Stackable Beam Opening Closure With Hard-Soft Sealing Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure solutions for openings in motor vehicles are complex and costly, lacking a simple and inexpensive alternative for effectively sealing and managing multiple openings during production and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A stackable closure element comprising a plate-shaped base body with a hard component and a soft sealing component, featuring a structure and counter-structure for easy connection and disconnection, allowing multiple elements to be stacked and used in a plug/socket configuration for efficient sealing of openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional rubber-elastic plugs with complex internal structures are used to close openings, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element is divided into two independent components: a hard component providing structural support and a soft component providing sealing functionality. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining sealing reliability through the soft component's deformation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is extracted from the complex internal structures of conventional plugs and implemented through a dedicated soft component that can deform to seal against the support surface. This eliminates the need for complex internal ribs, guide elements, and retaining hooks while maintaining effective sealing.
2Reliability
If multiple closure elements are used to seal multiple openings, then sealing coverage is improved, but handling and storage complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple closure elements are connected to each other through connecting elements and receiving recesses, forming a combined stackable structure. This allows multiple sealing elements to be stored and handled as a single unit, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining the ability to deploy individual elements as needed for comprehensive sealing coverage.
3Reliability
If complex plug structures with multiple components are used, then sealing performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element is segmented into a hard component and a soft component that can be manufactured separately using different, simpler processes. The hard component provides structural integrity while the soft component is manufactured to provide sealing, allowing each to be produced more economically than a single complex multi-component plug.
Solution Approach 2:
The hard component serves multiple functions: providing structural support, enabling stackable connection through integrating elements, and providing a mounting surface for the soft component. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, simplifying manufacturing and reducing cost.
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 a simple, cost-effective, and efficient method for sealing openings in motor vehicles, enabling easy assembly and storage of closure elements, and facilitating automated or manual application using a robot, thereby simplifying the process of closing and managing multiple openings.
Implementation Method 1
a soft component (17) for sealing against a support (200), which is arranged on the closure side (4)
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a stackable closure element for closing openings in carrier components, in particular in motor vehicles. The stackable closure element includes a plate-shaped, in particular circular, base body, preferably made of a hard component, with a cover side and a closure side, and a soft component for sealing with respect to a carrier component, which is arranged on the closure side. A structure is formed on the cover side or on the closure side, and correspondingly a counter-structure formed to correspond to the structure is formed on the closure side or on the cover side, so that at least two closure elements can be connected to one another in a stack-like manner by coupling the structure of a first closure element to the counter-structure of a further closure element.