Sealing structure

Abstract

The invention provides a sealing structure which can prevent a part of a gasket from floating from a mounting groove when the gasket is mounted in the mounting groove. The gasket (300) is characterized by being provided with: an annular gasket main body section (310) which is attached to the attachment groove (210); and a plurality of protrusions (320) which are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the washer body (310) at intervals in the circumferential direction, and which are in contact with the side wall surface on one side of the mounting groove (210) before the washer (300) is mounted in the mounting groove (210) and the first member and the second member are fixed. The washer main body (310) has a serpentine portion (312) that does not come into contact with the side wall surfaces on both sides of the mounting groove (210).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a sealing structure. BACKGROUND

[0002] In a housing of an engine, a transmission, a sealing structure having a gasket is provided in order to avoid leakage of oil or the like to the outside of the housing. Referring to Figure 7 A sealing structure of a housing of the related art will be described. Figure 7 (a) of FIG. 1 is a plan view of a gasket involved in the related art, Figure 7 (b) of FIG. 1 is a bottom view showing a state in which the gasket is mounted on a member constituting the housing.

[0003] Generally, the housing includes a housing main body having an opening portion, and a cover member for plugging the opening portion of the housing main body. Further, in a case where the sealing structure is provided, a gasket is provided which seals a gap between an end surface of the housing main body and the cover member.

[0004] In the example shown in Figure 7 , the gasket 500 is mounted in the annular mounting groove 210 provided in the cover member 200, the cover member 200 is fixed to the housing main body not shown, and thus the sealing structure is formed. That is, if the housing main body and the cover member 200 are fixed, the gasket 500 mounted in the mounting groove 210 is compressed by the housing main body and the cover member 200, and the gap between the end surfaces of the housing main body and the cover member 200 is sealed.

[0005] Transportation or the like is performed in a state in which the gasket 500 is mounted in the cover member 200, and after various members and devices are assembled in the housing main body, the cover member 200 is sometimes fixed to the housing main body. In such a case, it is necessary to prevent the gasket 500 from falling off from the mounting groove 210 during transportation. Therefore, on the gasket 500, a plurality of fall-off preventing protrusions 520 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction on an inner peripheral surface of the annular gasket main body portion 510 mounted in the mounting groove 210. If the gasket 500 configured as described above is mounted in the mounting groove 210, the outer peripheral surface of the gasket 500 comes into contact with a side wall surface on the outer peripheral side of the mounting groove 210, and the plurality of protrusions 520 come into contact with a side wall surface on the inner peripheral side of the mounting groove 210. Thus, the gasket 500 becomes in a state in which it is compressed in the width direction, and falling off from the mounting groove 210 is suppressed.

[0006] In the gasket 500 configured as described above, when installed in the installation groove 210, a portion thereof sometimes rises from the groove, and workability is reduced. In particular, it is known that in a case where the installation groove 210 is shallow in groove depth due to various constraints, a linear portion between adjacent protrusions 520 in the gasket main body portion 510 is likely to rise. As a reason therefor, the following aspects are considered. That is, when the gasket 500 is installed in the installation groove 210, the gasket 500 is compressed in the width direction at a portion of the protrusions 520. Thereby, a force that compresses the linear portion between the adjacent protrusions 520 in the gasket main body portion 510 in the linear direction acts. Therefore, a force that deforms in a manner of rising from the installation groove 210 acts on the linear portion, and thus when the force exceeds a frictional force of the linear portion against a side wall surface of the installation groove 210, the portion rises. In particular, the shallower the groove depth of the installation groove 210, the narrower the contact area of the linear portion against the side wall surface of the installation groove 210, and the smaller the frictional force, and thus the rising is likely to occur.

[0007] Prior Art Documents

[0008] Patent Documents

[0009] Patent Document 1: International Patent Application Publication No. 2007 / 7611 SUMMARY

[0010] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0011] The present application provides a seal structure capable of suppressing a portion of a gasket from rising from an installation groove when the gasket is installed in the installation groove.

[0012] MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0013] The present application employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.

