Sealing Screw Surface Correction and Leak Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Sealing screws made of metal, particularly those treated as bulk goods, often suffer from manufacturing defects such as notches and bumps on their sealing surfaces, leading to leakage issues when used without elastomeric seals, especially during cold extrusion processes.

Innovation Solution

A combined sealing surface correction and leak testing device that uses hydraulic or electromotive forming means to deform and correct the sealing surface, accompanied by a test chamber to apply pressure and verify the sealing effectiveness, ensuring the screw's tightness by applying a forming force perpendicular to the sealing surface and using compressed air to simulate real-world conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sealing screws are produced by cold extrusion and treated as bulk goods, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to notches and bumps on the sealing surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebulk goods treatment efficiencyVSAvoidsealing surface quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a preliminary correction action to the sealing surface after bulk goods treatment. The correction device with forming elements addresses notches and bumps on the sealing surface before the sealing screw is used, ensuring proper sealing function while maintaining the efficiency of bulk goods production

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state and properties of the sealing surface by applying controlled forming forces through the correction device. This transforms the sealing surface geometry to eliminate defects caused by cold extrusion and bulk goods handling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If narrow manufacturing tolerances are exceeded in cold extruded sealing screws, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to leakage issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecold extrusion process flexibilityVSAvoidsealing tightness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The correction device applies controlled forming forces to modify the sealing surface parameters, transforming defective surfaces into functional sealing surfaces. This allows the manufacturing process to operate with relaxed tolerances while maintaining final product reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effects of exceeded tolerances (notches and bumps) into beneficial outcomes by using the correction device to reshape the sealing surface. The correction process transforms potential defects into acceptable sealing surfaces, turning manufacturing variations into non-critical issues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Manufacturing precision

If a separate correction station is used to fix sealing surface deformations, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing surface correctionVSAvoidnumber of processing stations
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the correction function with existing handling equipment by integrating forming elements into the bulk goods treatment system. This merging approach eliminates the need for separate correction stations, reducing device complexity while maintaining sealing surface quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The correction device is designed to perform multiple functions: it corrects sealing surface deformations, applies controlled forming forces, and can be integrated with bulk goods handling equipment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated separate stations, simplifying the overall system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 device effectively reduces the percentage of leaky sealing screws by correcting deformations and ensuring reliable tightness, improving the sealing effect even without elastomer seals, and allows for on-site correction and testing without additional processing stations.

Implementation Method 1

Deformation of the sealing surface, in particular indentations due to bulk material treatment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Implementation Method 2

cold extruded part sealing screws

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCold extrusion: Cold-forming

Implementation Method 3

leak testing means for testing the sealing effect of the screw by applying pressure with a pressure medium, a test chamber for applying pressure medium, in particular compressed air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure application: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3021997B1Sealing surface correcting device for sealing screws, system, and method
Publication Date: 2016.11.23 FLAIG HARTMUT
  • EP3021997B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a sealing surface correcting device for sealing screws (3), in particular sealing screws handled as bulk material, which are made of metal, in particular cold extruded part sealing screws, comprising shaping means, which are preferably hydraulically driven, for applying a shaping force to a sealing surface (2) of a sealing screw (3), preferably a sealing surface formed on the lower face (10) of a screw head peripheral collar, in order to correct deformations of the sealing surface (2), in particular indentations due to a bulk material handling process. The correcting device also comprises a seal testing means (18) for checking the sealing effect of the sealing screw (3) by applying pressure using a pressure medium, wherein a test chamber (16) for supplying a pressure medium to the sealing screw (3) is a part of the shaping means. The invention also relates to a method for correcting the sealing surfaces of sealing screws and testing the sealing effect in a combined manner.