Shaft seal assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a shaft seal assembly. The invention provides a shaft seal assembly comprising: a shaft (10); a housing (20), wherein the shaft (10) is arranged on the radial inner side of the housing (20); a bearing (30) provided between the shaft (10) and the housing (20) in the radial direction; and a sealing device (40) disposed radially between the shaft (10) and the housing (20) and comprising: a diaphragm spring (41) having an integral annular structure and disposed on the shaft (10) and engaged with the bearing (30); and a locking member (42) having an integral annular structure and detachably connected to one of the shaft (10) and the housing (20), where the diaphragm spring (41) is disposed axially between the bearing (30) and the locking member (42), and where the locking member (42) is configured to apply an axial force to the diaphragm spring (41) when installed in place, therefore, the diaphragm spring (41) can elastically deform and is attached to the axial end face of the bearing (30).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of sealing technology. More specifically, the present invention relates to the field of shaft sealing technology. Background Art

[0002] Bearings can be used to support rotating members, especially shafts. For example, the input shaft or output shaft of a hybrid module can be supported by a bearing. In a hybrid module, a coolant is used to cool components inside, and the coolant may reach the bearing during operation. Therefore, at the position where the bearing is arranged, a sealing device is required to seal the input shaft or output shaft. In the existing design, a labyrinth sealing device is used to seal the rotating shaft. However, the labyrinth sealing device has a complex structure, and the processing and assembly costs are high. In addition, when using the labyrinth sealing device, grooves need to be machined on the shaft, which will reduce the strength and service life.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for a shaft sealing assembly that can reduce costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One object of the present invention is to provide a shaft sealing assembly that can reduce costs. Another object of the present invention is to provide a shaft sealing assembly that can simplify the structure. Another object of the present invention is to provide a shaft sealing assembly that can improve the sealing performance. Another object of the present invention is to provide a shaft sealing assembly that can improve the convenience of maintenance.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention provides a shaft sealing assembly, including: a shaft; a housing, wherein the shaft is arranged on the radially inner side of the housing; a bearing, which is arranged between the shaft and the housing in the radial direction; and a sealing device, which is arranged between the shaft and the housing in the radial direction and includes: a diaphragm spring, which has an integral annular structure and is arranged on the shaft and engages with the bearing; and a locking member, which has an integral annular structure and is detachably connected to one of the shaft and the housing, wherein the diaphragm spring is arranged axially between the bearing and the locking member, and wherein the locking member is configured to apply an axial force to the diaphragm spring when installed in place, so that the diaphragm spring can elastically deform and fit against the axial end face of the bearing.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the diaphragm spring includes a metal carrier and a rubber material covering the metal carrier.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rubber material is hydrogenated nitrile rubber.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sealing device further includes a seal, which has an integral annular structure and is arranged between the shaft and the housing in the radial direction, wherein the diaphragm spring is arranged axially between the bearing and the seal.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the seal is configured to be connected to one of the shaft and the housing and is in sealing contact with the locking member radially.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the locking member is detachably connected to the shaft, the seal is connected to the housing, and the seal is radially disposed between the locking member and the housing.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the locking member includes an internal thread, the shaft includes an external thread, and the locking member is detachably connected to the shaft in a threaded connection manner.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the radially outer peripheral portion of the diaphragm spring is arranged to abut against the axial end of the bearing, and the locking member is arranged to abut against the radially inner peripheral portion of the diaphragm spring.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the diaphragm spring is configured such that when the locking member is installed in place, the diaphragm spring elastically deforms to cause the radially outer peripheral portion and the radially inner peripheral portion of the diaphragm spring to overlap axially.

