Method for sealing liquid metal bearing through combination of moving ring and static ring

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for sealing a liquid metal bearing through combination of a moving ring and a static ring, and belongs to the technical field of bearings. The bearing comprises a mandrel, a shaft sleeve, a sealing ring and liquid metal, wherein the sealing ring consists of a movable ring and a static ring. The movable ring is tightly connected with the core shaft and rotates along with the core shaft, and is made of a material with good wear resistance, corrosion resistance and self-lubricating property; the static ring is fixed to the outer ring of the mandrel and made of polytetrafluoroethylene composite materials or stainless steel and the like, and the outer end face of the static ring is provided with a sealing structure matched with the dynamic ring. A tiny sealing gap between the moving ring and the static ring is optimally designed, and leakage can be effectively prevented by means of liquid metal surface tension and the hydrodynamic effect. The bearing is efficient in sealing performance, can adapt to complex working conditions of the CT bulb tube, is high in reliability, can prevent the bulb tube from being damaged by liquid metal leakage, guarantees the imaging quality, reduces the maintenance cost, and is of great significance for improving the performance of the CT bulb tube.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of bearings, and in particular to a method for sealing a liquid metal bearing by combining a dynamic ring and a static ring. Background Art

[0002] In CT equipment, the tube is one of the key components. It rotates at high speed and requires high-precision and stable operation to ensure imaging quality. Bearings, as key components that support the rotating parts of the tube, have a crucial impact on its performance. When traditional ball bearings are used in CT tubes, they often have problems such as severe wear, insufficient lubrication, and poor heat dissipation, which affect the service life of the tube and the stability and accuracy of imaging. Liquid metal bearings are gradually being used in the field of CT tubes due to their advantages such as good self-lubrication, low friction coefficient, and excellent heat dissipation performance.

[0003] However, in actual applications, liquid metal is prone to leak out from the gap of the bearing, which will not only lead to insufficient liquid metal inside the bearing, thus affecting the lubrication and heat dissipation effects, shortening the service life of the bearing and reducing its performance, but may also cause adverse effects such as contamination and short circuit on other components in the CT tube, seriously interfering with the normal operation of the CT tube and imaging quality.

[0004] Some existing sealing methods have defects such as unsatisfactory sealing effect and insufficient reliability when dealing with the sealing requirements of liquid metal bearings in CT tubes, which are high-precision, high-speed and complex working environments, and it is difficult to effectively prevent the leakage of liquid metal. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new bearing sealing structure that can adapt to the working characteristics of CT tubes and has efficient sealing performance. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for sealing a liquid metal bearing by combining a dynamic ring and a static ring, which is applied to a CT tube. Through the ingenious combination and coordinated work of the dynamic ring and the static ring, the structural characteristics are fully utilized to effectively reduce the leakage of liquid metal during the operation of the bearing, ensure the stability of the liquid metal inside the bearing, and thus improve the overall performance, working stability and service life of the bearing and the CT tube.

[0006] The present invention is a liquid metal bearing with a combined seal of a dynamic ring and a static ring for a CT tube, which mainly comprises a core shaft, a sleeve, a sealing ring and liquid metal filled therein;

[0007] The inner ring of the dynamic ring structure is tightly connected to the core shaft and can rotate with the core shaft to form a "dynamic" part in relative motion;

[0008] Furthermore, the material of the moving ring is selected from materials with good wear resistance, corrosion resistance and self-lubricating properties to ensure that the moving ring has less wear during the relative friction with the stationary ring and can maintain good sealing performance;

[0009] Furthermore, the static ring structure is fixedly mounted on the outer ring of the mandrel, and the end face of the static ring contacts the end face of the mandrel step stage, is relatively stationary, and corresponds to the dynamic ring, and together constitutes a key part of the sealing structure;

[0010] Furthermore, the static ring is made of a material with good corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance and moderate hardness, such as polytetrafluoroethylene composite material or stainless steel, so as to ensure that it can stably cooperate with the dynamic ring to achieve the sealing function during long-term use;

[0011] Furthermore, the outer end surface of the stationary ring is provided with a sealing structure adapted to the dynamic ring, the structure is continuously distributed along the circumferential direction of the stationary ring, and its shape and size are precisely matched with the dynamic ring, forming a sealing contact interface between the two;

[0012] Furthermore, a tiny sealing gap is provided between the dynamic ring and the static ring, and the size of the gap is optimized according to the physical properties of the liquid metal, the working parameters of the bearing, and the characteristics of the dynamic and static ring materials;

[0013] Furthermore, the tiny gap can not only allow the slight deformation caused by thermal expansion and contraction when the bearing rotates at high speed to be unimpeded, but also effectively prevent the leakage of liquid metal by means of the surface tension of the liquid metal itself and the fluid dynamics effect caused by the relative movement of the moving ring and the static ring.

