Sealing Elements With Porous Intrinsic Energizers for Tunable Force

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sealing elements in fluid power applications require external energizing features like springs or elastomeric bands, which lead to leakage issues, added weight, complex manufacturing, and noise, and can generate excessive forces causing hardware damage.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a porous matrix structure as an intrinsic energizing element within the sealing element, formed using additive manufacturing, which allows for customized geometry and material selection to achieve desired sealing forces without secondary components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If conventional external energizing elements (springs or elastomeric bands) are added to sealing elements, then sealing force is improved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing forceVSAvoidseal structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the sealing element and energizing element into a single integrated component. The porous matrix structure is formed as an integral part of the sealing element body, eliminating the need for separate springs or elastomeric bands. This integration reduces device complexity while maintaining the necessary sealing force through the inherent elasticity and recoverability of the porous matrix material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Force

If conventional external energizing elements (springs or elastomeric bands) are added to sealing elements, then sealing force is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing forceVSAvoidseal weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a porous matrix structure as the energizing element. This porous material provides the necessary elasticity and recoverability to generate sealing force while being significantly lighter than conventional spring or elastomeric band constructions. The porous structure achieves the required mechanical properties through its cellular architecture rather than through dense material composition, thereby reducing weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Force

If elastomeric bands are used for energizing, then sealing force is improved, but harmful factors increase due to excessive forces causing hardware damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing forceVSAvoidhardware damage from excessive force

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the porous matrix structure's ability to provide progressive and controllable elastic recovery. As the sealing element deforms under compression, the porous matrix gradually expands back to its original shape, providing a progressive sealing force that increases with deformation. This inherent mechanical behavior naturally limits peak forces and prevents the sudden excessive forces that can occur with conventional elastomeric bands, thereby protecting hardware from damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Force

If springs are used for energizing, then sealing force is improved, but harmful factors increase due to noise and vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing forceVSAvoidnoise and vibrations

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional spring mechanical system with a porous matrix-based elastic system. The porous matrix provides the necessary elastic recovery and sealing force generation through its cellular structure deformation rather than through the mechanical coiling and uncoiling of a spring. This substitution eliminates the characteristic noise and vibrations associated with spring operation while maintaining the required sealing force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 approach provides a more efficient, lightweight, and less complex sealing solution with reduced noise and vibrations, capable of tuning sealing forces for specific applications and operating conditions, while eliminating the need for external energizing features.

Implementation Method 1

The porous matrix structure is formed using additive manufacturing and may be configured to have any suitable geometry to achieve a predetermined sealing force of the sealing element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

Still other disadvantages of providing an additional component, such as a spring, include added noise, vibrations, and harshness during operation of the seal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4031784B1Sealing elements with integrated intrinsic energizers

Publication Date: 2024.01.31 PARKER HANNIFIN CORP

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Figure 4~5

AI summary

A sealing element (10) includes a sealing lip (16), an outer shell (12) defining an outer perimeter of the sealing element (10), and an energizing porous matrix structure (18) that is formed integrally with the sealing lip (16) or the outer shell (12) and extends from the outer shell (12) to the sealing lip (16). The energizing porous matrix structure (18) is used to tune a sealing force of the sealing element (10).