DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SEAL

• US 20100052260A1
• Filed: 03/07/2007
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Schmidt, Richard, Burger, Josef
• Application Number:
  US12/449,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20100052260A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 277/316
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/022 characterised by structure or material
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/028 the packing being mechanically expanded against the sealing surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/061 with positioning means F16J15/0831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/102 characterised by material

Abstract

A device is disclosed for producing a seal between a first part and a second part, especially a first housing part and a second housing part. The seal can be produced according to a physical property of an electroactive plastic material which can be modified. A device for receiving an electrical circuit and/or a device including electrical switching device is also disclosed, having at least one first and one second housing part operating as a first part and a second part, with an above-mentioned device. A method is further disclosed for producing a seal between a first part and a second part, especially a first housing part and a second housing part, by way of such a device, a first electrical voltage being applied to create the seal, and a second electrical voltage being applied to lift the seal.

Claims

1. A device for producing a seal between a first housing part and a second housing part of an electrical device, comprising:

an electroactive plastic material,

the seal being producible as a function of a physical characteristic of the electroactive plastic material and the physical characteristic of the electroactive plastic material being directly modifiable as a function of an electrical voltage.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the physical characteristic of the electroactive plastic material is a shape or volume of the electroactive plastic material.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one sealing element is formed at least partially of electroactive plastic material.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the electroactive plastic material is changeable at least from a first shape to a second shape and from the second shape to the first shape by way of the electrical voltage, and wherein when the first shape is present, the sealing element brings about a seal between the first part and the second part.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sealing element is associated in a captive manner with the first or second part.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sealing element is a sealing lip associated with the first part and wherein the second part comprises a recess corresponding to the sealing lip.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electroactive plastic material is a plastic material with a shape memory effect.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lock, wherein a power circuit is established by inserting a key into the lock, by way of which power circuit electrical energy is applied to the device to produce or release the seal.

9. An electrical device comprising:

at least a first and second housing part functioning as the first and second part with the device as claimed in claim 1.

10. A method for producing a seal between a first housing part and a second housing part of an electrical device, comprising:

applying a first electrical voltage to an electroactive plastic material produce the seal between the first housing part and the second housing part of the electrical device, a second electrical voltage being applyable to release the seal.

11. A device for producing a seal between a first housing part and a second housing part of an electrical device, wherein the seal is producible as a function of a physical characteristic of an electroactive plastic material, and wherein the physical characteristic of the electroactive plastic material is directly modifiable as a function of an electrical voltage.

12. An electroactive plastic material for producing a seal between a first housing part and a second housing part of an electrical device, the seal being producible as a function of a physical characteristic of the electroactive plastic material, and the physical characteristic of the electroactive plastic material being directly modifiable as a function of an electrical voltage.

13. The electroactive plastic material as claimed in claim 12, wherein the physical characteristic of the electroactive plastic material is a shape or volume of the electroactive plastic material.

14. The electroactive plastic material as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electroactive plastic material is changeable at least from a first shape to a second shape and from the second shape to the first shape by way of the electrical voltage, and wherein when the first shape is present, at least one sealing element being formed at least partially of electroactive plastic material to bring about a seal between the first part and the second part.

15. The electroactive plastic material as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sealing element is associated in a captive manner with the first or second part.

16. The electroactive plastic material as claimed in claim 15, wherein the sealing element is a sealing lip associated with the first part and wherein the second part comprises a recess corresponding to the sealing lip.

17. The electroactive plastic material as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electroactive plastic material is a plastic material with a shape memory effect.