[0014] Furthermore, when the liquid metal bearing is running, the moving ring rotates at high speed, while the stationary ring remains relatively still. The liquid metal plays a role in lubrication and heat dissipation inside the bearing. At the same time, due to the influence of various factors such as centrifugal force, the liquid metal tends to leak to the outside of the bearing;

[0015] Furthermore, in the above process, the sealing structure begins to play a role. On the one hand, when the liquid metal tries to leak out through this sealing interface, it will be hindered by the sealing gap. The surface tension of the liquid metal itself makes it difficult to easily break through this tiny gap. On the other hand, the fluid dynamics effect generated by the relative movement of the moving ring and the static ring changes the flow state of the liquid metal near the sealing interface, making it more inclined to flow in a circular direction along the sealing interface rather than leaking directly outward, further suppressing the leakage trend of the liquid metal.

[0016] In summary, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0017] 1. Efficient sealing performance: Through the ingenious combination of dynamic and static rings and the coordinated design of sealing gaps, sealing materials and other aspects, the leakage of liquid metal during the operation of the bearing can be significantly reduced, ensuring sufficient liquid metal inside the bearing, ensuring the continuity and stability of lubrication and heat dissipation, and effectively extending the service life of the bearing and CT tube.

[0018] 2. Good adaptability and reliability: The combined sealing structure of dynamic and static rings can adapt to complex working conditions such as high-speed rotation and temperature changes of bearings in CT tubes, maintain stable and reliable sealing effects during long-term operation, reduce bearing failures caused by liquid metal leakage and adverse effects on other components of the CT tube, and improve the reliability of the entire system.

[0019] 3. Ensure the working quality of CT tube: effectively prevent liquid metal leakage from damaging the electrical and mechanical environment inside the CT tube, maintain the cleanliness and normal operation of the inside of the tube, help improve the accuracy and stability of CT tube imaging, and reduce the maintenance cost and frequency of equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for describing the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work, among which:

[0021] Figure 1 It is a cross-sectional view of the overall structure of the liquid metal bearing with a combined seal of a dynamic ring and a static ring of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a partial enlarged view of the dynamic and static ring sealing structure; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a liquid metal bearing with a combined seal of a dynamic ring and a static ring, comprising a core shaft 1, a sleeve 2, a static ring 3, a dynamic ring 4, a dynamic ring drive ring 5, a static ring gasket 6 and a bearing gap 7. The relative position relationship and the overall layout between the core shaft, the sleeve, and the dynamic ring and the static ring arranged at the end of the sleeve are clearly presented, and the shape, size, sealing gap and matching mode of the dynamic ring and the static ring and other detailed features are shown in detail, which facilitates a more intuitive understanding of the specific structure of the sealing structure.

[0025] More specific participation Figure 1 As shown, the core shaft 1 and the sleeve 2 are made of suitable high-strength, high-hardness metal materials with good thermal stability and corrosion resistance according to design requirements. And through precise mechanical processing technology, the dimensional accuracy of the inner and outer diameters, thickness and other dimensions and the surface finish are guaranteed to meet the installation and use requirements of high-speed rotation of the CT tube.

[0026] The stationary ring 3 needs to be processed into a sealing structure that matches the dynamic ring, and its shape, size and processing accuracy must also be precisely controlled to ensure that it can fit closely with the dynamic ring.

[0027] The moving ring 4 is milled and ground in strict accordance with the designed shape, size and radial cross-section shape parameters using high-precision CNC processing equipment to ensure the processing accuracy of the sealing structure. At the same time, the inner surface of the moving ring is processed accordingly to meet the connection requirements with the core shaft.

[0028] After the processing is completed, the core shaft 1 and the sleeve 2 are assembled. The core shaft 1 and the sleeve 2 should be installed coaxially and the step surfaces should be parallel.

[0029] Furthermore, the liquid metal is injected into the gap 7 between the core shaft 1 and the sleeve 2 to ensure that the liquid metal is evenly distributed inside the bearing to prepare for subsequent lubrication and heat dissipation.

[0030] Furthermore, the sealing ring is installed to maintain coaxiality with the core shaft 1, and the stationary ring 3 fits the stepped end surface of the core shaft 1 and the stepped end surface of the sleeve 2. It is ensured that the connection is tight and the dynamic ring can rotate synchronously with the sleeve.

[0031] Furthermore, the dynamic ring 4 is accurately fixed to the outside of the static ring by means of a mechanical connection of a clamping groove, ensuring that the static ring corresponds to the dynamic ring and that the annular sealing structures of the two can accurately match.