[0014] That is, the seal structure of the present application includes:

[0015] a first member;

[0016] a second member fixed to the first member; and

[0017] a gasket installed in a ring-shaped installation groove provided on at least either one of the first member and the second member, and sealing a gap between end faces of the first member and the second member,

[0018] The seal structure is characterized in that

[0019] the gasket includes:

[0020] a ring-shaped gasket main body portion installed in the installation groove; and

[0021] protrusions are provided at the inner circumferential surface or the outer circumferential surface of the gasket main body portion at intervals in the circumferential direction,

[0022] Further, in a state before the gasket is installed in the installation groove and the first member and the second member are fixed, the protrusions are in contact with the side wall surface of one side of the installation groove, and the gasket main body portion has a meandering portion which is not in contact with the side wall surfaces of both sides of the installation groove.

[0023] According to the present application, the gasket main body portion has a meandering portion which is not in contact with the side wall surfaces of both sides of the installation groove. Thus, by installing the gasket in the installation groove, even if a force like compression is applied to the portion between the adjacent protrusions in the gasket main body portion, the force can be absorbed by the meandering portion, and the force which deforms in such a manner as to float up from the installation groove is suppressed.

[0024] Further, in a state before the gasket is installed in the installation groove and the first member and the second member are fixed, the protrusions are in contact with the side wall surface of one side of the installation groove, and the gasket main body portion has a meandering portion which is not in contact with the side wall surfaces of both sides of the installation groove.

[0025] Thus, the gasket can be more reliably prevented from falling out of the installation groove.

[0026] It is preferable that the protrusions be provided with voids.

[0027] Thus, the rebound force when the protrusions are compressed can be suppressed, and thus the gasket can be further prevented from floating up.

[0028] Effects of the Invention

[0029] As described above, according to the present application, when a gasket is installed in an installation groove, a portion of the gasket can be suppressed from floating up from the installation groove. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a housing having the sealing structure of Embodiment 1 of the present application.

[0031] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating a gasket according to Embodiment 1 of the present application.

[0032] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a sealing structure of Embodiment 1 of the present application.

[0033] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a sealing structure of Embodiment 2 of the present application.

[0034] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a modification of a gasket.

[0035] Figure 6is a drawing showing a deformation example of the gasket.

[0036] Figure 7 is an explanatory drawing of a sealing structure of the related art. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Hereinafter, referring to the drawings, a mode for carrying out the present application will be explained in detail based on an example. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangement, etc. of the members described in this example are not intended to limit the scope of the present application only to them, as long as they are not specifically described.

[0038] (Example 1)

[0039] Referring to Figures 1-3 , the sealing structure of Example 1 of the present application will be explained. Figure 1 is an explanatory drawing of a case having the sealing structure of Example 1 of the present application, Figure 1 (a) of is an external view of the case, Figure 1 (b) of is a plan view of the case main body, Figure 1 (c) of is a bottom view of the cover member. Further, in Figure 1 (a) of, the partially perspective portion is indicated by a broken line. Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of the gasket of Example 1 of the present application, Figure 2 (a) of is a plan view of the gasket, Figure 2 (b) of is Figure 2 A1-A1 sectional view in (a) of Figure 2 (c) of is Figure 2 B1-B1 sectional view in (a) of

[0040] Figure 3 is an explanatory drawing of the sealing structure of Example 1 of the present application, Figure 3 (a) of is a bottom view showing a state where the gasket is mounted on the cover member, Figure 3 (b) of is Figure 3 A2-A2 sectional view in (a) of Figure 3 (c) of is Figure 3 B2-B2 sectional view in (a) of

[0041] (SEALING STRUCTURE)

[0042] Referring to Figure 1 , the general situation of the sealing structure will be explained. Figure 1The illustrated casing 10 includes a casing main body 100 as a first member and a cover member 200 as a second member. Further, the casing 10 of the present embodiment is suitable for use as a casing of an engine, a transmission. However, the casing described below is not limited to such use, and can be applied as a casing for various uses. Note that the sealing structure of the present application is not limited to the sealing structure provided in the casing, and can be applied to various sealing structures in which the end surfaces of two members need to be sealed.

[0043] An opening portion 110 is provided in the casing main body 100, and various members, devices are housed from the opening portion 110. By fixing the cover member 200 to the casing main body 100, the opening portion 110 is plugged. As for the fixing structure of the casing main body 100 and the cover member 200, in addition to a structure using a fixing member such as a bolt, various known techniques can be employed.

