Seal Device Rapid Thermal Cycling via Passage Switch Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seal devices with a pair of pressing parts that sandwich and press an object to provide a seal face inefficiencies due to displacement issues in the sealed portion, leading to an insufficient seal until the molten portion cures, which slows processing and increases device size.
Innovation Solution
A seal device with a passage switch unit that alternates between heating and cooling mediums to rapidly heat and cool the pressing parts, ensuring efficient sealing by utilizing a configuration where the pressing parts protrude from the sealing unit body with decreasing thickness towards the ends, and using compressed gas to prevent liquid condensation and enhance heat exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the object is retained after sealing until the molten sealed portion cures, then the seal quality is improved, but the processing speed decreases and the device scale increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing rapid alternating heating and cooling cycles through the passage switch unit. The pressing part undergoes quick temperature changes: heated to melt the sealed portion, then rapidly cooled to cure it. This periodic thermal action eliminates the need for prolonged retention, achieving both high seal quality and fast processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of the sealing material by heating it to a molten state for sealing, then rapidly cooling it to cure. The passage switch unit enables controlled phase change from solid to molten and back to solid, ensuring proper seal formation without requiring extended retention time, thus resolving the contradiction between seal quality and processing speed.
2Temperature
If heating medium is sent to the communication part, then the pressing part is heated for sealing, but liquid condensation may occur causing heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
The passage switch unit performs preliminary action by switching to the compressed gas passage portion before sending the heating medium. This pre-drying action removes liquid condensation from the communication part, preventing heat loss when the heating medium is subsequently introduced, and ensuring efficient heat transfer to the pressing part.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses compressed gas as an intermediary substance to prepare the communication part before introducing the heating medium. The compressed gas acts as a mediator that removes liquid condensation, creating optimal conditions for subsequent heat transfer and preventing energy loss from heat conduction to liquid.
3Device complexity
If the pressing part protrudes uniformly from the sealing unit body, then the structure is simple, but the end portions of the sealed portion are prone to tearing
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing part applies local quality by having different protruding amounts at different locations. The side portions protrude more than the end portions, creating varying pressure distribution across the sealed portion. This local variation in geometry ensures that the end portions have increased thickness and are less prone to tearing, while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
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 seal device achieves improved efficiency by ensuring a tight seal is formed quickly, with the molten portion curing promptly, thus increasing processing speed and reducing device size, while preventing heat loss and ensuring effective heat utilization.
Implementation Method 1
the heating medium passage portion is connected with the communication part so as to send the heating medium from the heating medium passage portion to the communication part. Thereby, the pressing part of at least one of the sealing units is heated, and the pair of pressing parts sandwiches and presses the object to provide a seal. At this time, the sealed portion of the object is molten.
Implementation Method 2
the cooling medium passage portion is connected with the communication part so as to send the cooling medium from the cooling medium passage portion to the communication part. Thereby, the pressing part of at least one of the sealing units is cooled, so that the molten sealed portion cures.
Implementation Method 3
the medium passage includes a compressed gas passage portion for sending a compressed gas to the communication part, and the passage switch unit is switched over to send the compressed gas to the communication part before the heating medium is sent to the communication part. Therefore, when the heating medium is sent to the communication part, any liquid (such as condensate liquid of the heating medium, or cooling medium, for example) is prevented from remaining inside the communication part.
Data Source
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AI summary
This seal device is provided with a medium path portion for sending a heat medium to a seal unit, and the medium path portion has a heating medium path portion for sending a heating medium to a circulation portion in order to heat a crimped part, a cooling medium path portion for sending a cooling medium to the circulation portion in order to cool the crimped part, and a path switching unit which switches between a state in which the heating medium path portion and the circulation portion are in communication and a state in which the cooling medium path portion and the circulation portion are in communication.