Rotary water tank for rotary table
By designing a rotating water tank device, the problems of optical path interference and sealing in rotating fluid testing of the turntable device were solved, achieving high-precision fluid testing and structural stability. It is suitable for rotating fluid and fluid-structure interaction testing of various specimens.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-17
AI Technical Summary
Existing turntable devices suffer from problems such as laser optical path interference, dynamic sealing difficulties, and poor structural stability in rotating fluid testing, which affect optical measurement accuracy and equipment safety.
A rotating water tank for a turntable was designed, employing a rotating sealing device with a specific structure and a support lug fixing method. The shape of the side wall of the water tank was optimized to adapt to the optical test path, and dynamic sealing was achieved using an FB-type lip seal ring and a deep groove ball bearing to ensure that the relative movement of the water tank and the rotating shaft does not affect the test process.
It solves the problems of laser light path interference and sealing, realizes high-precision fluid testing, ensures no liquid leakage, and is suitable for rotating fluid testing and fluid-structure interaction testing of different specimens.
Smart Images
Figure CN121877340A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the fields of aerospace and fluid mechanics, specifically to a rotating water tank for a turntable. The device consists of a water tank body, a rotating shaft, a rotating sealing device, etc., and is suitable for various turntable equipment. It can be used for flow testing and characterization of rotating fluids or fluid-structure interaction testing. Background Technology
[0002] Turntables are key experimental platforms in fundamental research of fluid mechanics and aerospace engineering experiments, widely used in the analysis of rotating flow field characteristics, observation of internal flow in rotating machinery, and research on fluid-structure interaction (FSI) effects. In these studies, high-precision, non-invasive optical measurement techniques, especially particle image velocimetry (PIV) and planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF), have become standard methods for obtaining instantaneous velocity and concentration distribution information in rotating flow fields. However, applying these optical techniques to rotating liquid-filled containers faces significant challenges. In existing technologies, the test container is typically rigidly fixed directly to the turntable's rotation axis, rotating synchronously at high speed with the axis. This design has the following core drawbacks: 1. Severe interference with the laser beam path: The rotating cylindrical or irregular container walls cause dynamic refraction and reflection of the laser beam, greatly distorting the incident and imaging beam paths. This not only reduces the signal-to-noise ratio of PIV / PLIF images, but also makes it impossible to accurately capture the preset measurement plane due to beam path offset, leading to distorted or completely invalid experimental data.
[0003] 2. Dynamic Sealing Challenges: For in-situ testing, the container must remain completely sealed while rotating to prevent liquid leakage. However, the high-speed relative motion between the rotating shaft and the stationary container presents significant sealing challenges. Conventional O-rings or simple packing seals are prone to wear and aging under prolonged high-speed operation, leading to seal failure, contaminating the experimental environment, and endangering equipment safety.
[0004] 3. Poor structural stability and adaptability: Existing devices often lack flexible installation interfaces, making it difficult to integrate them securely into different types of turntables. Furthermore, the design of specimen mounting platforms is typically simplistic, failing to meet the needs of specimens with complex geometries or multi-condition testing.
[0005] Therefore, the industry urgently needs a new type of rotating water tank device that can eliminate the interference of rotation on optical measurements, achieve reliable high-speed dynamic sealing, and also possess good structural stability and wide adaptability. This invention is proposed against this backdrop, aiming to systematically solve the aforementioned technical pain points. Summary of the Invention
[0006] (a) Purpose of the invention The present invention aims to provide a rotating water tank for a turntable, achieving the following objectives: the laser incident angle can be selected according to the experimental requirements to obtain the corresponding profile; liquid can be effectively filled outside the turntable's rotation axis; the water tank body is fixed to the turntable surface or other rotating axis surfaces except for the rotation axis and does not affect the rotation axis movement; the dynamic seal between the tank body and the rotating axis is guaranteed, and the liquid inside the tank does not leak when the rotating axis rotates.
[0007] (II) Technical Solution To achieve the above objectives, this invention proposes a rotating water tank for a turntable. The core idea is to design a rotating water tank for a turntable consisting of a water tank body, a specimen mounting platform, a rotating shaft, and a rotating sealing device with a specific structure. The shape of the water tank body's sidewall is optimized to adapt to the optical testing path. The rotating sealing device achieves dynamic sealing and relative rotation between the rotating shaft and the water tank body. Simultaneously, the support lug design ensures stable fixation of the water tank body, thereby solving the problems of optical path interference, poor filling and sealing, and structural instability in existing turntable liquid-filling testing devices. The overall technical solution is as follows: 1. Overall structure and connections The rotating water tank for the turntable is as follows: Figure 1 As shown, it includes a water tank body 4, a specimen mounting platform 5, a rotating shaft 12, and a rotary sealing device.
