.