Vacuum Holding Device with U-Shaped Seal for Rough Surface Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum holding devices struggle to achieve a secure, gas-tight seal on rough and uneven surfaces, leading to potential detachment and loss of vacuum.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum holding device with a U-shaped seal and press-on web design that encircles the vacuum chamber, featuring a peripheral and chamber web to ensure a gas-tight seal, combined with a conical valve for efficient vacuum generation and release, utilizing elastic materials for enhanced sealing and a piston suction pump for manual operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional seal design is used in vacuum holding devices, then the device can be manufactured simply, but the seal is insufficient for rough and uneven surfaces, leading to potential detachment and loss of vacuum
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an elastic seal element (U-shaped profile) that functions as a flexible membrane to conform to rough and uneven contact surfaces. This flexible seal can deform and adapt to surface irregularities, ensuring reliable gas-tight sealing without requiring complex rigid sealing structures. The elasticity of the seal allows it to maintain contact pressure across the entire sealing surface even when the surface is not perfectly flat.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the elastic properties of the seal material, changing its physical state from rigid to flexible under vacuum pressure. When vacuum is applied, the seal element deforms and presses against the contact surface, enhancing the sealing effect. The parameter change in the seal's deformation state allows it to adapt to various surface conditions while maintaining sealing integrity.
2Reliability
If the seal is made more complex to accommodate rough surfaces, then sealing reliability improves, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic seal element is manufactured as a simple U-shaped profile that can be produced using standard molding techniques. The flexibility of the seal allows it to achieve complex conforming behavior during use without requiring complex manufacturing processes. This approach maintains ease of manufacture while achieving reliable sealing on rough surfaces through the seal's operational deformation rather than manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal is designed as a separate, replaceable component that can be manufactured independently and then installed in the vacuum holding device. This segmentation allows the seal to be optimized for sealing performance on rough surfaces while the main device body remains simple to manufacture. The seal can also be easily replaced if worn, maintaining ease of manufacture and maintenance.
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 device provides a reliable, gas-tight attachment to various surfaces, including rough ones, ensuring secure holding of objects like soap dishes or hooks without the need for frequent reapplication, maintaining vacuum integrity through effective sealing and easy removal.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum holding device for attaching objects to an essentially gas-tight contact surface (8), wherein a vacuum can be generated in the vacuum chamber following application to the contact surface
Implementation Method 2
The seal features one or several U profiles, wherein two limbs and a foot surface linking the limbs forms a U profile and the limbs at least partially bilaterally encompass the respective press-on web of the holding body
Implementation Method 3
the holding body with the press-on web, during formation of a vacuum in the vacuum chamber, presses on the contact surface by means of the seal provided towards the contact surface
Implementation Method 4
at least one opening as the end of a connection between the vacuum chamber and the external environment having at least one valve that ensures gas-tight opening and closing of the connection between the vacuum chamber and the external environment
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a releasable holding device (1) for attaching objects to a contact surface (8), with a vacuum chamber (7), which is open towards the contact surface (8) and in which, after application to the contact surface (8) by means of a suction device (20) generating a vacuum, a vacuum can be generated, the vacuum drawing the holding device (1) onto the contact surface (8) with the use of an elastic seal (13) which is provided towards the contact surface (8) and, in the event of a vacuum, brings about the adhesive connection to the contact surface (8), wherein the elastic seal (13) consists of at least one encircling seal which is U-shaped in profile and the limbs (15) of which engage over an encircling press-on web (11) of the holding body (2) and the foot surface (14) of which is firmly pressed in order to form the vacuum chamber (7) and the seal between web front edge (11b) and contact surface (8). Suction device and holding device are of two-part design.