Sealed Joystick Elastomer Seal Merging for Watertight Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing joysticks for machine control are not fully watertight due to gaps between the sealing cord and ring seal at their junction, leading to water penetration and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A single block of elastomer material combines the sealing cord and ring seal, eliminating gaps at the junction and ensuring a watertight seal without the need for separate seals or adhesives, making assembly easier and maintaining ergonomic design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate sealing cord and ring seal are used, then ease of manufacture and assembly is improved, but watertight reliability deteriorates due to gaps at the junction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing cord and ring seal into a single integrated elastomeric component. This unified seal eliminates the gap between separate sealing elements that caused water penetration, while maintaining the simplicity of elastomeric manufacturing. The single component approach resolves the contradiction by combining the manufacturing advantages of elastomeric seals with the watertight reliability of a continuous sealing structure.
2Ease of repair
If separate sealing cord and ring seal are used, then ease of disassembly for maintenance is improved, but seal integrity deteriorates due to potential gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated elastomeric seal maintains ease of disassembly for maintenance while ensuring seal integrity through its continuous structure. The single-component design eliminates gaps between separate sealing elements, preventing water penetration even during assembly and disassembly operations. The elastomeric material's flexibility allows for easy installation and removal while maintaining watertight reliability.
3Ease of operation
If complex three-dimensional joint surfaces are used, then ergonomic design is improved, but sealing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies sealing complexity by using a single elastomeric component that can conform to complex three-dimensional joint surfaces. The integrated seal design eliminates the need for multiple sealing elements and their associated installation complexities, while the elastomeric material's flexibility allows it to adapt to ergonomic joystick shapes and complex joint geometries.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of elastomeric material with appropriate durometer ratings allows the seal to deform and conform to complex three-dimensional joint surfaces. This parameter change in material selection enables the seal to adapt to ergonomic designs without increasing sealing complexity, as the elastomeric property provides the necessary compliance for complex geometries.
Data Source
AI summary
This sealed joystick for a machine comprises a function block, an outer shell formed by joining two rigid half-shells, these half-shells tightly enclosing the function block, each half-shell comprising a joint surface for this purpose all along its perimeter following a three-dimensional path which terminates on itself and which extends in the three dimensions of space, a sealing element comprising a one-piece block of elastomer material combining a sealing cord and a ring seal of different transverse cross-section within this same block to ensure that the joint surfaces are watertight.