Segmented Vacuum Chamber for Fast Assembly Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices struggle to efficiently pressure test, evacuate, and fill non-vacuum-resistant or non-pressure-resistant assemblies while maintaining a compact design, minimizing auxiliary gas consumption, and ensuring easy automation integration.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a two-part housing with a chamber and an adapter for pressure testing, evacuation, and filling, featuring a vacuum or pressure chamber, movable pistons, interchangeable shaped pieces, and integrated ports for fluid control, allowing for rapid pressure changes and secure assembly fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large-volume chamber is used for pressure testing and evacuation, then the assembly can be properly accommodated and treated, but the evacuation and ventilation times increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the chamber into two separate, independently sealable chambers (first chamber and second chamber). This segmentation allows one chamber to be evacuated or pressurized while the other remains at ambient pressure, eliminating the need to evacuate large volumes and significantly reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
A partition wall with a movable partition element acts as an intermediary between the two chambers. This partition element can be selectively positioned to seal off portions of the chamber, enabling independent pressure control and eliminating the need to evacuate the entire chamber volume.
2Productivity
If non-vacuum-resistant assemblies are subjected to vacuum for evacuation, then gases can be extracted from the assembly, but the assembly may collapse due to pressure differential
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber is segmented into two independently pressure-controlled zones. The assembly can be placed in one chamber while the other chamber is evacuated, or the chambers can be sequentially evacuated, allowing effective gas extraction without subjecting the entire assembly to extreme pressure differentials that would cause collapse.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables independent pressure parameter control in different chamber zones. By adjusting pressure parameters selectively in different segments of the chamber, the assembly can be evacuated effectively while maintaining structural integrity through controlled pressure gradients.
3Volume of moving object
If a compact device design is implemented, then the device occupies less space and is easier to integrate, but the chamber volume is reduced limiting assembly accommodation
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a nested chamber configuration where one chamber can be positioned within or adjacent to the other chamber. This nesting arrangement maximizes the usable chamber volume within a compact device footprint, allowing large assemblies to be accommodated without increasing the overall device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition element is designed to be movable, allowing dynamic reconfiguration of chamber volumes. This enables the chamber to adapt its internal volume to accommodate different assembly sizes while maintaining a compact external footprint, as the movable partition optimizes space utilization based on the specific assembly being processed.
4Reliability
If multiple process steps are used for pressure testing and evacuation, then thorough testing and preparation are achieved, but the overall process time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing steps can be performed simultaneously in different chamber segments. While one chamber undergoes evacuation, another chamber can be prepared or tested, allowing parallel execution of multiple process steps and significantly reducing total process time while maintaining thoroughness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous processing by eliminating idle time between steps. As one chamber completes evacuation, the partition can be moved to begin processing the next chamber or to transfer the assembly, ensuring that useful action continues without interruption and reducing overall process time.
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
Enables rapid evacuation and filling with minimal auxiliary gas consumption, secure assembly handling, and integration into automated production lines, ensuring precise pressure control and drip-free filling.
Implementation Method 1
the chamber can be designed as a vacuum chamber. A vacuum chamber is a chamber in which a negative pressure can be implemented relative to the ambient pressure.
Implementation Method 2
the chamber can be designed as a pressure chamber. A pressure chamber is a chamber in which a positive pressure can be implemented relative to the ambient pressure.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for pressure testing, evacuation, and/or filling of a non-vacuum-resistant or non-pressure-resistant assembly by means of vacuum pressure filling or vacuum volume filling, the device comprising a vacuum chamber for accommodating the assembly to be filled and an adapter for filling the assembly to be filled. The problem of the invention is that of providing a respective device which has a compact design with small volumes to enable short evacuation and ventilation times. At the same time, consumption of auxiliary gas is to be kept to a minimum and good handling for an automation system is to be achieved. The problem is solved by releasably assembling the vacuum chamber of the device from a first and a second housing component, specific designs being proposed for these components.