[0008] The rotary sealing device consists of a locking nut 6, a lip seal seat 7, an FB-type lip seal 8, a shaft elastic retaining ring 9, a bearing cap 10, and a deep groove ball bearing 11. The shaft elastic retaining ring 9 is located between the deep groove ball bearing 11 and the locking nut 6, providing a soft connection and generating preload to ensure a tighter connection between the locking nut 6 and the rotating shaft 12. The locking nut 6 is tightly fastened to the shaft elastic retaining ring 9 on the inner ring of the deep groove ball bearing 11, fixing the position of the inner ring of the deep groove ball bearing 11 to prevent axial vibration during high-speed operation and ensuring the coaxiality of the deep groove ball bearing 11 and the rotating shaft 12. The bearing cap 10 seals the deep groove ball bearing 11, preventing external impurities such as water, air, dust, and oil from entering the bearing; if impurities enter, they may accelerate bearing wear and even cause abnormalities such as axial vibration of the outer ring or the ejection of steel balls. The FB-type lip seal 8 is installed in the central circular hole of the lip seal seat 7 and cooperates with the rotating shaft 12 to achieve a seal and prevent liquid leakage from the water tank.
[0009] The connection relationships of the components of the rotating water tank for the turntable are as follows: the bottom of the water tank is connected to a lip seal seat 7, and the top of the water tank is provided with an upper cover 3; the upper cover 3 of the water tank has a vent hole 2, and a vent cover 1 is provided on the vent hole 2; a test piece mounting platform 5 is provided inside the water tank 4, and the test piece mounting platform 5 is connected to the rotating shaft 12; the lip seal seat 7 is sealed to the water tank 4, and an FB type lip seal 8 is fixedly installed in the central round hole; the rotating shaft 12 is fitted into a deep groove ball bearing 11, and the displacement of the deep groove ball bearing 11 is limited by a shaft elastic retaining ring 9 above the shaft elastic retaining ring 9, and then locked with a lock nut 6 above the shaft elastic retaining ring 9; the deep groove ball bearing 11 is fitted into a bearing cover 10, and the bearing cover 10 is fixedly connected to the lip seal seat 7.
[0010] In actual use, lugs can be added to the outside of the water tank 4 for fixing it to the turntable surface; the side wall of the water tank 4 can be designed as a cylindrical curved surface or a polygonal prism surface. The specimen mounting platform 5 is designed in different shapes according to the testing requirements and is equipped with corresponding tooling fixtures.
[0011] 2. Assembly process of rotary sealing device The assembly process of the rotary sealing device is as follows: First, install the FB type lip seal ring 8 into the central round hole of the lip seal ring seat 7; then, fit the rotating shaft 12 into the deep groove ball bearing 11, and install the shaft elastic retaining ring 9 and the lock nut 6 on top of the deep groove ball bearing 11 in sequence; next, fit the deep groove ball bearing 11 into the bearing cover 10; finally, fix the bearing cover 10 to the lip seal ring seat 7.
[0012] 3. Water tank filling process The steps for filling the water tank are as follows: First, place the rotating water tank with the opening facing upwards and open the vent cover 1; align the upper cover 3 of the water tank with the edge of the water tank body 4 from the end away from the vent 2 and slowly close it; after tightening the upper cover 3, add liquid into the water tank through the vent 2 to the highest liquid level to ensure that there is no residual air in the water tank body 4; finally, close the vent cover 1.
[0013] 4. Box wall shape design The method for selecting the shape of the tank wall is as follows: when using particle image velocimetry to test a rotating specimen in a liquid, a regular n-prism wall with an even number of edges n is selected as the side wall of the water tank 4 to ensure that the light paths of the irradiated laser and the incident light from the camera are perpendicular to each other; considering the ease of processing, a quadrangular prism wall or an octagonal prism wall is preferred.
