Vacuum-Assisted Adhesive Gap Filling Method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for producing adhesive connections between two bodies often result in either excessive adhesive application, leading to contamination and inefficiency, or insufficient adhesion due to inadequate adhesive distribution within the bonding gap.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the positioning of two bodies to form an adhesive gap, with a gas-permeable cover and a gas-tight envelope to direct adhesive fluid into the gap using vacuum suction, ensuring complete adhesion without excess adhesive escape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If adhesive is applied to one body before joining, then the bonding process is simple, but either too much adhesive is applied causing contamination or too little adhesive is applied causing incomplete wetting
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive is pre-filled into the adhesive gap between the two bodies before they are pressed together. This preliminary action ensures that the adhesive is already in position and properly distributed, eliminating the need for subsequent cleaning operations and ensuring complete wetting of bonding surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
A filling device with a filling element is introduced as an intermediary tool to deliver the adhesive precisely into the adhesive gap. The filling element can be moved along the gap to ensure uniform distribution, and the device includes control mechanisms to regulate adhesive flow and prevent excess application.
2Reliability
If excess adhesive is applied to ensure complete surface coating, then all surfaces are coated with adhesive, but contamination removal becomes time-consuming and additional adhesive is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive is pre-filled into the adhesive gap between the two bodies before they are pressed together. This preliminary action ensures that the adhesive is already in position and properly distributed, eliminating the need for subsequent cleaning operations and ensuring complete wetting of bonding surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The filling device incorporates sensors and control mechanisms that monitor the adhesive filling process in real-time. When the adhesive gap is sufficiently filled, the system automatically stops adhesive delivery, preventing excess adhesive from being applied and eliminating the need for cleaning operations.
3Reliability
If adhesive is applied generously to guarantee complete wetting, then all areas are coated, but more adhesive than needed is consumed and cleaning is required
Solution Approach 1:
The filling device incorporates sensors and control mechanisms that monitor the adhesive filling process in real-time. When the adhesive gap is sufficiently filled, the system automatically stops adhesive delivery, preventing excess adhesive from being applied and eliminating the need for cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The filling element can be dynamically moved along the adhesive gap to adapt to varying gap dimensions and ensure uniform adhesive distribution. The system adjusts the filling process in real-time based on the actual geometry of the bonding interface, optimizing adhesive consumption while ensuring complete wetting.
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
This method ensures all surfaces are adequately wetted with adhesive, preventing air bubbles and excess adhesive from escaping, simplifying the bonding process, reducing cleaning effort, and achieving a strong, reproducible bond.
Implementation Method 1
Supplying an adhesive fluid through the supply device into the adhesive gap and applying a vacuum to the vacuum port of the gas-tight enclosure
Implementation Method 2
Applying a gas-permeable cover in the area of each of the remaining openings of the adhesive gap such that the openings are covered by the respective gas-permeable cover
Implementation Method 3
This causes the fluid-like adhesive to flow along the gap and wet all surfaces of the two bodies to be bonded
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A method for producing an adhesive bond between a first body (1; 101; 201) and a second body (2; 102; 202) comprises the following steps: a) positioning the two bodies (1, 2; 101, 102; 201, 202) such that an adhesive gap (18; 118; 218', 218") is formed between the bodies (1, 2; 101, 102; 201, 202); b) providing at least one supply device (32; 132, 132'; 232, 232') for an adhesive fluid such that at least one outlet opening of the supply device (32; 132, 132'; 232, 232') extends into the adhesive gap (18; 118; 218', 218") terminates; c) Attaching a gas-permeable cover (4, 5; 104, 105; 204, 205) in the area of each of the remaining openings of the adhesive gap (18; 118; 218', 218") such that the openings are covered by the respective associated gas-permeable cover (4, 5; 104, 105; 204, 205); d) Attaching a gas-tight covering (8; 108, 109) provided with a vacuum connection (80; 180, 190; 280, 290);208, 209) at least in the area of the respective gas-permeable cover (4, 5; 104, 105; 204, 205), such that the openings of the adhesive gap (18; 118; 218', 218") provided with the respective gas-permeable cover (4, 5; 104, 105; 204, 205) are located inside the gas-tight covering (8; 108, 109; 208, 209); and e) supplying an adhesive fluid through the supply device (32; 132, 132'; 232, 232') into the adhesive gap (18; 118; 218', 218") and applying a vacuum to the vacuum port (80; 180, 190; 280, 290) of the gas-tight enclosure (8; 108, 109; 208, 209).;