Sealing Airlock Roll Layout for Vacuum Strip Coating Quality

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sealing locks for vacuum deposition facilities cause quality defects in metal strip coatings due to mechanical and thermal limitations of elastomer rolls, limiting strip gauge and line speed.

Innovation Solution

A sealing lock design with at least three pairs of rolls, featuring a metal surface and an elastomer surface layer, with a gap greater than the strip thickness, and opposite arrangement of elastomer rolls to manage strip unevenness and prevent continuous pinching, combined with a cooling system to maintain coating quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If elastomer rolls are used for sealing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but coating quality deteriorates due to friction variations and thermal limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidcoating quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing system is divided into multiple independent pairs of rolls (at least three pairs), where each pair can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows the elastomer rolls to provide sealing while the metal rolls maintain coating quality, preventing continuous pinching and friction variations that would degrade the coating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the sealing system have different functions: elastomer rolls provide sealing and compliance with the strip surface, while metal rolls provide stable contact for coating protection. The elastomer layer thickness (3-30 mm) is specifically controlled to provide local cushioning where needed without affecting overall coating quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If elastomer rolls with small gap are used, then sealing tightness is improved, but strip coating degradation increases due to continuous pinching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing tightnessVSAvoidcoating degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing system uses alternating pairs of elastomer rolls and metal rolls, creating a periodic pattern along the strip path. This periodic arrangement ensures that the strip is not continuously pinched by elastomer rolls, allowing periodic recovery and preventing cumulative coating degradation while maintaining sealing tightness through the alternating sealing action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If thicker elastomer layers are used, then compliance with strip unevenness is improved, but thermal resistance increases limiting line speed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompliance with strip unevennessVSAvoidline speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The elastomer layer thickness is optimized to a specific range (3-30 mm) that balances two competing requirements: thick enough to comply with strip unevenness and absorb variations, but thin enough to maintain thermal conductivity for high-speed operation. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between adaptability and speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If multiple pairs of rolls are used, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of rolls

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each pair of rolls combines two different materials (metal and elastomer) into a single functional unit, merging the sealing function of elastomer with the coating-protection function of metal. This merging allows multiple pairs to work together for enhanced reliability without proportionally increasing complexity, as each pair is a self-contained modular unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 preserves coating quality by minimizing friction variations, allows processing of thicker strips and higher speeds, and extends elastomer layer lifetime while reducing degradation.

Implementation Method 1

a roll with an elastomer surface layer having a thickness from 3 to 30 mm, forming a gap from 1 to 11 mm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

combined with a cooling system to maintain coating quality

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20260055501A1Sealing airlock for deposition chamber

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 ARCELORMITTAL SA

AI summary

A sealing lock for a vacuum deposition facility of a coating on a running metal strip following a running path, including walls and at least three pairs of rolls, inside the walls, wherein each pair of rolls of the at least three pairs of rolls includes a roll with a metal surface and a roll with an elastomer surface layer, having a thickness from 3 to 30 mm, forming a gap from 1 to 11 mm, the rolls with an elastomer surface layer of two successive pairs of rolls are on opposite sides of the running path.