Tapered Flange Assembly for Fluid Container Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flange assemblies for securing heating devices to fluid containers in domestic appliances require numerous components, high material costs, and significant force to ensure sealing, leading to inefficiencies and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A flange assembly with a flange unit comprising a sealing element and a tensioning element, both made from non-metallic materials, featuring tapered portions that allow for predefined displacement and sealing, reducing the need for robust materials and complex assembly processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional flange assemblies use multiple components (cover unit, sealing element, tensioning element, fixing unit) to ensure secure sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cover unit, sealing element, and tensioning element into a single integrated flange unit. The flange unit includes a flange body with an integrated sealing surface and a resilient sealing element that is permanently attached to the flange body, eliminating the need for separate cover unit and tensioning element components while maintaining sealing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated flange unit serves multiple functions simultaneously: the flange body provides structural support and mounting functionality, the integrated sealing surface provides sealing engagement, and the resilient sealing element provides both sealing and tensioning functions. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If conventional flange assemblies use robust metallic tensioning elements and massive sealing elements to ensure secure sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but material cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a resilient sealing element made of elastomeric material that is permanently attached to the flange body. This flexible sealing element deforms under compression to create a seal, eliminating the need for massive metallic components while maintaining sealing reliability through the elastic properties of the material.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange assembly combines different materials strategically: the flange body can be made of rigid material for structural support, while the sealing element is made of elastomeric material for sealing functionality. This composite approach optimizes material usage by assigning each material its most suitable function, reducing overall material quantity and cost.
3Reliability
If conventional flange assemblies apply high compression force to compensate for undefined deformation of sealing elements, then sealing reliability is improved, but the force required for assembly increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is pre-attached to the flange body in a controlled manufacturing environment, ensuring proper positioning and orientation before assembly. This preliminary action eliminates the need for high compression forces during field assembly, as the sealing element is already correctly positioned and only requires gentle compression to engage the seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the sealing element by using elastomeric material with specific durometer ratings that provide inherent resilience and compliance. This parameter change allows the sealing element to deform gently under low compression forces, eliminating the need for high assembly forces while maintaining reliable sealing.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional flange assemblies use multiple individual components that must be produced separately, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but manufacturing cost and production time increase
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the sealing element directly onto the flange body during manufacturing, the patent reduces the number of discrete parts that need to be produced, stored, and assembled. This merging of components streamlines the manufacturing process and improves productivity while maintaining the flexibility to manufacture different flange unit configurations.
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 enables a cost-effective, reliable sealing mechanism with reduced material usage and simplified assembly, eliminating the need for high force application and minimizing manufacturing costs while ensuring secure sealing and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
the sealing element and tensioning element are moveable relative to each other in an axial direction by means of the fixing unit such that the sealing element and the tensioning element can be pressed against each other, wherein the sealing element and the tensioning element are, in the sealing position, arranged to provide a sealing in a sealing direction perpendicular to the axial direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a flange assembly (10) for holding a heating device to a fluid container of an appliance accommodating a fluid to be heated, in particular a domestic appliance, comprising a flange unit (20) arranged for being mounted to an opening of the fluid container by at least one fixing unit (30) and having a non-sealing and a sealing and attachment position, wherein the flange unit (20) is reversibly moveable from the non-sealing to the sealing and attachment position by means of the fixing unit (30) for being configured to engage the opening of the fluid container in the sealing and attachment position, wherein the flange unit (20) comprises a sealing element (50) and a tensioning element (60), wherein the sealing element (50) and the tensioning element (60) are moveable relative to each other in an axial direction (A) by means of the fixing unit (30) such that the sealing element (50) and the tensioning element (60) can be pressed against each other, wherein the sealing element (50) and the tensioning element (60) are, in the sealing and attachment position, arranged to provide a sealing in a sealing direction perpendicular to the axial direction (A), wherein the sealing element (50) and/or the tensioning element (60) of the flange unit (20) comprise at least one tapered portion (51, 57, 59, 61, 69), wherein the tapered portion (51, 57, 59, 61, 69) is arranged such that the relative movement of the sealing element (50) and the tensioning element (60) in the axial direction (A) causes a predefined displacement of the tapered portion (51, 57, 59, 61, 69) in the sealing direction. The invention further relates to a heating system including the flange assembly (10) according to the present invention.