Single-Step Polymer Hose Mixture for Charge Air Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Charge air hoses require multiple materials and manufacturing processes, making production inefficient, and need to be flexible, temperature-resistant, and resistant to aggressive media.

Innovation Solution

A polymer mixture combining fluororubber, active fillers, and thermoplastics, with a compatibility additive, allowing for single-process production of hoses that are flexible, temperature-resistant, and media-resistant.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple materials and manufacturing processes are used for charge air hoses, then the hose can achieve flexibility, temperature resistance, and media resistance, but the production complexity and manufacturing effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature resistance and media resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple materials (fluororubber, thermoplastic, active fillers) into a single polymer mixture that can be processed in one manufacturing step. This merging of materials and processes eliminates the need for separate production and assembly steps while maintaining the required temperature and media resistance properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite polymer mixture containing fluororubber for temperature and media resistance, thermoplastic for structural properties, and active fillers for enhanced performance. This composite approach allows achieving multiple performance requirements simultaneously while enabling single-process manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If multiple materials and assembly steps are used, then the hose can achieve required physical properties, but the production time and manufacturing effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephysical propertiesVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple manufacturing operations into a single extrusion or injection molding process. The polymer mixture containing all necessary components (fluororubber, thermoplastic, active fillers) is processed in one step, eliminating sequential production and assembly operations, thereby significantly improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If a single-process production method is used, then manufacturing effort is reduced, but achieving adequate temperature and media resistance becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesingle-process productionVSAvoidtemperature and media resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs a specifically formulated composite polymer mixture where fluororubber provides temperature and media resistance, thermoplastic contributes structural integrity, and active fillers enhance overall performance. This composite formulation enables single-process manufacturing while maintaining the required resistance properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses compatibility additives as intermediaries to ensure proper mixing and bonding between the fluororubber and thermoplastic components. These additives facilitate the formation of a homogeneous polymer mixture that can be processed in a single step while maintaining the functional properties of each component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If various components are produced and assembled separately, then each component can be optimized, but the overall manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent performanceVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the production of multiple components into a single extrusion or injection molding process. The polymer mixture containing all necessary components is formed in one operation, eliminating the need for separate production and assembly steps, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining component optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables the production of hoses in a single process step with maintained physical properties, providing flexibility, high temperature resistance, and media resistance.

Implementation Method 1

a combination of at least one fluororubber with active fillers and at least one thermoplastic and at least one compatibility additive... is particularly suitable for producing hoses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

the polymer mixture contains at least one fluororubber and at least one active filler and at least one thermoplastic

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReinforcement:

Implementation Method 3

the charge air hose must not only be flexible, but also have particularly good resistance to higher temperatures and / or aggressive media, such as. E. g. acids or fuels

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical resistance:

Data Source

PatentEP3228665B1Polymer mixture and hose, in particular purpose, containing the polymer mixture
Publication Date: 2022.05.11 CONTITECH MGW GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a polymer mixture and a hose, in particular a charge air hose, containing the polymer mixture. The polymer mixture contains at least one fluororubber, at least one active filler, and at least one thermoplastic polymer. This makes it possible to provide a hose that can be manufactured in only one process step and from only one polymer mixture.