[0014] Another aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle including a shaft seal assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the diaphragm spring is configured to be elastically deformable, and the locking member can apply an axial force to the diaphragm spring, so that the diaphragm spring can fit against the axial end face of the bearing for sealing. Compared with the labyrinth seal device, the shaft seal assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention has a simplified structure and reduced cost. The locking member can be detachably connected, which can improve the efficiency and convenience of maintenance and replacement. The diaphragm spring may include a metal carrier and a rubber material covering the metal carrier. Thus, by covering the metal carrier with, for example, HNBR, etc., the sealing performance of the diaphragm spring can be improved, and the corrosion resistance, wear resistance and heat resistance of the diaphragm spring can be improved. The seal device according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a seal, which can be axially disposed on the side of the diaphragm spring away from the bearing, which can further improve the sealing performance. The seal can also be arranged to be connected to one of the shaft and the housing and is in sealing contact with the locking member radially, which can reduce the axial dimension of the seal device and improve the structural compactness. The locking member can be detachably connected by a threaded connection manner. At this time, the already elastically deformed diaphragm spring can provide an axial force to the locking member to prevent the locking member from loosening. When the locking member is installed in place, the diaphragm spring can elastically deform to cause its radially outer peripheral portion and radially inner peripheral portion to overlap axially. Thus, the diaphragm spring will fit against the bearing with a larger contact area, so that the seal device can provide better sealing performance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a shaft seal assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 It is an exploded schematic view of a shaft seal assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 It is a schematic view of a diaphragm spring according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed implementation manners

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following detailed description and the drawings are used to exemplarily illustrate the principles of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the described preferred embodiments, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments, and some embodiments are illustrated in the drawings. The following description refers to the drawings, and unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The solutions described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all the solutions of the present invention. On the contrary, these solutions are only examples of the systems and methods of various aspects of the present invention involved in the appended claims.

[0020] The present invention provides a shaft seal assembly. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be understood that only some embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings, and the scope of the present invention should be determined according to the claims.

[0021] Figure 1 It is a cross-sectional schematic view of a shaft seal assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 It is an exploded schematic view of a shaft seal assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an exemplary embodiment, the shaft seal assembly of the present invention can be applied to a vehicle, particularly to a hybrid module of the vehicle.

[0022] As Figure 1 shown, the shaft seal assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a shaft 10, a housing 20, a bearing 30, and a sealing device 40.

[0023] The shaft 10 includes a radially outer surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the shaft 10 is a rotating shaft, such as an input shaft or an output shaft of a hybrid module of a vehicle.

[0024] The housing 20 includes a radially inner surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the shaft 10, the bearing 30, and the sealing device 40 are all disposed radially inside the housing 20.

[0025] The bearing 30 is arranged radially between the shaft 10 and the housing 20, more specifically, between the radially outer surface of the shaft 10 and the radially inner surface of the housing 20. In an exemplary embodiment, the bearing 30 includes an inner ring 31 and an outer ring 32. In addition, the bearing 30 may further include rolling elements arranged radially between the inner ring 31 and the outer ring 32. The inner ring 31 of the bearing 30 is torsionally resistant and arranged on the shaft 10. The outer ring 32 of the bearing 30 is fixed to the housing 20, that is, torsionally connected to the radially inner surface of the housing 20.

[0026] The sealing device 40 is arranged radially between the shaft 10 and the housing 20. In addition, the bearing 30 and the sealing device 40 are arranged axially in sequence. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sealing device 40 includes a diaphragm spring 41, a locking member 42, and a sealing member 43. The sealing device 40 has an overall annular structure. More specifically, the diaphragm spring 41, the locking member 42, and the sealing member 43 each have an overall annular structure. The diaphragm spring 41, the locking member 42, and the sealing member 43 are arranged concentrically.

[0027] The diaphragm spring 41 is arranged on the shaft 10. The diaphragm spring 41 is used to engage with the bearing 30 to provide a sealing effect. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a diaphragm spring according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an exemplary embodiment, the diaphragm spring 41 is configured to be elastically deformable. More specifically, the diaphragm spring 41 can elastically deform when an external force acts axially. In some embodiments, the diaphragm spring 41 has a substantially frustoconical shape.

[0028] In an exemplary embodiment, the diaphragm spring 41 includes a metal carrier and a rubber material covering the metal carrier. The metal carrier is used to provide the diaphragm spring 41 with the ability of elastic deformation. The metal carrier can be made of steel. The rubber material is preferably hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR). By covering the metal carrier with, for example, HNBR, etc., the sealing performance of the diaphragm spring can be improved, and the corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and heat resistance of the diaphragm spring can be improved.