[0032] More specific participation Figure 2 As shown, the stationary ring gasket 6 plays a role of lubrication and sealing, and its material can be selected as Ni42CrTi or 3J21 elastic alloy;

[0033] Furthermore, there is a dynamic ring driving ring 5 on the dynamic ring 4, which plays a role in transmitting torque, realizing synchronous motion, and reducing friction and vibration. During the assembly process, special attention should be paid to checking whether the sealing gap between the dynamic ring and the static ring meets the design requirements.

[0034] Furthermore, the installed liquid metal bearings are debugged. In the initial operation stage, the working status of the bearings is closely monitored through various monitoring equipment, with a focus on the temperature changes of the liquid metal, whether there are signs of leakage, and the vibration of the bearings. Based on the monitoring data, the relevant parameters of the bearings (such as the sealing gap between the dynamic and static rings) are fine-tuned and optimized as necessary to ensure that the combined sealing structure of the dynamic and static rings can continuously and efficiently play a sealing role, so that the liquid metal bearings can run stably in the CT tube, and ensure the normal operation and imaging quality of the CT tube.

[0035] The method of the present invention utilizes a dynamic ring and a static ring combination to seal a liquid metal bearing. The dynamic ring and the static ring combination sealing structure design provides an effective solution to the problem of liquid metal leakage in the liquid metal bearing in the CT tube. The method has significant technical advantages and broad application prospects, and is of great significance for improving the performance and reliability of the CT tube.

Claims

1. A method for sealing a liquid metal bearing by combining a dynamic ring and a static ring, applied to a CT tube, characterized in that: include: A core shaft, a sleeve, a sealing ring and liquid metal filled between the core shaft and the sleeve; the sealing ring includes a dynamic ring and a static ring, the dynamic ring is tightly connected to the core shaft and rotates with the core shaft, the static ring is fixedly installed on the outer ring of the core shaft, the end face of the static ring is in contact with the end face of the core shaft step and is relatively stationary, and a small sealing gap is provided between the dynamic ring and the static ring.

2. The liquid metal bearing with a combined seal of a dynamic ring and a static ring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material of the moving ring is a material with good wear resistance, corrosion resistance and self-lubrication.

3. The liquid metal bearing with combined dynamic and static ring seal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material of the stationary ring is a material with good corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance and moderate hardness. The outer end face of the stationary ring is provided with a sealing structure which is continuously distributed along the circumferential direction and adapted to the dynamic ring. The shape and size of the sealing structure are precisely matched with the dynamic ring.

4. The liquid metal bearing with a combined seal of a dynamic ring and a static ring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The size of the sealing gap is optimized and designed according to the physical properties of the liquid metal, the working parameters of the bearing and the characteristics of the materials of the dynamic and static rings.

5. The liquid metal bearing with a combined seal of a dynamic ring and a static ring according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a stationary ring gasket, which is located between the stationary ring and other components and is made of Ni42CrTi or 3J21 elastic alloy and is used for lubrication and sealing.

6. The liquid metal bearing with combined dynamic and static ring seal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The dynamic ring is provided with a dynamic ring driving ring for transmitting torque, realizing synchronous movement and reducing friction and vibration.

7. A method for manufacturing a liquid metal bearing with a combined seal of a dynamic ring and a static ring as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: The mandrel and sleeve are made of high-strength, high-hardness metal materials with good thermal stability and corrosion resistance. The dimensional accuracy and surface finish are ensured through turning, grinding and other precision machining processes, and the connection between the sleeve end and the stationary ring is finely processed; the dynamic ring blank is manufactured according to the selected dynamic ring material, and the dynamic ring blank is milled and ground using high-precision CNC machining equipment to ensure the machining accuracy of the sealing structure, and the inner surface of the dynamic ring is processed to meet the connection requirements with the mandrel. After the machining is completed, the surface quality and performance test of the dynamic ring are carried out; the appropriate static ring material is selected to prepare the static ring, and the static ring is machined to match the dynamic ring. The sealing structure is precisely controlled in shape, size and machining accuracy. The fixed installation part of the static ring is processed and quality inspected after completion. Liquid metal suitable for the working environment of the CT tube is selected and injected into the gap between the sleeve and the mandrel to ensure that the liquid metal is evenly distributed. The sealing ring is installed on the mandrel to ensure that the static ring fits the stepped end face of the mandrel, the dynamic ring is mechanically connected to the static ring through the slot and the annular sealing structures of the two are accurately matched. During the installation process, the sealing gap between the dynamic ring and the static ring is checked. The liquid metal bearing is debugged, the working status of the bearing is monitored during the initial operation stage, and the relevant parameters of the bearing are fine-tuned and optimized according to the monitoring data.

Images