Food-Grade Rubber Seal Profile to Prevent Bolt-Area Bacteria Traps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rubber seals in food applications are prone to differential deformation and crack formation around clamping bolts, creating bacteria traps that are difficult to clean and pose hygiene risks, with existing solutions being either costly or ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A specialized rubber profile with varying cross-sections along the perimeter of the housing element, featuring a larger cross-section around stressed areas like clamping bolts and a smaller cross-section elsewhere, with a transitional design to ensure uniform deformation and prevent bacteria traps, utilizing a rubber with 70 Shore A hardness for enhanced durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional O-ring or rubber seal is used along the whole base perimeter, then sealing coverage is improved, but differential deformation occurs around clamping bolts creating cracks and bacteria traps
Solution Approach 1:
The rubber seal profile varies locally along the perimeter: it has a first profile section with greater cross-sectional dimensions in areas remote from clamping bolts, and a second profile section with smaller cross-sectional dimensions adjacent to clamping bolts. This local variation optimizes sealing pressure distribution and prevents differential deformation that causes cracks and bacteria traps.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the rubber seal by defining two distinct profile sections with different cross-sectional dimensions. The transition between these sections creates a gradual variation in sealing pressure, preventing stress concentration and differential deformation around clamping bolts while maintaining effective sealing coverage.
2Strength
If a composite and completely filled base is used instead of cavities, then structural strength is improved, but cost becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The rubber seal is designed with locally optimized properties: softer material or larger cross-section in areas requiring compliance (remote from bolts) and smaller cross-section near bolts where precise positioning is needed. This localized differentiation achieves effective sealing without requiring expensive composite-filled bases throughout the entire structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If the rubber seal has uniform cross-section along the perimeter, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but differential deformation occurs under varying load conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The rubber seal incorporates two distinct profile sections with different cross-sectional dimensions optimized for their specific locations: the first section with greater dimensions provides compliance and sealing pressure in areas remote from clamping bolts, while the second section with smaller dimensions provides precise positioning adjacent to bolts. This local differentiation maintains manufacturing feasibility while eliminating differential deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention varies the geometric parameters of the rubber seal along its perimeter, creating a transition between two profile sections. This parameter variation compensates for the non-uniform stress distribution caused by clamping bolts, ensuring reliable sealing performance under varying load conditions while remaining manufacturable.
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 achieves virtually uniform rubber deformation across the perimeter, preventing bacteria traps while maintaining hygiene standards and avoiding adverse effects on clamping torque, as confirmed by theoretical and experimental evidence.
Implementation Method 1
the rubber was deformed in a differential way
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing system for food applications that provides a housing element with two or more bolts and respective holes for clamping. A flanged element is clamped to a frame of a machine, and a rubber seal placed along the base perimeter of the housing element. The seal includes a first portion of the rubber profile placed in the areas distant from the holes and a second portion of the rubber profile adjacent to the holes. The rubber profile of the second portion has a larger cross section than that of the first portion, such that the deformations of the rubber profile are made virtually uniform to prevent the formation of fractures, and therefore of bacteria traps, in the rubber.