Single-Gasket Casing Seal Structure for Water Pump Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water pump casings require two gaskets for sealing, which hinders weight reduction efforts in vehicle components, including the water pump and its components.
Innovation Solution
A sealing structure that uses a single gasket with a circular bead portion and a center plate, where the center plate is sized to fit within the gasket's sealing line, and is supported by a partition wall and engaging portions, allowing the cover to be attached to the case with the gasket and center plate sandwiched in between, reducing the need for multiple gaskets and enhancing sealing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two gaskets are used for sealing both sides of the center plate, then sealing reliability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing functions for both sides of the center plate into a single gasket structure. The gasket is designed with a first sealing surface that contacts the case and a second sealing surface that contacts the cover, allowing one gasket to perform the sealing function that previously required two separate gaskets, thereby reducing weight while maintaining sealing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The single gasket is designed to perform multiple sealing functions simultaneously. It provides sealing between the case and the center plate on one side, and sealing between the cover and the center plate on the other side, making it a multi-functional sealing component that replaces two separate gaskets
2Reliability
If the center plate is positioned within the sealing line of the gasket, then sealing efficiency is improved, but the complexity of assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is pre-formed with a recessed portion that matches the contour of the center plate before assembly. This preliminary shaping of the gasket ensures that when the center plate is placed within the sealing line, it automatically fits into the recessed portion, guiding proper positioning and reducing assembly complexity despite the precise positioning requirements for optimal sealing
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
This configuration reduces the number of gaskets needed, achieving weight reduction while maintaining effective sealing, and improves handling and mounting properties of the gasket and center plate.
Implementation Method 1
the cover is attached to the top of the case by sandwiching the stacked gasket and center plate therebetween so as to compress the gasket with mutual butting surfaces between the case and the cover
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sealing structure for a casing that can reduce the number of used gaskets and achieve further weight reduction, with the sealing function of the gaskets secured. The object is solved by including: a case 2 having an opened top; a cover 3 attached to the top of the case 2 to form a fluid flow path therein; a center plate 5 interposed between the case 2 and the cover 3 and partitions an inner space into the side of the case 2 and the side of the cover 3; and a gasket 4, which is disposed between the case 2 and the cover 3, and forming the center plate 5 so as to have a size that is within an inner peripheral side relative to a sealing line 41 of the gasket 4 and stacking this center plate on the gasket 4, and attaching the cover 3 to the top of the case 2 with the stacked gasket 4 and center plate 5 sandwiched therebetween to compress the gasket 4 with the mutual butting surfaces between the case 2 and the cover 3.