[0014] 5. Operating principle of the device After the water tank is filled with liquid, it can immerse the specimen installed on the specimen mounting platform 5; the water tank body 4 is fixed to the ground, turntable surface, or other rotating shaft platform surface except for the self-rotating shaft by externally installed lugs; after the turntable is started, the turntable transmits the rotation speed to the specimen installed on the specimen mounting platform 5 through the rotating shaft 12; the rotating shaft 12 and the water tank body 4 are slidably connected by the FB type lip seal ring 8 and the deep groove ball bearing 11, which achieves sealing while ensuring the relative movement of the two, and ensures the stable conduct of the test process.
[0015] (III) Beneficial Effects The rotating water tank for the turntable of the present invention, through the above technical solution, has the following beneficial effects: 1. Solve the problem of laser light path interference: By designing the side wall of the water tank (4) as a polygonal prism (such as a quadrangular prism, an octagonal prism, etc.), the laser can be selected to enter from the corresponding side of the prism as needed, ensuring that the irradiated laser is perpendicular to the incident light path of the camera, thus improving the flow field test effect.
[0016] 2. Effective filling and sealing: Dynamic sealing between the rotating shaft and the water tank is achieved through a rotary sealing device (especially the FB type lip seal ring), ensuring no liquid leakage and stable filling of liquid outside the rotating shaft of the turntable.
[0017] 3. Structural stability: The water tank can be fixed to the ground, turntable, etc. via lugs. At the same time, the rotating shaft and the water tank can move relative to each other through bearings and sealing rings, without interfering with each other, ensuring the stability of the test process.
[0018] 4. High adaptability: The specimen mounting platform can be designed into different shapes according to requirements and can be equipped with a variety of tooling fixtures, which are suitable for rotating fluid testing or fluid-structure interaction testing of different specimens. Attached Figure Description
[0019] Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the rotating water tank for the turntable, showing the connection relationship of the water tank body 4, the specimen mounting platform 5, the rotating shaft 12 and the various components of the rotating sealing device (locking nut 6, lip seal seat 7, FB type lip seal 8, shaft elastic retaining ring 9, bearing cover 10, deep groove ball bearing 11), as well as the position of the water tank upper cover 3, the vent hole 2, and the vent hole cover 1; Figure 2 is an isometric view of the rotating water tank for the turntable, showing the overall structural form of the device, including the external outline of the water tank body 4, the mounting position of the support lugs (schematic), and the overall assembly effect of each component. Detailed Implementation
[0020] This section, in conjunction with Figures 1 and 2, provides a detailed description of the specific implementation process of the rotating water tank for the turntable of the present invention, enabling those skilled in the art to fully and accurately implement the present invention.
[0021] I. Assembly and Assembly Process: Precision assembly of the rotary seal device: 1. Select an FB type lip seal ring 8 whose inner diameter is precisely matched with the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 12, and press it into the sealing groove in the middle of the lip seal ring seat 7, ensuring that the lip faces the inside of the water tank body 4, so as to achieve a self-tightening seal by using fluid pressure.
[0022] 2. Heat-fit or press-fit the deep groove ball bearing 11 to the designated position on the shaft 12. Then, install the shaft retaining ring 9 on the shaft 12 at the retaining ring groove above the inner ring of the bearing for axial positioning.
[0023] 3. Screw the locking nut 6 onto the rotating shaft 12 and tighten it with a torque wrench. Apply a stable preload to the inner ring of the deep groove ball bearing 11 through the shaft elastic retaining ring 9 to effectively eliminate bearing clearance and ensure coaxiality and stability under high-speed rotation.
[0024] 4. Insert the assembled bearing assembly of the rotating shaft 12 into the inner hole of the bearing cap 10. Finally, use hex socket head cap screws to securely connect the bearing cap 10 to the lip seal seat 7, forming a complete, independently installable rotary sealing unit.
[0025] II. Integration of the main body of the water tank: 1. Connect the assembled rotary sealing unit to the bottom flange of the water tank body 4 through the flange face of its lip seal seat 7, and tighten it with bolts. An O-ring can be installed in between to ensure static sealing.
[0026] 2. Securely connect the specimen mounting platform 5 to the top of the rotating shaft 12 using a keyway and set screws to ensure the coaxiality of the mounting platform and the rotating shaft and the effective transmission of the rotating shaft torque.
[0027] 3. Install the specimen onto the specimen mounting platform 5, which is not shown in the attached drawing.
