Metal Snap Disk Sealing with Reversible Uncoupling Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control elements in industrial applications face challenges with mechanical, chemical, and weather-related damages, particularly in industries like food, solar energy, and pharmaceuticals, where they must withstand high-pressure water jets, aggressive cleaning media, and UV radiation, while maintaining haptic feedback and sealing integrity.
Innovation Solution
A metal snap disk with a reversibly deformable uncoupling area that forms a seal with the device housing, allowing for flexibility and preventing stiffening, thus ensuring robustness and user-friendly tactile feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal snap disk is firmly clamped to the device housing, then sealing integrity is improved, but the snap disk stiffens into an inflexible structure and loses its snapping motion
Solution Approach 1:
The snap disk is segmented into two functional zones: a rigid rim portion that forms the seal with the device housing, and a flexible inner area that performs the snapping motion. This segmentation allows the rim to be firmly clamped for sealing while the inner area remains free to deform elastically during actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the snap disk have different mechanical properties: the rim is designed with higher rigidity to maintain sealing integrity when clamped, while the inner area is designed with lower rigidity to allow elastic deformation and snapping motion during operation.
2Reliability
If additional sealing elements are added to seal metal snap disks, then sealing performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged into the snap disk itself by designing the rim as an integral sealing element that forms a continuous seal with the device housing. This eliminates the need for separate sealing elements and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining IP69k sealing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The rim of the snap disk serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for clamping, forms the sealing interface with the device housing, and maintains the structural integrity of the snap disk. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated sealing components.
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 solution provides a robust, user-friendly control element that meets IP69k sealing standards, withstands aggressive environments, and maintains haptic feedback, ensuring reliable operation in demanding industrial conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The uncoupling area (1.3) is designed in such a way that it is reversibly deformable or malleable. The uncoupling area between the actual area of the snap disk and the rim of the snap disk ensures that the disk does not stiffen into an inflexible structure, however.
Implementation Method 2
The rim (1.4) of the snap disk is connected in a circular fashion to the device housing (6) through material engagement, for example, through welding or adhesion. The snap disk (1) forms a seal between the device housing (6) and the control element.
Data Source
AI summary
A device is provided with at least one control element that can be used to trigger a switching process for electrical or mechanical installations. The control element is positioned in a device housing for the device, such that the control element is designed as a snap disk, which is made of metal, and such that the snap disk has a rim which is connected to the device housing through material engagement and which forms a seal between the device housing and the control element, such that an area of the snap disk that borders the rim is designed as a reversibly deformable uncoupling area.