[0029] In some embodiments, the diaphragm spring 41 includes a radially outer peripheral portion 41A and a radially inner peripheral portion 41B. In an exemplary embodiment, the radially outer peripheral portion 41A of the diaphragm spring 41 is arranged to abut against the axial end of the bearing 30, and the locking member 42 is arranged to abut against the radially inner peripheral portion 41B of the diaphragm spring 41. When not elastically deformed, the radially outer peripheral portion 41A and the radially inner peripheral portion 41B of the diaphragm spring 41 are axially spaced apart, as Figure 2 shown. When the diaphragm spring 41 is elastically deformed by an external force axially, the axial spacing between the radially outer peripheral portion 41A and the radially inner peripheral portion 41B of the diaphragm spring 41 will be shortened, and even will overlap axially, as Figure 1 shown.

[0030] The locking member 42 is arranged radially between the shaft 10 and the housing 20. The locking member 42 is arranged axially on the side of the diaphragm spring 41 away from the bearing 30, that is, the diaphragm spring 41 is arranged axially between the bearing 30 and the locking member 42, as Figure 1 shown. The locking member 42 engages with the diaphragm spring 41. When the locking member 42 is installed in place, the locking member 42 can apply an axial force to the diaphragm spring 41, so that the diaphragm spring 41 can elastically deform and fit against the axial end face of the bearing 30.

[0031] The locking member 42 is configured to be detachably connected to the shaft 10. In an exemplary embodiment, the locking member 42 is detachably connected to the shaft 10 in a threaded connection manner. The locking member 42 may include an internal thread, and the shaft 10 may include an external thread. Thus, the locking member 42 can be screwed onto the shaft 10, and the locking member 42 is detachably connected to the shaft 10 through the engagement between the internal thread of the locking member 42 and the external thread of the shaft 10. In this case, the already elastically deformed diaphragm spring 41 can provide an axial force to the locking member 42, acting as a lock washer to prevent the locking member 42 from loosening.

[0032] According to an embodiment of the present invention, by providing an axial force to the diaphragm spring 41 through the locking member 42, the diaphragm spring 41 can be axially compressed and elastically deformed, so that the diaphragm spring 41 can be pressed against and fit against the axial end face of the bearing 30. Thus, the diaphragm spring 41 can provide a sealing effect on fluids such as coolant in the bearing 30 and also provide a sealing effect on the shaft 10.

[0033] In an exemplary embodiment, when the locking member 42 is installed in place, the diaphragm spring 41 will elastically deform to such an extent that its radially outer peripheral portion 41A and radially inner peripheral portion 41B overlap axially, that is, the diaphragm spring 41 will be substantially flattened, as Figure 1 shown. Thus, the diaphragm spring 41 will fit against the bearing 30 with a larger contact area, so that the sealing device 40 can provide better sealing performance.

[0034] The seal 43 is arranged radially between the shaft 10 and the housing 20. The seal 43 can be used to further improve the sealing performance. The seal 43 is arranged axially on the side of the diaphragm spring 41 away from the bearing 30, that is, the diaphragm spring 41 is arranged axially between the bearing 30 and the seal 43.

[0035] In an exemplary embodiment, the seal 43 is disposed radially between the locking member 42 and the housing 20. More specifically, the seal 43 may be connected to the radially inner surface of the housing 20. For example, the seal 43 may be installed on the radially inner surface of the housing 20 by an interference fit. The seal 43 is preferably a cartridge seal. The seal 43 is in sealing contact with the locking member 42 radially, specifically with the radially outer surface of the locking member 42. In an exemplary embodiment, the seal 43 includes a sealing lip. The sealing lip of the seal 43 may be made of an elastic material such as rubber. When the seal 43 is connected to the housing 20, the sealing lip of the seal 43 is in sealing contact with the locking member 42. In some embodiments, the seal 43 may further include a skeleton. The skeleton of the seal 43 may be made of a rigid material such as metal.

[0036] As described above, the locking member 42 is detachably connected to the shaft 10. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the locking member 42 may also be detachably connected to the radially inner surface of the housing 20.

