Geodesic Radome Sealant Delivery Device for Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for sealing radome joints are labor-intensive, costly, and prone to leakage due to the difficulty in applying sealant to narrow angles and lack of verification of effectiveness, leading to water ingress.
Innovation Solution
A sealant delivery device with a pre-loaded elastomer support ring and channels, combined with a protective cap that snaps onto the structural disc, ensures consistent sealing by accommodating varying panel angles and heights, using a self-repairing conformal sealant and a siliconized release treated vacuum-formed shell for packaging and deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual sealant application methods are used, then flexibility in application is maintained, but labor intensity increases and sealing reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealant is pre-loaded into the support ring during manufacturing, eliminating the need for manual application at the installation site. This preliminary preparation ensures consistent sealant placement and eliminates variability in manual application techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap structure itself serves as the application mechanism. When the cap is installed, it automatically compresses the support ring and extrudes the sealant into the joint gap, making the sealing process self-executing without requiring separate manual intervention.
2Reliability
If sealant is applied to narrow angles, then sealing coverage is achieved, but application difficulty increases and verification becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomer support ring acts as an intermediary that transforms the sealing action. Instead of directly applying sealant to the narrow angled joint, the compressed ring extrudes sealant in a controlled manner, making the process manageable and verifiable.
Solution Approach 2:
The design provides visual feedback through the extrusion of sealant during cap installation. The sealant emerging from the joint gap confirms proper sealing, allowing immediate verification without requiring specialized inspection equipment or disassembly.
3Manufacturing precision
If consistent sealing is required for varying panel angles, then sealing quality improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomer support ring is designed to be dynamically adaptable to varying panel angles and heights. The flexible material deforms to accommodate different geometries while maintaining sealing pressure, eliminating the need for multiple specialized components for different configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The support ring structure serves multiple functions: it holds the sealant, provides structural support, adapts to varying angles, and acts as a sealing element itself. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components.
4Productivity
If traditional sealant application is used, then material usage is flexible, but installation time increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealant is pre-measured and pre-loaded into the support ring during manufacturing. This eliminates the need for on-site measurement and application, significantly reducing installation time while ensuring consistent, optimized material usage without waste.
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 reduces installation time and cost while providing a reliable, long-lasting seal that deflects wind and rain, ensuring effective water exclusion and improved durability of radome joints.
Implementation Method 1
When bolts are fitted and tightened down, the delivery device is squeezed flat, extruding sealant load onto and into the features of the mating parts
Implementation Method 2
a pre-dosed sealant ring (52) made from a low durometer elastomer that collapses when the outer cap (56) is installed
Implementation Method 3
high performance self-repairing conformal sealant
Data Source
AI summary
A cluster cap sealing mechanism and method for a Geodesic construction. A packaging for a sealant placed in a ring wherein the ring is a sealant delivery device for providing a predetermined volume of sealant to the joints of the Geodesic construction.