Segmented Seal with Cutter for Removable Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elastomeric seals used between housing and cover in sensitive components can adhere over time, causing the cover to stick, leading to delayed or failed removal, which is critical in applications like guidance or navigation where timely removal is essential.
Innovation Solution
A seal system where a portion is attached to the housing and another to the removable cover, featuring a cutter that cuts the seal to facilitate easy removal, allowing the cover to be ejected without sticking issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elastomeric seals are used between housing and cover, then protection from dust, air, and moisture is provided, but the seal adheres to surfaces over time causing the cover to stick
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into two distinct portions: a first portion attached to the housing and a second portion attached to the cover. This segmentation allows the seal to be cut between the portions, separating the adhesive bonds and enabling cover removal without pulling on the seal as a single unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutter removes a portion of the seal by cutting through it, extracting the adhesive bonding function from the cover removal process. This allows the cover to be ejected without the seal's adhesion preventing removal.
2Ease of operation
If ejection spring force is increased to remove stuck cover, then cover removal force is sufficient, but available structure cannot withstand the forces
Solution Approach 1:
The cutter extracts the seal material from the adhesive bonding path, removing the source of the sticking problem. This allows standard ejection spring forces to suffice without requiring increased force that the structure cannot withstand.
3Ease of operation
If seal is cut to enable cover removal, then cover can be removed without sticking, but seal protection function is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is segmented into portions attached to different components (housing and cover). When the cutter removes material from between these portions, it only severs the adhesive bonds in that localized region, not the entire seal. The portions remaining attached to the housing and cover maintain their protective functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal has different functional zones: the portion between the housing and cover interfaces (where cutting occurs) and the portions extending to the respective components (where protection is maintained). Cutting locally at the interface enables removal while preserving the protective quality of the seal portions still attached to each component.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for a seal according to various aspects of the present invention include a seal operating in conjunction with a housing and a removable cover. A portion of the seal is attached to the housing and another portion of the seal is attached to the removable cover to enclose a joint between the housing and the removable cover. A cutter cuts the seal, which allows the removable cover to be removed.