[0037] As described above, the seal 43 is disposed radially between the locking member 42 and the housing 20. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, when the locking member 42 is connected to the radially inner surface of the housing 20, the seal 43 may also be disposed radially between the locking member 42 and the shaft 10.

[0038] As described above, when the seal 43 is disposed radially between the locking member 42 and the housing 20, the seal 43 is connected to the housing 20 and is in sealing contact with the locking member 42 radially. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the seal 43 may also be connected to the locking member 42 and be in sealing contact with the housing 20 radially.

[0039] As described above, the seal 43 is disposed radially between the locking member 42 and the housing 20, or radially between the locking member 42 and the shaft 10, that is, the seal 43 and the locking member 42 are arranged to at least partially overlap axially. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the seal 43 is disposed radially between the shaft 10 and the housing 20, but the seal 43 and the locking member 42 are arranged not to overlap axially. In this case, the seal 43 may be connected to one of the shaft 10 and the housing 20 and be in sealing contact with the other radially.

[0040] Although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the structures and methods of the above embodiments. On the contrary, the present invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent configurations. Additionally, although various elements and method steps of the disclosed invention are shown in various exemplary combinations and configurations, other combinations including more or fewer elements or methods also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0041] List of reference numerals

[0042] 10 shafts;

[0043] 20 housings;

[0044] 30 bearings;

[0045] 31 inner rings;

[0046] 32 outer rings;

[0047] 40 sealing devices;

[0048] 41 diaphragm springs;

[0049] 41A radially outer peripheral parts;

[0050] 41B radially inner peripheral parts;

[0051] 42 locking parts;

[0052] 43 seals.

Claims

1. A shaft seal assembly, include: Axis (10); A housing (20), wherein the shaft (10) is arranged radially inside the housing (20); a bearing (30) radially disposed between the shaft (10) and the housing (20); and A sealing device (40) is radially arranged between the shaft (10) and the housing (20) and comprises: a diaphragm spring (41) having an overall annular structure and disposed on the shaft (10) and engaged with the bearing (30); and a locking member (42) having an overall annular structure and detachably connected to one of the shaft (10) and the housing (20), The diaphragm spring (41) is axially arranged between the bearing (30) and the locking member (42), and The locking member (42) is configured to apply an axial force to the diaphragm spring (41) when installed in place, so that the diaphragm spring (41) can be elastically deformed and fit the axial end surface of the bearing (30).

2. The shaft seal assembly according to claim 1, in, The diaphragm spring (41) comprises a metal carrier and a rubber material covering the metal carrier.

3. The shaft seal assembly according to claim 2, in, The rubber material is hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber.

4. The shaft seal assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in, The sealing device (40) further comprises a sealing member (43) having an integral annular structure and radially arranged between the shaft (10) and the housing (20), wherein the diaphragm spring (41) is axially arranged between the bearing (30) and the sealing member (43).

5. The shaft seal assembly according to claim 4, in, The sealing member (43) is configured to be connected to the other of the shaft (10) and the housing (20) and to be in sealing contact with the locking member (42) in a radial direction.

6. The shaft seal assembly according to claim 5, in, The locking member (42) is detachably connected to the shaft (10), the sealing member (43) is connected to the housing (20), and the sealing member (43) is radially arranged between the locking member (42) and the housing (20).

7. The shaft seal assembly according to claim 5 or 6, in, The locking member (42) includes an internal thread, the shaft (10) includes an external thread, and the locking member (42) is detachably connected to the shaft (10) in a threaded connection manner.

8. The shaft seal assembly according to claim 7, in, The radial outer peripheral portion (41A) of the diaphragm spring (41) is arranged to abut against the axial end of the bearing (30), and the locking member (42) is arranged to abut against the radial inner peripheral portion (41B) of the diaphragm spring (41).

9. The shaft seal assembly according to claim 8, in, The diaphragm spring (41) is configured such that when the locking member (42) is installed in place, the diaphragm spring (41) is elastically deformed to the point where the radial outer peripheral portion (41A) and the radial inner peripheral portion (41B) of the diaphragm spring (41) overlap in the axial direction.

10. A vehicle comprising a shaft seal assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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