Retainer plate with a seal element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retainer plates for vacuum cleaner filter bags often experience leakage due to insufficient elasticity of seal elements, which fail to ensure a reliable seal during operation.
Innovation Solution
A retainer plate with a seal element comprising an extruded film made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) that is thinner and more elastic than traditional injection-molded sealing lips, allowing for a reliable seal by projecting over the passage opening and being connected to the base plate via welding or a nonwoven fabric layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional injection-molded sealing lips are used, then the seal element can be formed with sufficient structural strength, but the elasticity is insufficient to ensure a reliable seal during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by switching from thermoplastic materials to thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), which possess both the necessary structural strength and superior elasticity. This material parameter change enables the seal element to reliably seal nozzles of different diameters while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite construction by combining the base plate (made of rigid material for structural support) with a seal element (made of elastic TPE material). This composite approach allows each component to fulfill its specific function: the base plate provides structural integrity while the TPE seal element provides the necessary elasticity and sealing performance.
2Strength
If molded-on TPE sealing lips are used, then the seal element has sufficient elasticity, but the film thickness cannot be reduced significantly due to injection-molding process limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the injection-molding process with an extrusion process for manufacturing the seal element. This substitution of manufacturing methodology enables the production of thin-walled TPE profiles that would be impossible to produce via injection molding, as extrusion can reliably create flat and elongated cavities with consistent thin walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the manufacturing process parameters by transitioning from injection molding to extrusion. This process parameter change allows for significant reduction in wall thickness while maintaining the elastic properties of TPE, enabling thin seal elements that can reliably seal various nozzle diameters.
3Reliability
If the seal element is made thinner to improve sealing contact, then the sealing performance improves, but the structural strength and reliability of the seal element decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material strategy by using TPE, which combines the elasticity needed for thin-profile sealing with sufficient structural strength. The inherent properties of TPE allow the seal element to maintain both thin dimensions for improved sealing contact and adequate mechanical strength for reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material composition parameter by selecting TPE with specific elastomeric properties that provide the optimal balance between thin-wall feasibility and structural strength. This material parameter selection enables the seal element to be made thinner while maintaining sufficient strength through the inherent viscoelastic properties of TPE.
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 extruded film seal element provides a reliable sealing effect, preventing leakage and ensuring proper operation by adapting to different nozzle diameters and reducing static friction, thus enhancing the sealing performance.
Implementation Method 1
the elasticity of the seal elements used is often insufficient to ensure a sufficient sealing effect... The seal element comprises at least one extruded film made of a thermoplastic elastomer, TPE
Implementation Method 2
The seal element thus forms a sealing lip for the passage opening of the base plate. This allows a vacuum cleaner nozzle which is inserted into the passage opening to come into contact with the seal element
Implementation Method 3
reducing static friction, thus enhancing the sealing performance
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a retainer plate for a vacuum cleaner filter bag, comprising a base plate in which a passage opening is formed, and a sealing element which is arranged at the edge of the passage opening, wherein the sealing element comprises at least one extruded film made of a thermoplastic elastomer, TPE.