Soft-Layer Suction Cup for Rough and Underwater Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suction devices struggle to reliably attach to substrate surfaces with coarse roughness, waviness, or bends, especially underwater, due to limitations in adapting to surface irregularities and maintaining sealing without damaging the surface.
Innovation Solution
A suction device comprising a harder first material for actuation and an extremely soft second material with integrated particles or fibers, where the second material covers a significant area of the suction cup, allowing for elastic deformation and improved friction, enabling attachment to rough, wavy, or bent surfaces on dry, wet, or submerged surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional suction cups are used on smooth surfaces, then attachment reliability is good, but they cannot attach to rough, wavy, or bent surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device employs an extremely soft second component (shore 00 hardness < 50) that acts as a flexible sealing layer, enabling the suction cup to conform to rough, wavy, or bent surfaces while maintaining reliable attachment through elastic deformation and adaptation to surface irregularities
Solution Approach 2:
The suction device combines a harder first material (for structural support and actuation) with an extremely soft second material (for surface adaptation and sealing), creating a composite structure that achieves both mechanical strength and surface conformability for reliable attachment across various surface conditions
2Adaptability or versatility
If softer materials are used to adapt to rough surfaces, then surface adaptability improves, but structural strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device is divided into two functional components: a harder first component providing structural strength and actuation capability, and a softer second component providing surface conformability and sealing, allowing each part to optimize its specific function without compromising the other
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses a composite structure combining harder and softer materials in specific layers, where the harder first material provides structural integrity and the softer second material (with shore 00 hardness < 50) provides extreme surface adaptability, achieving both strength and conformability simultaneously
3Adaptability or versatility
If sticky resilient material is used to attach to rough surfaces, then attachment to non-smooth surfaces is achieved, but oil residuals are left after detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter from sticky resilient material to extremely soft elastomeric material with shore 00 hardness < 50, which provides rough surface attachment capability through elastic deformation and friction without leaving harmful residuals upon detachment
4Force
If heightened annuli are embedded in the resilient layer to support resistance to movement, then radial movement resistance is improved, but individual adaptation to high surface roughness is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The extremely soft second component (shore 00 hardness < 50) acts as a flexible sealing layer that can individually adapt to high surface roughness through elastic deformation, unlike rigid heightened annuli, while still providing sufficient friction and resistance to radial movement through its material properties and thickness
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 reliable and durable attachment to substrates with high surface irregularities, enhancing sealing and friction properties, allowing the suction device to hold higher weights and adapt to various surface conditions, including underwater applications.
Implementation Method 1
the second material is an extremely soft material with a Shore 00 hardness less than or equal to 50... allowing for elastic deformation
Implementation Method 2
particles (6) and/or fibers, which are harder than the second material, are integrated into at least one second material... enhancing sealing and friction properties
Data Source
AI summary
A suction device, in particular a suction cup, suction lifter, or vacuum gripper, for reversible attachment to a substrate surface, comprising a first component, which is used for the actuation of the suction device, and a second component, which can be brought into contact with the substrate surface via the suction cup surface, wherein the first component consists of at least one harder first material and the second component of at least one, in comparison to the first material, softer second material, wherein the second material is an extremely soft material with a Shore 00 hardness less than 50, wherein the thickness of the second component measures, in an unloaded condition, at least 2.5% of an outer diameter or a length or a width of the first component and/or particles and/or fibers, which are harder than the second material, are integrated into at least one second material.