Filter Press Sealing Strip Base Stiffener for Easier Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sealing strips for filter presses face challenges in achieving efficient sealing pressure with reduced deformation, requiring cumbersome installation, increased cycle time, and hindered replacement due to adhesive use, while maintaining a balance between groove height and sealing effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

The sealing strip is enhanced with a stiffener at its base portion, intersecting perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, providing increased rigidity to resist compression deformation and facilitate easier installation and replacement, thus improving sealing efficiency and reducing filtration cycle time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the sealing strip is made from elastic material to allow insertion into the groove, then ease of installation is improved, but achieving sufficient abutting compression between longitudinal ends becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installationVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing strip is divided into multiple segments or sections along its length, with each segment capable of independent compression. This segmentation allows the longitudinal ends to be compressed together more easily while maintaining the elastic insertion capability, reducing the time and effort required for installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing strip incorporates a stiffener element that extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the sealing strip's main body. This additional dimensional element provides structural support to maintain compression between longitudinal ends without requiring excessive installation force or time, while preserving the elastic properties needed for groove insertion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If adhesive is used to secure the sealing strip in the groove, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but removal and replacement of the sealing strip is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidreplacement ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive is completely removed from the sealing strip design. Instead, the sealing effectiveness is achieved through the elastic deformation of the sealing strip material itself and the mechanical interlocking provided by the groove geometry and stiffener configuration, allowing easy removal and replacement without adhesive cleanup.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The stiffener element acts as an intermediary between the sealing strip and the groove, providing the necessary mechanical support and sealing pressure without requiring adhesive bonding. This intermediary structure enables both effective sealing and easy replacement by maintaining compression through its rigid support rather than chemical bonding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the sealing strip height extending out from the groove is increased to achieve sufficient compression, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the distance adjacent filter frame assemblies must travel increases, thereby increasing cycle time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidfiltration cycle time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The stiffener element extends perpendicular to the sealing strip's main plane, providing the necessary structural support for compression in a different dimensional orientation. This allows the sealing strip to maintain adequate compression for effective sealing without requiring excessive height extension from the groove, thereby reducing the travel distance between filter frame assemblies and shortening filtration cycle time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The stiffener is positioned at specific locations along the sealing strip where compression support is most needed, rather than uniformly distributing material throughout. This localized reinforcement provides sufficient compression for sealing effectiveness while minimizing the overall height extension from the groove, reducing the travel distance required during filtration cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If the sealing strip height extending within the groove is increased to secure attachment, then attachment security is improved, but the distance adjacent filter frame assemblies must travel increases, thereby increasing cycle time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidfiltration cycle time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The stiffener element provides attachment security by extending perpendicular to the groove depth direction, offering rigid support that secures the sealing strip in place without requiring increased height within the groove. This dimensional change allows secure attachment while minimizing the travel distance required for filtration operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing strip combines elastic material with a rigid stiffener element to create a composite structure. The elastic material provides attachment security through friction and deformation within the groove, while the rigid stiffener provides structural support for compression. This composite construction achieves secure attachment without increasing the height extending within the groove, thereby reducing filtration cycle time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 stiffener enables easier alignment of longitudinal ends, reduces deformation, and shortens the travel required for sealing, resulting in improved sealing and faster filtration cycles.

Implementation Method 1

providing increased rigidity to resist compression deformation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRigidity:

Implementation Method 2

the elasticity of the sealing strip allows it to be inserted into the groove during installation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4135869B1A sealing strip for sealing adjacent filter plate assemblies of a filter press, such as a tower press, a filter frame, a filter frame assembly and a filter apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 METSO OUTOTEC FINLAND OY
  • EP4135869B1 patent drawingFigure 1~1a
  • EP4135869B1 patent drawingFigure 2~2a
  • EP4135869B1 patent drawingFigure 3~3a

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a sealing strip (1) for sealing adjacent filter plate assemblies of a horizontal filter press. The disclosure is based on the idea of providing the sealing strip (1) with a stiffener (6) at a base portion (3) of the sealing strip (1), positioned such that it intersects with a line running through a ridge (4a) provided on a distal portion (4) of the sealing strip (1) and extending along a vertical direction, perpendicular to both the length direction and the width direction of the sealing strip, as seen along the cross-sectional profile of the sealing strip (1). The disclosure further relates to a filter frame, a filter frame assembly and a filter apparatus having such a sealing strip.