UV Filter Chamber Sealing Arrangement for Pond Filters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pond filter systems with UV filter chambers face challenges in providing reliable sealing between the UV lamp tube and the shroud portion, leading to issues such as over-tightening damage, under-tightening leaks, O-ring misplacement, and difficult removal, which complicates maintenance and assembly.
Innovation Solution
A sealing arrangement using a nut and bushing assembly with a captured O-ring seal, where the nut engages with the shroud portion to compress the seal onto the tube, and a second O-ring seal between the bushing and shroud portion, facilitating easy assembly, maintenance, and preventing water ingress, with features like snap fit and axial movement to ensure proper sealing and prevent wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screws are used to clamp the O-ring between the tube and shroud portion, then sealing between the tube and shroud portion is achieved, but the screws can be over tightened damaging the glass, under tightened leaving the unit unsealed, and are hard to access
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between the tube and shroud portion. This assembly includes a clamp, O-ring, and positioning features that mediate the sealing function, eliminating the need for direct screw-to-tube contact and preventing over-tightening damage while ensuring reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is segmented into multiple components: a clamp for applying force, an O-ring for creating the seal, and positioning features for alignment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, with the clamp providing adjustable pressure without directly contacting the fragile tube.
2Reliability
If an O-ring is used for sealing between the tube and shroud portion, then sealing is provided, but the O-ring can easily be left out of the assembly and is difficult to remove from the tube after use
Solution Approach 1:
The O-ring is pre-installed onto the tube during manufacturing, and the sealing assembly is designed with features that guide and ensure proper O-ring positioning during assembly. The tube is inserted through the clamp and O-ring assembly in a predetermined sequence, preventing the O-ring from being omitted.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp acts as an intermediary that holds the O-ring in place during assembly and maintains proper tension. The positioning features and guide structures mediate the interaction between components, ensuring the O-ring remains correctly positioned without requiring difficult removal operations.
3Reliability
If a clamp and screws are used to secure the O-ring, then sealing is maintained, but the screws may be hard to access in the overall assembly and can damage the glass if over tightened
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp serves as an intermediary between the screws and the tube, distributing the clamping force across a larger area and preventing direct concentrated loads on the glass. The clamp material and design are selected to provide adequate cushioning and force distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping mechanism is designed with adjustable parameters including screw torque specifications, clamp spring pressure, or cam action that allows controlled application of sealing force. This ensures sufficient pressure for sealing while preventing excessive force that could damage the glass tube.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A pond filter comprising a housing (1) having a fluid inlet (11) and a fluid outlet (12), and a UV filter chamber (2) disposed in a fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet. The UV filter chamber (2) comprises a UV lamp (21) disposed in a tube (23) and arranged for illuminating water flowing through the UV filter chamber (2). The UV filter chamber (2) comprises a shroud portion (24) in which the tube (23) and UV lamp (21) are disposed, with a fluid channel (25) through the UV filter chamber being defined between the tube (23) and the shroud portion (24). The UV filter chamber (2) comprises at least one sealing arrangement (6) provided between the tube (23) and the shroud portion (24) for sealing against the ingress of fluid into the interior of the tube (23) from the fluid channel (25). The sealing arrangement comprising a sealing assembly (61, 62) for mounting the tube (23) to the shroud portion (24) and sealing means (63) for forming a seal between the sealing assembly (61, 62) and the tube (23). In particular the sealing assembly comprises a nut (61) for engagement with the shroud portion (24) and carries a bushing (62). The sealing means comprises an O-ring seal (63) which is retained between the nut (61) and the bushing (62). The seal (63) is urged by the nut and bushing into sealing contact with the tube (23) as the nut is engaged onto the shroud portion (24).