Spring Brake Chamber Sealing System Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Diaphragm-piston spring brake chambers face challenges with high sensitivity and geometric tolerance requirements in the sealing area between the lower body and adaptor plate, leading to increased production costs and potential misalignment of sealing elements during mounting.
Innovation Solution
The sealing area is relocated from the cylindrical surface to a planar horizontal surface on the lower body, reducing chamber length and alleviating production tolerances by machining a channel for the sealing element, which is molded to fit without additional processing, and allowing for different geometric shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing elements are placed on the cylindrical surface of the lower body, then sealing between the lower body and adaptor plate is achieved, but high sensitivity and strict geometric tolerance requirements increase production cost
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing surface is moved from the cylindrical surface to the planar bottom surface of the lower body, changing the dimensional orientation of the sealing interface. This allows the sealing element to be positioned on a flat surface that is easier to manufacture with standard tolerances, reducing the need for high-precision geometric tolerances while maintaining sealing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is pre-positioned in a slot on the planar bottom surface of the lower body before the adaptor plate is mounted. This preliminary positioning ensures proper alignment and sealing contact, reducing sensitivity to assembly variations and geometric tolerances during the mounting process
2Reliability
If sealing elements are placed on the cylindrical surface, then sealing is achieved, but the sealing elements may go off the slot during adaptor plate mounting
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating the sealing element from the cylindrical surface to the planar bottom surface, the sealing element is positioned in a more stable location that is less susceptible to displacement during adaptor plate mounting. The planar surface provides a more secure seating position for the sealing element
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is pre-installed in a slot on the bottom surface of the lower body before the adaptor plate is attached. This preliminary action ensures the sealing element is securely positioned and cannot easily displace during subsequent assembly operations
3Reliability
If the sealing area is on the cylindrical surface, then sealing function is provided, but chamber length is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing interface is relocated from the cylindrical surface (which extends along the length of the chamber) to the planar bottom surface (which is perpendicular to the length direction). This repositioning allows the sealing function to be achieved without extending the chamber length, as the sealing element now sits on the end surface rather than requiring axial space
Data Source
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AI summary
The sealing system invention relates to the fitting between the lower body located in the spring section of diaphragm piston brake chambers used in air brake systems and the sealing area and sealing elements used in this fitting.