Sealing structure and refrigerated container having same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerated container sealing tapes face issues with air tightness due to the hard texture of solid EPDM tapes and the soft, pressure-resistant but weathered foaming EPDM tapes, leading to gaps and reduced lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A seal structure with a flat base body, protruding and deforming portions, and connection through-holes made from flexible EPDM material, designed to elastically deform and fit tightly around bolt holes, ensuring airtight sealing and resistance to compression and weathering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If solid EPDM tape is used for sealing, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is convenient, but the texture is hard causing gaps between the tape and bolt hole flange inner surface, reducing airtight effect
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing tape incorporates a deforming portion made of soft material specifically at the bolt hole flange contact area, while other portions can use harder materials. This local differentiation allows the tape to conform to the flange inner surface for complete contact and airtight sealing, while maintaining overall structural integrity and manufacturing simplicity.
2Reliability
If foaming EPDM tape is used for sealing, then the airtight effect is improved due to soft texture, but the tape is easily smashed and crushed under high pressure during refrigerator installation
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing tape uses a composite structure combining soft foaming EPDM material for the deforming portion that contacts the bolt hole flange to ensure airtightness, while the base body and other portions use harder, more pressure-resistant material. This composite approach allows the soft portion to conform to surfaces for sealing while the harder portions resist crushing during installation.
3Reliability
If foaming EPDM tape is used for sealing, then the airtight effect is improved, but the material is easy to be weathered causing short life span
Solution Approach 1:
The soft, weather-prone foaming EPDM material is used only in the deforming portion that directly contacts the bolt hole flange where flexibility is needed for sealing. The base body and other exposed portions use weather-resistant harder material, minimizing the exposure of weather-sensitive material while maintaining airtight sealing performance.
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 seal structure enhances air tightness, reduces hidden quality issues, and increases service life by providing superior sealing performance and improved resistance to compression and weathering.
Implementation Method 1
the deforming portion having an extension length which is same as that of the protruding portion, and an protruding height which is larger than that of the protruding portion; and a connection through-hole disposed between the protruding portion and the deforming portion... the height of the deforming portion elastically decreases when the deforming portion suffers a force towards the sealing surface
Data Source
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AI summary
A sealing structure (10) and a refrigerated container having the same. The sealing structure (10) comprises a base (110), a protruding portion (120), a deforming portion (130), and connection through holes (140). The base (110) is a thin and wide bar having a predetermined thickness. The protruding portion (120) and the deforming portion (130) are both disposed on a sealing surface (111) of the base (110), and are both configured to protrude outwards relative to the sealing surface (111) and extend along a lengthwise direction of the base (110). The deforming portion (130) extends by the same length as the protruding portion (120), and protrudes higher than the protruding portion (120). When the deforming portion (130) is subjected to a force in a direction facing the sealing surface (111), the height thereof decreases elastically. The connection through holes (140) are disposed between the protruding portion (120) and the deforming portion (130) and along a thickness direction of the base (110). The multiple connection through holes (140) are spaced apart from each other in the lengthwise direction of the base (110). The sealing structure (10) of the invention has higher sealing performance, greatly improves hermeticity of products, reduces quality risks, and has ensured pressure-resistance performance during installation and ensured anti-weathering performance, extending a service life.