Spring-Clamp Sealing Element for Heat Insulation Box Gaps

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Heat radiation and gas leakage through gaps between insulation panels in heat insulation boxes for internal combustion engines pose a risk of fire and are costly to mitigate with existing complex and expensive lip seals or labyrinth seals.

Innovation Solution

A single-piece metal or metal alloy sealing element with inclined edgings that act as springs to clamp onto insulation panels, preventing heat radiation and gas leakage, which can be manufactured in continuous lengths and easily assembled.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If lip seals are integrated into insulation panels to reduce heat leakage, then heat radiation prevention is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat radiationVSAvoidsealing element complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing element is divided into multiple plate sections (first and second elongated plate sections) with distinct edgings (first, second, and third edgings), where each segment serves a specific sealing function. This segmentation allows the complex sealing task to be distributed across simpler functional modules that can be manufactured and assembled more easily.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of integrating seals into the insulation panels as conventional solutions do, this invention uses separate sealing elements that clamp onto the panel edges from the outside. The edgings are configured to work as springs that clamp the sealing element to the insulation panel, reversing the conventional approach of embedded seals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional sealing elements are used to prevent heat leakage, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but assembly difficulty and installation time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat leakageVSAvoidassembly ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The edgings are configured to work as springs, providing dynamic clamping force that automatically adjusts to maintain contact between the sealing element and the insulation panel edges. This spring mechanism ensures continuous sealing pressure without requiring complex fastening systems, simplifying assembly while maintaining effective sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing element's spring-based edgings provide self-adjusting clamping force that automatically maintains sealing pressure as panels move or settle. The element serves itself by maintaining its own sealing pressure without external intervention, reducing the need for complex adjustment mechanisms during assembly and operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If insulation panels are used without sealing elements, then device complexity is reduced, but heat radiation and gas leakage increase creating safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsulation box complexityVSAvoidheat radiation and gas leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing element uses thin metal plate sections with spring-based edgings that flexibly conform to the edges of insulation panels. This flexible metallic structure provides effective sealing against heat radiation and gas leakage while maintaining a simple, lightweight design that does not significantly increase overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing element is made of metal or metal alloy combining structural rigidity with spring-based flexibility. This composite approach using metal materials provides both the mechanical strength needed for durable sealing and the elastic properties required for spring-based clamping, achieving effective sealing without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Effectively reduces direct heat radiation and gas leakage, offering cost savings and ease of assembly while maintaining a secure seal, suitable for retrofitting existing designs.

Implementation Method 1

the edgings are configured to work as springs that clamp the sealing element to an insulation panel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

With a sealing element according to the invention, direct heat radiation from the insulation box is prevented

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation blocking: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP2812614B1Sealing element and heat insulation box

Publication Date: 2022.10.26 WARTSILA FINLAND OY

Figure 1a~2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

The sealing element (1, 1') for preventing heat radiation through gaps between heat insulation panels (2) comprises a first elongated plate section (1a), a second elongated plate section (1b) facing the first plate section (1a), a first edging (1c) that is arranged on a first edge of the first plate section (1a) and points away from the second plate section (1b), a second edging (1d) that is arranged on a first edge of the second plate section (1b) and points away from the first plate section (1a), and a third edging (1e) that is arranged on a second edge of the first plate section (1a) on the same side as the first edging (1c).