Robot Joint Sealing Assembly for Seamless Hygienic Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing structures in robots fail to provide a seamless transition between components, leading to difficulties in cleaning and inability to meet stringent food and drug safety standards due to gaps and corrosion issues.
Innovation Solution
A sealing assembly comprising a housing, flange, and elastic sealing ring with a circumferential coupling section and sealing portion that ensures a seamless transition, enhanced corrosion resistance, and easy cleaning, using materials like PTFE for reduced power loss and improved hygiene protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional radial sealing structure is used, then sealing function is provided, but seamless transition between components is not achieved and cleaning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing assembly is divided into distinct functional segments: a housing with circumferential coupling section, a flange with sealing surface, and an elastic sealing ring with coupling portion and sealing portion. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while collectively achieving both reliable sealing and cleanable surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic sealing ring acts as an intermediary element between the housing and flange, providing the sealing function while its smooth outer surface enables easy cleaning. The sealing ring mediates between the structural components and the hygiene requirements, transferring the sealing function away from the external surfaces.
2Reliability
If traditional sealing structures are used, then sealing is provided, but corrosion resistance is reduced due to gaps and complex structures
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic sealing ring functions as a flexible sealing element that deforms to fill gaps and create effective seals. This flexible membrane approach eliminates the need for complex rigid sealing structures and gaps, providing both sealing function and corrosion resistance through its smooth, continuous surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing, flange, and elastic sealing ring are combined into an integrated sealing assembly where the sealing function is merged with the structural components. The circumferential coupling section and sealing surface work together as a unified system, eliminating separate sealing elements that could create gaps or corrosion points.
3Ease of operation
If seamless transition is achieved, then cleaning becomes easy, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic sealing ring changes its physical parameters (shape, size) through elastic deformation to adapt to variations in manufacturing precision. The elasticity allows the sealing ring to compensate for minor dimensional tolerances in the housing and flange, achieving seamless transition without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic sealing ring provides localized quality enhancement at the sealing interface, where precision is most critical. The smooth outer surface of the sealing ring specifically addresses the cleaning requirement, while its elastic properties locally compensate for manufacturing variations, allowing other parts to have standard tolerances.
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 sealing assembly facilitates easy cleaning, reduces power loss, and enhances corrosion resistance, enabling robots to meet high hygiene and sealing performance requirements for food and drug fields.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic sealing ring comprising: a coupling portion coupled to the circumferential coupling section; and a sealing portion arranged between the housing and the flange with an interference fit
Implementation Method 2
using materials like PTFE for reduced power loss and improved hygiene protection
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A sealing assembly comprises a housing (101) adapted to be arranged on and cover an end of a first component (201) of a robot (200) and comprising a circumferential coupling section (1011), a flange (102) adapted to be arranged on and cover an end of a second component (202) of the robot (200) that is coaxially rotatable relative to the first component (201), and an elastic sealing ring (103) comprising a coupling portion (1031) coupled to the circumferential coupling section (1011), and a sealing portion (1032) arranged between the housing (101) and the flange (102) with an interference fit. The sealing portion (1032) is of a shape to match shapes of the housing (101) and the flange (102) to enable a seamless transition from the housing (101) to the flange (102). A robot comprises at least one joint sealed by the sealing assembly. With the sealing assembly, joints of robots can be cleaned more easily and have higher corrosion resistance. In this way, the robot can be used in food and drug fields, which require high sealing performance and hygiene protection performance.