[0044] Further, by providing a gasket 300 that seals the gap between the end surfaces of the casing main body 100 and the cover member 200, a sealing structure is formed by these members. The gasket 300 is composed of an elastic material such as rubber. In the present embodiment, the gasket 300 is installed in the annular mounting groove 210 provided in the cover member 200, and the gap between the end surfaces of the casing main body 100 and the cover member 200 is sealed. That is, the gasket 300 is in a state of being compressed by the end surface 105 of the casing main body 100 and the groove bottom surface of the annular mounting groove 210 provided in the end surface of the cover member 200, and thereby seals the gap between the end surfaces of the casing main body 100 and the cover member 200. Note that the mounting groove for mounting the gasket can be provided in the casing main body, or a structure in which the mounting groove is provided in both the casing main body and the cover member can be employed.

[0045] (Gasket)

[0046] In particular, reference will be made to Figure 2 The structure of the gasket 300 will be described. The gasket 300 includes an annular gasket main body portion 310 that is installed in the mounting groove 210, and a plurality of protrusions 320 that are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the gasket main body portion 310. The gasket main body portion 310 is composed of a portion (hereinafter referred to as a "similar shape portion 311" for convenience) that is similar in shape to the mounting groove 210 in a manner following the mounting groove 210, and a meandering portion 312. The meandering portion 312 is a shape that meanders in a manner protruding in the same direction as the protruding direction of the protrusions 320 (in the present embodiment, the direction from the outer peripheral surface toward the inner peripheral surface).

[0047] Further, in the present embodiment, a pair of annular seal protrusions 313, 314 are provided on one side of the front and back surfaces of the gasket main body 310, and a pair of annular seal protrusions 315, 316 are provided on the other side. In the present embodiment, the gasket 300 is symmetric with respect to the central plane of the gasket 300 in the front and back surface direction, and therefore the gasket 300 can be installed in the mounting groove 210 without regard to the direction. Further, in the present application, a structure in which no seal protrusion is provided on the front and back surfaces of the gasket main body, a structure in which a single annular seal protrusion is provided on each of the front and back surfaces, and a structure in which three or more annular seal protrusions are provided on each of the front and back surfaces can be employed. Further, in the present application, a structure in which the gasket is asymmetric with respect to the central plane of the gasket in the front and back surface direction can be employed. In this case, a structure in which the number of annular seal protrusions differs between the two surfaces, such as a structure in which a single annular seal protrusion is provided on one side of the front and back surfaces of the gasket main body and a pair of annular seal protrusions are provided on the other side, can be employed. Of course, a structure in which no annular seal protrusion is provided on one side and a single or multiple annular seal protrusions are provided on the other side can be employed.

[0048] (Gasket mounted in mounting groove)

[0049] Particularly with Figure 3 reference to the state in which the gasket 300 is mounted in the mounting groove 210 and the housing main body 100 and the cover member 200 are fixed, the relationship between the gasket 300 and the mounting groove 210 will be described. In this state, the plurality of protrusions 320 are configured to be in contact with the single side wall surface (in the present embodiment, the inner circumferential side wall surface) of the mounting groove 210. Thereby, the gasket 300 can be inhibited from falling out of the mounting groove 210. That is, the plurality of protrusions 320 function as protrusions for preventing falling out. Further, in the above state, the portion of the gasket main body 310 other than the meandering portion 312 (i.e., the similarly shaped portion 311) is configured to be in contact with the side wall surface (in the present embodiment, the outer circumferential side wall surface) of the mounting groove 210 on the opposite side to the side wall surface with which the protrusions 320 are in contact among the two side wall surfaces of the mounting groove 210. Thereby, the gasket 300 can be more reliably inhibited from falling out of the mounting groove 210.

[0050] Further, in the present embodiment, in the above state, the meandering portion 312 is configured not to be in contact with the two side wall surfaces of the mounting groove 210 (see (a), (c) of FIG. 13). Figure 3 Further, in the state in which the housing main body 100 and the cover member 200 are fixed, the gasket 300 is compressed and deformed by them. In this state, the meandering portion 312 can be configured to be in contact with the two side wall surfaces of the mounting groove 210 in part or entirely.

