Variable-Thickness Sealing Layer for Leak-Resistant Spring Plates
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic clamping and/or braking devices using elastic elements suffer from leakage issues due to the displacement of rubber coatings on spring plates, leading to inefficiencies and potential safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
An elastic element with a sealing layer featuring varying thickness sections along its circumference, including a thicker first section to inhibit displacement and prevent leakage, ensuring a reliable seal without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the rubber coating of the spring plates is used for sealing, then the clamping device can be simplified, but the rubber coating displaces when pressurized causing leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing layer is designed with non-uniform thickness, featuring a thicker first section and a thinner second section along the circumference. This local variation in thickness provides enhanced sealing capability at critical areas while maintaining overall simplicity of the elastic element structure, preventing rubber coating displacement without adding complex components
2Reliability
If additional components are added to prevent rubber displacement, then leakage is prevented, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged into the elastic element itself by integrating a sealing layer directly onto the spring plate. The sealing layer's varying thickness design inherently prevents rubber displacement without requiring separate counterforce components, thus maintaining device simplicity while ensuring reliable sealing
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing layer is designed to self-regulate its own position through its non-uniform thickness structure. The thicker first section naturally resists displacement forces during pressurization, eliminating the need for external components to generate counterforces, thereby simplifying the overall device structure
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 effectively prevents leakage and maintains the dynamic properties of the clamping and/or braking device, enhancing safety and operational reliability while simplifying manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing layer made of an elastic material applied to the second side surface of the spring plate
Implementation Method 2
the first section has a greater thickness than the second section... displacement of the edge of the sealing layer is at least inhibited
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A preferably annular elastic element for a clamping and/or braking device is described, the element comprising: a spring plate with a first side surface and a second side surface facing away from the first side surface; a sealing layer made of an elastic material applied to the second side surface of the spring plate, the sealing layer comprising: an edge extending along a circumference of the spring plate (i6); and a first region adjoining the edge of the sealing layer and extending along at least a part of the circumference of the spring plate, which has a smaller thickness than the edge; wherein the first region has a first section and a second section adjoining the first section along the circumference of the spring plate, the first section having a greater thickness than the second section.Also described is a clamping and/or braking device with two or more such elastic elements.