Multilayered Elastomeric Foam Seal Structure for Thick, Strong Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealants for aircraft interfaces face challenges in providing durability, chemical resistance, and conformability while requiring complex installation procedures, and traditional designs suffer from deficiencies in thickness and mechanical strength.
Innovation Solution
A multilayered supported elastomeric foam comprising multiple foamed regions separated by reinforcement layers with interconnected porous networks imbibed with elastomer, which enhances mechanical strength and resistance to fluid penetration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the thickness of the seal is increased to meet mechanical interface requirements, then the sealing capability is improved, but the mechanical strength and structural integrity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into multiple discrete layers (foamed elastomer layers and reinforcement layers) stacked together. This segmentation allows the thick seal to maintain strength by distributing mechanical loads across multiple interfaces and preventing stress concentration that would occur in a single homogeneous thick layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal combines dissimilar materials (foamed elastomer and reinforcement material) into a composite structure. The foamed elastomer provides sealing conformability while the reinforcement material provides mechanical strength, allowing the thick seal to achieve both sealing capability and structural integrity simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If liquid sealant is used to conform to interface geometries, then the adaptability to various interface profiles is improved, but the installation complexity and curing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seal transitions from a liquid state requiring curing to a pre-formed solid elastomeric foam. This parameter change eliminates the curing time and complex mixing/application procedures while maintaining the ability to conform to interfaces through the inherent compressibility and elasticity of the foam material.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal is pre-formed with the desired thickness and structural properties before installation. This preliminary action eliminates the need for on-site mixing, application, and curing operations, significantly reducing installation complexity while the compressible foam structure allows it to adapt to various interface geometries during installation.
3Reliability
If polysulfide liquid sealant is applied to prevent corrosion, then the chemical resistance is improved, but the installation time and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is pre-formed with corrosion-resistant properties before installation. This eliminates the need for on-site application and extended curing time (72+ hours) required by liquid polysulfide sealants, while maintaining equivalent or superior corrosion protection through the inherent chemical resistance of the elastomeric foam material.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid application and chemical curing process is replaced with a mechanical installation process where the pre-formed foam seal is simply compressed into place. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming curing phase while maintaining the corrosion protection function through the material's inherent chemical resistance.
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 multilayered foam structure provides increased thickness and mechanical strength, while maintaining chemical resistance and conformability, allowing for effective sealing in various interface profiles without the need for complex installation.
Implementation Method 1
a reinforcement region, said at least one reinforcement region comprising a porous layer having an interconnected network of pores at least partially imbibed with the elastomer
Data Source
AI summary
A multilayered supported elastomeric foam is disclosed, the multilayered supported elastomeric foam comprising at least two foamed regions, each said foamed regions comprising a plurality of gas filled cells defined by elastomer; and at least one reinforcement region, said at least one reinforcement region comprising a porous layer having an interconnected network of pores at least partially imbibed with the elastomer; and wherein said at least two foamed regions are separated by one or more of said at least one reinforcement region.