[0051] (Advantages of the sealing structure of the present embodiment)

[0052] According to the sealing structure of the present embodiment, the gasket main body portion 310 adopts a structure having the meandering portion 312 that does not contact the side wall surface of both sides of the mounting groove 210. Thereby, by mounting the gasket 300 to the mounting groove 210, even if a force that compresses the portion between the adjacent protrusions 320 in the gasket main body portion 310 acts, it is absorbed by the meandering portion 312. That is, since there is a gap between the meandering portion 312 and the side wall surface of the mounting groove 210, even if the above-mentioned force acts, the meandering portion 312 is able to deform in a manner of further protruding from the outer peripheral surface toward the inner peripheral surface. Thereby, the above-mentioned force can be released. Therefore, the force that deforms a portion of the gasket main body portion 310 in a manner of floating from the mounting groove 210 is suppressed, and the floating can be suppressed. Thereby, the mounting workability of the gasket 300 to the mounting groove 210 can be improved.

[0053] (Embodiment 2)

[0054] Figure 4 Embodiment 2 of the present application is shown. In the above-mentioned Embodiment 1, a structure in which the protrusions are provided to the inner peripheral surface of the gasket main body portion is shown, but in the present embodiment, a structure in which the protrusions are provided to the outer peripheral surface of the gasket main body portion is shown. The other basic structure and the action are the same as Embodiment 1, so the same structure portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof is omitted.

[0055] Figure 4 is a explanatory view of the sealing structure of Embodiment 2 of the present application, Figure 4 (a) of is a plan view of a gasket, Figure 4 (b) of is a bottom view showing a state in which the gasket is mounted on the cover member. The gasket 300A related to the present embodiment includes: the annular gasket main body portion 310A that is mounted to the mounting groove 210; and the plurality of protrusions 320A that are provided to the outer peripheral surface of the gasket main body portion 310A at intervals in the circumferential direction. The gasket main body portion 310A is constituted by the similar shape portion 311A that is a planar shape similar to the shape of the mounting groove 210 and the meandering portion 312A in a manner of following the mounting groove 210. The meandering portion 312A is a shape that meanders in a manner of protruding in the same direction as the protruding direction of the protrusions 320A (in the present embodiment, the direction from the inner peripheral surface toward the outer peripheral surface).

[0056] In addition, in the present embodiment, also as in Embodiment 1, the annular sealing protrusion is provided to the front and back surfaces of the gasket main body portion 310A. Regarding the annular sealing protrusion, as explained in Embodiment 1, so the explanation thereof is omitted.

[0057] The relationship between the gasket 300A and the mounting groove 210 in a state before the gasket 300A is mounted to the mounting groove 210 and the housing main body 100 and the cover member 200 are fixed will be described. In this state, the plurality of protrusions 320A are configured to be in contact with the side wall surface of one side of the mounting groove 210 (in this embodiment, the side wall surface of the outer periphery side). Thereby, it is possible to suppress the gasket 300A from falling out of the mounting groove 210. That is, the plurality of protrusions 320A function as protrusions for preventing falling out. In addition, in the above state, the portion of the gasket main body portion 310A other than the meandering portion 312A (that is, the similar shape portion 311A) is configured to be in contact with the side wall surface of the other side of the mounting groove 210 (in this embodiment, the side wall surface of the inner periphery side) opposite to the side wall surface in contact with the protrusions 320A. Thereby, it is possible to more reliably suppress the gasket 300A from falling out of the mounting groove 210.

[0058] Also, in this embodiment, in the above state, the meandering portion 312A is configured not to be in contact with the side wall surfaces of both sides of the mounting groove 210 (refer to Figure 4 In addition, in a state where the housing main body 100 and the cover member 200 are fixed, the gasket 300A is compressed and deformed by them. In this state, it is also possible to be configured such that a part or all of the side surfaces of both sides of the meandering portion 312A are in contact with the side wall surfaces of both sides of the mounting groove 210.

[0059] In the sealing structure of this embodiment configured as described above, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment 1 can also be obtained.

[0060] (Modified Example)

[0061] With reference to Figure 5 and Figure 6 , a modified example of the gasket will be described. In the gasket 300 of the above-described embodiment 1, a case where the meandering portion 312 is configured in a shape meandering in a direction (a direction from the outer peripheral surface toward the inner peripheral surface) in which the protrusions 320 protrude in the same direction as the protrusions 320 is shown. However, the meandering portion can also be configured in a shape meandering in a direction opposite to the protruding direction of the protrusions. In Figure 5 (a) of FIG. 32 shows a gasket 300B configured in a shape meandering in a direction (a direction from the inner peripheral surface toward the outer peripheral surface) opposite to the protruding direction of the protrusions 320 by the meandering portion 312B. In addition, Figure 5(a) is a top view of washer 300B, with the same reference numerals used for structural parts identical to those in Embodiment 1. In washer 300B, as in Embodiment 1, before it is installed in the mounting groove 210 and the housing body and cover component are fixed, it is preferable that not only the protrusion 320, but also the portion opposite to the protrusion 320 (front and back sides) contacts the side wall of the mounting groove 210. This more reliably prevents washer 300B from detaching from the mounting groove 210. Furthermore, in the above-described state, the meandering portion 312B is configured not to contact the side wall surfaces of both sides of the mounting groove 210, as is the case in Embodiment 1. Figure 5 (b) shows the case where the gasket 300B is installed in the mounting slot 210.