[0028] 4. Connect the top cover 3 of the water tank to the top of the water tank body 4 with bolts. A vent hole 2 with a diameter of 10mm is opened near the center of the top cover 3, and it is equipped with a threaded acrylic vent cover 1.
[0029] III. Filling and Venting Operation Procedures 1. Place the entire device vertically on the workbench with the opening facing upwards.
[0030] 2. Open the vent cover 1.
[0031] 3. Slowly inject deionized water or other experimental fluids into the chamber 4 through the vent 2 until the liquid level reaches the highest point of the vent 2 and overflows from the vent 2, ensuring that there are no residual air bubbles in the chamber.
[0032] 4. After the liquid level stabilizes, quickly tighten the vent cap 1 to complete the seal.
[0033] III. Optical Testing Configuration and Operation 1. When performing PIV / PLIF tests on fluids, select a water tank 4 with an octagonal prism wall. Secure the device to the turntable surface with bolts via external fasteners, ensuring that the water tank 4 itself is absolutely stationary.
[0034] 2. Taking cross-sectional cutting as an example, adjust the laser sheet light source so that it passes horizontally through a pair of parallel side surfaces of the box 4 (i.e., the two opposite faces of a regular octagonal prism). Since these two side surfaces are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the light path, the laser will not be refracted or deflected when passing through, thus ensuring the accuracy of the measurement plane and the imaging quality.
[0035] 3. Start the turntable, and power is transmitted to the test specimen mounting platform 5 and the test specimen on it through the rotating shaft 12. During this process, the rotating shaft 12 rotates at high speed relative to the stationary water tank 4, while the FB type lip seal ring 8 and the deep groove ball bearing 11 work together to ensure smooth rotation and zero liquid leakage.
[0036] Through the detailed implementation steps described above, the rotary water tank for the turntable of the present invention can be applied efficiently and reliably to various high-precision rotating fluid experiments.
Claims
1. A rotating water tank for a turntable, characterized in that, It includes a water tank body (4), a specimen mounting platform (5), a rotating shaft (12), and a rotary sealing device; The bottom of the water tank body (4) is connected to a lip-shaped sealing ring seat (7), and the top of the water tank is provided with a water tank top cover (3); the water tank top cover (3) is provided with a vent hole (2), and the vent hole (2) is provided with a vent hole cover (1); The specimen mounting platform (5) is located inside the water tank (4) and is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft (12); The rotary sealing device includes a locking nut (6), a lip seal seat (7), an FB-type lip seal (8), a shaft elastic retaining ring (9), a bearing cover (10), and a deep groove ball bearing (11); the lip seal seat (7) is sealed to the water tank body (4), and the FB-type lip seal (8) is fixedly installed in its internal round hole; the rotating shaft (12) is sleeved on the inner ring of the deep groove ball bearing (11), the shaft elastic retaining ring (9) is provided above the deep groove ball bearing (11), and the locking nut (6) is provided above the shaft elastic retaining ring (9); the deep groove ball bearing (11) is accommodated inside the bearing cover (10), and the bearing cover (10) is fixedly connected to the lip seal seat (7); The water tank (4) is provided with lugs on the outside for fixing to the external table.
2. The rotating water tank for a turntable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side wall of the water tank (4) is a cylindrical curved surface or a polygonal prism wall.
3. The rotating water tank for a turntable according to claim 2, characterized in that, When particle image velocimetry or planar laser-induced fluorescence technology is used for testing, the side wall of the water tank (4) is a regular n-prism wall with an even number of edges n.
4. The rotating water tank for a turntable according to claim 3, characterized in that, The wall of the regular n-prism is either a regular square prism wall or a regular octagonal prism wall.
5. The rotating water tank for a turntable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shaft elastic retaining ring (9) is located between the deep groove ball bearing (11) and the locking nut (6) to generate a preload to enhance the tightness of the connection between the locking nut (6) and the shaft (12).
6. The rotating water tank for a turntable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bearing cap (10) is used to seal the deep groove ball bearing (11) to prevent external contaminants from entering.
7. The rotating water tank for a turntable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The specimen mounting table (5) can be designed in different shapes and can be equipped with a variety of tooling fixtures.
8. The rotating water tank for a turntable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water tank (4) can be fixed to the ground, turntable, or other rotating shaft surfaces except for the self-rotating shaft via the lugs.