Silicone Hose Connection via Fluid Mass Post Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid carrying assemblies with silicone hose components face challenges in creating a secure, impermeable connection that can be automated and is resistant to both fluids and solids, while maintaining a uniform appearance.
Innovation Solution
A manufacturing process involving the application of a fluid silicone mass to connecting areas between silicone hose and connector components, followed by polymeric post curing through annealing, UV light, or humidity, which hardens the silicone mass and creates a deep, single-piece connection, allowing for secure and impermeable connections between multiple components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fluid silicone mass is applied to the connecting area and polymeric post curing is performed, then the connection becomes impermeable and secure, but the manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies polymeric post curing through parameter changes - specifically controlling temperature (80°C to 200°C for 10 minutes to 5 hours), UV light radiation, or humidity to transform the fluid silicone mass into a hardened, impermeable connection. This resolves the contradiction by providing a reliable seal through controlled parameter changes while keeping the process manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by applying the fluid silicone mass to the connecting area before final assembly or before the post curing step. This allows the silicone to be positioned and distributed optimally before hardening, ensuring impermeability while simplifying the overall manufacturing sequence.
2Extent of automation
If the silicone mass is applied externally to the connecting area, then automation is facilitated and appearance is maintained, but control over internal distribution becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the connecting area itself as an intermediary - the fluid silicone mass is applied externally to this area where the hose components abut on the connector component. The connecting area acts as a controlled zone that facilitates automated application while ensuring the silicone distributes properly to create the impermeable seal.
3Reliability
If contact between hose component and connector component is made before applying silicone mass, then penetration of silicone into fluid channel is avoided, but alignment precision must be higher
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing contact between the hose component and connector component in the connecting area before applying the fluid silicone mass. This preliminary contact ensures proper positioning and prevents silicone penetration into the fluid channel, while the connecting area design accommodates the alignment requirements.
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 process ensures a secure, impermeable connection between silicone hose and connector components, preventing fluid and solid penetration, facilitating automation, and maintaining a uniform appearance by applying the silicone mass externally or internally through predefined channels, ensuring a tight seal and easy handling during manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
Polymeric post curing of the connecting area may take place through annealing. By annealing the connecting junctions, the connecting junctions are heated for a certain period of time without deforming the silicone mass so that the silicone mass is hardened.
Implementation Method 2
Polymeric post curing may alternatively or additionally also be initiated through different determining factors, such as UV light radiation
Data Source
AI summary
In a process for the manufacture of an impermeable connection between at least two fluid carrying silicone hose components, the silicone hose components and a silicone connector component are first prepared. Afterwards a fluid silicone mass is applied to at least one connecting area where the silicone hose components abut on the silicone connector components. The at least one connecting area is post cured to harden the silicone mass. In a fluid carrying assembly with at least two fluid carrying silicone hose components and at least one silicone connector component, a fluid carrying connection is manufactured between these components by means of this process. This design results in a connecting technique that is, on the one hand, secure and, on the other hand, enables automation of the manufacture of an impermeable connection and thus of the fluid carrying assembly.