Spherical Sealing Bellows Reducing Axial Assembly Forces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing bellows production methods result in excessive axial forces during assembly, leading to increased wear on the sealing region due to radial bulging of the casing, which compromises the seal's longevity and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A method involving vulcanization followed by a heated blowing process to shape the casing into a substantially spherical form before assembly, reducing axial forces and integrating clamping elements within the sealing and attachment regions for enhanced durability and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the sealing bellows is produced using conventional injection molding with a substantially cylindrical casing, then the production process is simple and easy to manufacture, but the casing generates high axial forces during assembly leading to increased wear on the sealing region
Solution Approach 1:
The casing is designed with a substantially spherical shape instead of a cylindrical shape. This spherical geometry distributes mechanical stresses more evenly during assembly and operation, reducing the axial forces that cause wear on the sealing region while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through specialized molding processes
2Reliability
If the casing is designed to bulge radially outwards during assembly to achieve sealing, then the sealing effect is improved, but the axial forces increase leading to excessive contact pressure and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical casing geometry inherently provides the necessary radial outward movement for sealing while distributing the resulting forces more uniformly. The curvature allows the casing to expand and conform to the sealing surface without generating excessive axial contact pressures that would lead to wear
3Reliability
If the clamping elements are integrated into the sealing and attachment regions, then the protection against corrosion and mechanical damage is improved, but the manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping elements are integrated directly into the sealing and attachment regions as single-piece constructions. This merging of components eliminates separate fastening elements, providing continuous protection against corrosion and mechanical damage while the integration into the molding process manages the manufacturing complexity
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 spherical casing design minimizes mechanical stress on the sealing region, ensuring a reliable and long-lasting seal with reduced wear, while the integrated clamping elements protect against corrosion and mechanical damage.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting an interior of the sealing bellows to a relative excess pressure such that the casing is applied against a wall delimiting the cavity of the blowing mold
Implementation Method 2
curing the sealing bellows completely
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing a sealing bellows, involving (1) vulcanizing a sealing bellows having clamping elements integrated into the sealing region and into the attachment region (2) and having a substantially cylindrical casing, thereby forming the sealing bellow; (2) interrupting the vulcanizing after the mold cavity has been filled and after attaining dimensional stability of the sealing bellows and then releasing the sealing bellows from the mold; (3) introducing the sealing bellows having a substantially cylindrical casing into a heated blowing mold having a substantially spherical cavity and sealing the blowing mold in an airtight manner; (4) subjecting the interior of the sealing bellows to a relative excess pressure such that the casing is applied against a wall delimiting the cavity of the blowing mold; and (5) completely curing the sealing bellows, then opening the blowing mold to release the sealing bellows from the mold.