Radial Seal Sensor Mounting Without Adhesive Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensors for measuring fluid pressure are difficult and inefficient to produce, requiring substantial time, manufacturing steps, and materials, and often lack effective secure connection mechanisms with their housings.
Innovation Solution
A radial seal mechanism for non-adhesive coupling of sensors, featuring a sensor on a substrate with an engagement member including a generally columnar sealing member that engages an inner cylindrical surface of a receiving tube, providing a secure and efficient connection without adhesives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive-based coupling methods are used to attach sensors to housings, then secure connection is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhesive layer from the sensor assembly, extracting the problematic intermediate material that caused manufacturing complexity. The sensor is directly coupled to the housing through a recess and interference-fit mechanism, eliminating adhesive application, curing time, and associated quality control steps while maintaining secure connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding mechanism (adhesive) with a mechanical coupling system consisting of a recess in the housing and an interference-fit interface between the sensor mounting structure and housing. This mechanical system provides secure attachment without the complexities of adhesive materials, application processes, and curing requirements.
2Productivity
If conventional sensor manufacturing processes are used, then functional sensors are produced, but production time and material consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sensor mounting structure with the housing by integrating the recess directly into the housing structure during housing manufacturing. This eliminates separate mounting operations, reduces assembly steps, and decreases production time while maintaining secure sensor attachment and functional performance.
3Reliability
If adhesive-based solutions are used for sensor coupling, then secure attachment is achieved, but material costs and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the adhesive material from the coupling system, replacing it with a mechanical interference-fit mechanism. This removes the need for adhesive materials entirely, reducing material costs, eliminating waste from adhesive containers and applicators, and reducing environmental impact from adhesive production and disposal.
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 radial seal mechanism enhances manufacturability, ensures secure attachment of sensors within housings, and withstands the loads required for pressure sensors, while avoiding the complexities and costs associated with adhesive-based solutions.
Implementation Method 1
The generally columnar sealing member is configured to receive one or more media in the axial bore. The one or more media may include any suitable sealing gel or other such material, such as a silicone-containing gel, room temperature vulcanizing rubber, and the like. The sensor is configured to detect a force applied to the media at or proximate the distal end.
Data Source
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Figure 2B
AI summary
Various embodiments described herein relate to apparatuses and methods associated with fluid pressure sensor systems and sealing members for the same. The sensing apparatus can include a sensor (312) disposed on a substrate (310) and an engagement member including a generally columnar sealing member (314) configured to engage an inner cylindrical surface of a receiving tube (322) within the housing (320) connected to the substrate about the sensor. The sealing member can define an axial bore extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and one or more media can be disposed in the axial bore such that the sensor can detect a force applied to the media. The sealing member can include an outer sealing surface defining one or more engaging elements (3147, 3151) extending circumferentially about the sealing member, the one or more engaging elements configured to non-adhesively engage the inner cylindrical surface of the receiving tube to resist removal of the sensor assembly.