[0062] Furthermore, the washer 300A of Embodiment 2 can also be constructed in a shape in which the meandering portion protrudes in a direction opposite to the protruding direction of the protrusion. That is, as... Figure 5 As shown in (c), a washer 300C can also be constructed by a bend in which the meandering portion 312C protrudes in a direction opposite to the protruding direction of the protrusion 320 (from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface). The state of the washer 300C before it is installed in the mounting groove and the housing body and the cover component are fixed is the same as in the above embodiments and variations, so its description is omitted.

[0063] Furthermore, the number and arrangement of the protrusions are not particularly limited. For example, in Embodiment 1, a structure is shown in which similarly shaped portions 311 between adjacent meandering portions 312 in the length direction of the washer 300 are provided with protrusions 320 at one location. However, for example, as Figure 6 As shown in (a) with washer 300D, a structure can also be adopted in which a similar shape portion 311 with protrusion 320 and a similar shape portion 311 without protrusion 320 are arranged in appropriate positions. In addition, although not specifically shown, a structure in which multiple protrusions 320 are provided on a similar shape portion 311 can also be adopted.

[0064] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, it is shown that the meandering portion is configured to bend only towards either the inner or outer circumferential surface in a planar shape. However, for example, as... Figure 6 As shown in (b) and (c), meandering portions 312X and 312Y that bend toward the inner and outer peripheral surfaces, respectively, can also be used. The number of portions bending toward the inner and outer peripheral surfaces is, of course, not limited.

[0065] In addition, such as Figure 6 As shown in (d) with washer 300E, a structure in which a cavity 321 is provided in the protrusion 320E can also be adopted. Furthermore, Figure 6 (d) and Figure 2(b) is also equivalent to Figure 2 The figure of the cross section of A1-A1 in (a) is also equivalent to

[0066] Note that in each of the above embodiments and modified examples, the structure in which the meandering portion is provided at a plurality of sites is shown, but depending on the size and the like of the gasket and the mounting groove, the meandering portion can be provided at at least one site as long as the floating of the gasket is suppressed.

[0067] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0068] 10: housing

[0069] 100: housing main body

[0070] 105: end surface

[0071] 110: opening portion

[0072] 200: cover member

[0073] 210: mounting groove

[0074] 300, 300A, 300B, 300C, 300D, 300E: gasket

[0075] 310, 310A: gasket main portion

[0076] 311, 311A: similar shape portion

[0077] 312, 312A, 312B, 312C, 312X, 312Y: meandering portion

[0078] 313, 314, 315, 316: sealing protrusion

[0079] 320, 320A, 320E: protrusion

[0080] 321: hollow

Claims

1. A seal structure comprising: a first member; a second member fixed to the first member; and a gasket installed in a ring-shaped installation groove that seals a gap between end faces of the first member and the second member, the installation groove being provided on at least either one of the first member and the second member, the seal structure being characterized in that the gasket comprises: a gasket main body portion installed in the installation groove; and a plurality of protrusions provided at intervals in a circumferential direction on an inner peripheral surface or an outer peripheral surface of the gasket main body portion, and, in a state before the gasket is installed in the installation groove and the first member and the second member are fixed, the protrusions are in contact with a side wall surface of one side of the installation groove, and the gasket main body portion has a meandering portion that is not in contact with side wall surfaces of both sides of the installation groove.

2. The seal structure according to claim 1, characterized in that in the state before the gasket is installed in the installation groove and the first member and the second member are fixed, a portion of the gasket main body portion other than the meandering portion is in contact with a side wall surface of one side of the installation groove that is opposite to the side wall surface contacted by the protrusions. a hollow is provided on the protrusions. ​ 3. The sealed structure of claim 1 or 2, wherein, ​

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