Sealant Discharge Nozzle Recess Design for Flow Variation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sealant discharge nozzles fail to adequately suppress variations in sealant shape and application amount due to fluctuations in discharge flow rate, particularly when applying sealants to objects with stepped sectional shapes.

Innovation Solution

The sealant discharge nozzle features a leading end portion with a pair of side wall portions and a connecting wall portion forming a first recess, which acts as a fluid reservoir to absorb variations in discharge flow rate, along with a discharge hole opening on the recess side, and a design that includes an inclined surface to ensure even sealant distribution and prevent overflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a conventional sealant discharge nozzle without a fluid reservoir is used, then the structure is simple, but the variation in discharge flow rate causes variation in sealant shape and application amount

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistency of sealant shape and application amountVSAvoidstructure of discharge nozzle

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first recess is formed in advance in the discharge nozzle body to serve as a fluid reservoir. This preliminary structural preparation allows the sealant to be temporarily accumulated before discharge, compensating for flow rate variations and ensuring consistent sealant application without requiring complex external control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The first recess acts as an intermediary fluid reservoir between the sealant supply source and the discharge point. It temporarily stores sealant and releases it in a controlled manner, mediating the effect of discharge flow rate variations on the final sealant application consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the discharge hole opening is positioned away from the leading end, then the nozzle structure is simpler, but sealant may overflow and adhere to unintended areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle structure simplicityVSAvoidsealant overflow and adhesion to unintended areas

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge hole opening is positioned asymmetrically on the first recess side rather than at the center or away from the leading end. This asymmetric positioning, combined with the inclined surface geometry, directs the sealant flow along the inclined surface to prevent overflow onto unintended areas while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The inclined surface is formed with a specific curvature (spheroidality) to guide the sealant flow smoothly. This curved surface geometry ensures that sealant discharged from the opening flows in a controlled manner along the incline, preventing it from adhering to unintended areas while maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Productivity

If sealant discharge flow rate varies, then the discharge process is faster and more flexible, but the sealant shape and application amount become inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge process speed and flexibilityVSAvoidsealant shape and application amount consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The first recess serves as a cushioning reservoir that absorbs discharge flow rate variations. When discharge flow rate increases, excess sealant is temporarily stored in the recess; when flow rate decreases, the recess compensates by maintaining pressure. This beforehand cushioning effect ensures consistent sealant application regardless of discharge speed or flexibility variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

This configuration effectively suppresses variations in sealant shape and application amount, ensuring consistent width and thickness, and prevents sealant from adhering to unintended areas, enhancing the precision and efficiency of the sealant application process.

Implementation Method 1

The first recess serves as a fluid reservoir that enables the sealant discharged from the opening of the discharge hole to be temporarily accumulated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid reservoir: Hydraulic Accumulator

Data Source

PatentUS11491507B2Sealant discharge nozzle and sealant discharge apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.11.08 THE UNIV OF TOKYO

AI summary

An object is to suppress a variation in amount of a sealant that is applied on an object to be sealed. There is provided a sealant discharge nozzle configured such that a sealant from a cartridge is discharged from a discharge hole of the sealant discharge nozzle. The sealant discharge nozzle has a leading end portion comprising a pair of side wall portions; and a connecting wall portion configured to connect the pair of side wall portions with each other and provided in cooperation with the pair of side wall portions to form a first recess that is open on one side in a first direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the sealant discharge nozzle, and on a leading end side. The discharge hole has an opening formed on a first recess side of the connecting wall portion.