Spacer Assembly With Axial Seal Insertion for Faster Heater Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of spacers for serial heaters is time-consuming, expensive, and error-prone due to the manual insertion of sealing elements, with limited material choices restricted to elastic materials for effective sealing.
Innovation Solution
The latching cross-section is designed to be open or openable, allowing direct axial insertion of the sealing element's connecting section, enabling the use of harder materials and automated assembly, and featuring a parting plane that allows for easy insertion and secure retention of sealing elements without deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing elements are inserted by hand through lateral surfaces, then sealing function is achieved, but production time increases and cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of inserting sealing elements through lateral surfaces as in prior art, the patent inverts the approach by providing open latching cross-sections at the ends of the spacer. This allows sealing elements to be inserted axially from the ends, enabling automated insertion processes and significantly reducing production time while maintaining reliable sealing function.
2Reliability
If elastic rubber-like materials are used for sealing elements, then effective sealing is achieved, but material choice is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the insertion parameter from lateral compression of elastic materials to axial insertion through open cross-sections. This parameter change allows sealing elements to be made from harder, more versatile materials such as plastics or composite materials, while still achieving effective sealing through the axial insertion and retention mechanism provided by the open latching cross-sections.
3Ease of manufacture
If manual insertion process is used, then sealing elements can be installed, but manufacturing precision and consistency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical insertion process with an automated axial insertion system. The open latching cross-sections at the spacer ends provide a guided pathway that ensures precise positioning and consistent fit of sealing elements, eliminating the variability and imprecision associated with manual lateral insertion while maintaining ease of manufacture through automated processes.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to spacers (1, 1, 1") with two supporting surfaces (22, 22, 23, 23) and a jacket (29, 29), the jacket (29, 29) having at least one passage cross section ( 10, 10) for passing a fluid from a central free space (30, 3β) of the spacer (1, 1, 1") to an outer environment of the spacer (1, 1, 1") or in a reverse direction , and at least one locking cross section (8, 8, 9, 9) for receiving a sealing element (2, 2, 3, 3), wherein the sealing element (2, 2, 3, 3) has a sealing section ( 26, 26, 27, 27), a retaining section (24, 24, 25, 25) and a connecting section (45, 45, 46, 46) connecting these two and forming a constriction (47), wherein the retaining section (24, 24, 25, 25) is in a mounted state of the sealing element (2, 2, 3, 3) in the free space (30) and the sealing element (2, 2, 3, 3 ) in a mounted state of the sealing element (2, 2, 3, 3) are in the vicinity. In order to further develop a spacer (1, 1, 1") in such a way that a precise and time-saving production of the is possible and the best possible sealing can be achieved by means of this spacer (1, 1, 1") according to the invention, the latching cross section (8, 8′, 9, 9′) is open or can be opened in such a way that when the sealing element (2, 2′, 3, 3′) is mounted, its connecting section (45, 45′, 46, 46′) directly can be inserted in the axial direction into the locking cross section (8, 8, 9, 9). Furthermore, a method for producing such a spacer (1, 1) and a method for producing a heating element in which the spacer (1″) according to the invention is arranged is described.