Sensor Opening Cover With Gasket Sealing and Lightweight Plug

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensor protection solutions, such as steel plugs, are costly and contribute weight due to their mass, failing to provide a cost-efficient and lightweight protection for sensors exposed to contaminants in components like axle boxes and bearings.

Innovation Solution

A sensor accommodation opening cover comprising a gasket and a cover plate, which can be made of elastomeric or polymeric materials, provides a lightweight and cost-effective protection by sealing the sensor opening, optionally using a plastic plug with a collar and sealing paste, and fixing means like screws or bolts for secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If steel plugs are used for protecting sensors, then protection reliability is improved, but cost and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor protection reliabilityVSAvoidplug weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive steel plugs with inexpensive plastic plugs that can be discarded after use. The plastic plug serves its protective function during sensor installation and sealing, then can be removed or replaced without significant cost, resolving the contradiction between reliable protection and low weight/cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite material construction where a plastic plug is combined with a rubber gasket to achieve both the structural function of protection and the sealing function. This composite approach provides reliable sensor protection while maintaining low weight, as plastic and rubber are significantly lighter than steel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If steel plugs are used for protecting sensors, then protection reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor protection reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameter from steel to plastic/rubber composite, fundamentally altering the cost structure while maintaining protective functionality. This material parameter change enables cost-effective manufacturing while preserving sensor protection reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If rubber gasket is added for sealing, then sealing performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidcover structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the sealing function into the gasket component that is already part of the cover assembly. The rubber gasket is integrated with the plastic plug or cover structure, combining multiple functions (sealing, structural support, contamination barrier) into a single composite component, thereby improving sealing performance without significantly increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4266008A1Sensor accommodation opening cover

Publication Date: 2023.10.25 AB SKF SKF PATENT DEPARTMENT

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6

AI summary

Disclosed is a cover (1) for protecting a sensor accommodation opening (2) within a component (4), for example an axle box, wherein the cover (1) comprises a gasket (8) being arrangeable around the sensor accommodation opening (2), a cover plate (10) arranged on the gasket (8) for closing the sensor accommodation opening(2) and fixing means (22) for fixing the cover plate (10) to the component (4).