A sealing ring processing technology and a processing structure

Abstract

This invention discloses a sealing ring processing technology and structure, belonging to the field of sealing component processing technology. The processing structure includes a cylindrical rubber base material and a coaxially wrapped external support layer. The support layer is made of a machinable and selectively removable hard material with a hardness higher than the rubber base material, allowing for seamless peeling after processing. The processing technology is as follows: a cylindrical rubber base material is prepared, and a support layer is wrapped around its outer periphery to form a coaxial composite masterbatch; the composite masterbatch is machined in sections, first cutting away the corresponding areas of the support layer, then finishing the exposed rubber base material. Using the outer circle of the support layer as a positioning reference, the cutting and shearing processes are completed in one clamping operation on the same CNC machine tool, eliminating secondary positioning, effectively eliminating rubber elasticity and ensuring dimensional accuracy; after processing, the support layer can be peeled off and recycled. This invention requires no special molds, is compatible with conventional machining, solves the problems of easy deformation and difficult clamping of rubber during cutting, has a simple process, low cost, and is suitable for efficient preparation of small-batch customized sealing rings.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention generally relates to the field of sealing ring processing technology, and specifically to a sealing ring processing technology and processing structure. Background Technology

[0002] Rubber seals are indispensable basic components in the industrial field, widely used in aerospace, automotive manufacturing, petrochemical, construction machinery, and electronics industries, primarily serving functions such as sealing, shock absorption, dustproofing, and waterproofing. Currently, the mainstream production method for rubber seals is mold forming technology, including compression molding, injection molding, and extrusion molding.

[0003] However, existing mold forming processes have many insurmountable drawbacks: First, mold development costs are high and the cycle is long. For the production needs of small batches, multiple varieties, and customized seals, the mold cost accounts for too high a proportion, resulting in extremely poor production flexibility. Second, for seals with complex structures and high precision requirements, mold design and manufacturing are difficult, and defects such as flash, insufficient glue, and air bubbles are prone to occur, resulting in a low product qualification rate. Furthermore, different specifications of seals require different molds, resulting in high mold inventory management costs and a high mold scrap rate when products are updated, causing resource waste.

[0004] To address these issues, the industry has attempted to directly manufacture rubber seals using machining. However, elastic rubber materials are characterized by low hardness, high elasticity, and easy deformation. Machining presents challenges such as clamping difficulties, workpiece elasticity issues, difficulty in guaranteeing machining accuracy, and poor surface roughness. Existing technologies typically employ cryogenic cutting to reduce the rubber's elasticity, but this method requires specialized cryogenic equipment, is energy-intensive, has complex processes, and the post-processed rubber properties are easily affected by low temperatures. Alternatively, complex specialized clamping fixtures can be used, but these are costly to design and can easily damage the workpiece surface, while still failing to completely solve the problem of machining deformation. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides a sealing ring processing technology, comprising the following steps: S1: Processing rubber raw materials into cylindrical rubber base materials; S2: A rigid support layer is wrapped around the outer periphery of the rubber base material to form a coaxially arranged integral composite masterbatch; S3: The composite masterbatch is machined in segments. First, the rigid support layer in the corresponding area is cut away, and then the exposed rubber base material area is finely machined. S4: Perform a cutting process on the finely processed composite masterbatch to obtain the finished sealing ring.

[0006] Through the above-described process steps, this sealing ring processing technology first processes the rubber raw material into a cylindrical rubber base material, ensuring the regularity of the blank structure and adaptability to precision rotary machining. Then, a rigid support layer is wrapped around the outer periphery of the rubber base material to form a coaxial, integrated composite masterbatch, significantly improving the overall structural rigidity and overcoming the drawbacks of pure rubber material being soft, difficult to clamp and position, and prone to deformation during processing. Through segmented machining processes, the rigid support layer in the target area is first removed by cutting, followed by precision machining of the exposed rubber base material area. The remaining support layer continuously provides rigid constraint, preventing elastic yielding of the rubber during cutting and ensuring stable dimensional accuracy. Finally, the processed composite masterbatch is cut to obtain the finished sealing ring. This process does not require customized molds, is compatible with conventional general-purpose machining equipment, has a compact and reasonable process layout, and high production efficiency. It can efficiently complete the high-precision machining of small batches of customized sealing rings, effectively reducing production cycle and processing costs.

[0007] In some embodiments, the segmented processing width of the composite masterbatch is adapted to the outer diameter of the composite masterbatch, so that the rubber base exposed after the removal of the external support layer does not undergo elastic deformation that affects processing accuracy during the cutting process. Thus, by adapting the segmented processing width to its own outer diameter, the composite masterbatch effectively solves the technical problem of elastic deformation of the exposed rubber base after the removal of the external support layer during cutting. Because the segmented processing width matches the outer diameter of the composite masterbatch, the exposed rubber base can obtain uniform and stable force support during cutting, avoiding elastic deformation caused by uneven force or insufficient support. This effectively prevents the adverse effects of elastic deformation on processing accuracy, ensures the stability of the cutting process, and guarantees that the key indicators such as dimensional accuracy and surface flatness of the composite masterbatch after cutting meet design requirements, improving the product processing pass rate and reliability. It also reduces processing errors caused by deformation, lowers subsequent rework costs, and improves overall processing efficiency.

[0008] In some embodiments, the machining method in step S3 is selected from one or more combinations of turning, milling, and grinding. During the machining process, the remaining external support layer continuously constrains the rubber base material to eliminate elastic yielding of the rubber base material during cutting. Therefore, step S3 employs one or more combinations of turning, milling, and grinding for machining, which can be flexibly selected according to processing requirements, adapting to different processing scenarios and ensuring processing applicability and efficiency. During processing, the remaining external support layer can continuously constrain the rubber base material, effectively limiting the deformation of the rubber material, eliminating the elastic yielding problem of the rubber base material during cutting, avoiding defects such as dimensional deviations and poor surface quality caused by elastic yielding, improving the stability and accuracy of cutting, ensuring product processing quality and dimensional consistency, and increasing the processing pass rate.

[0009] In some embodiments, in step S3, the outer circle of the outer support layer of the composite masterbatch is used as a positioning datum for clamping, achieving coaxial machining of the outer support layer cutting and the rubber base material finishing. Therefore, step S3, using the outer circle of the outer support layer of the composite masterbatch as a positioning datum for clamping, ensures accurate and reliable clamping and simplifies the clamping operation. By sequentially performing the cutting of the outer support layer and the finishing of the rubber base material using this unified datum, coaxial machining of both can be achieved, avoiding coaxiality deviations caused by datum switching or multiple clamping operations. This effectively improves the machining accuracy of the composite masterbatch, ensures that the product coaxiality meets design requirements, reduces clamping adjustment steps, and improves processing efficiency and product quality stability.

[0010] In some embodiments, steps S3 and S4 are completed in a single clamping operation on the same CNC machine tool, eliminating the need for secondary positioning. This effectively avoids positioning errors caused by multiple clamping operations and datum changes, significantly improving the processing accuracy and dimensional consistency of the composite masterbatch. Furthermore, this setup eliminates the auxiliary time spent on repeated clamping and alignment, simplifying the processing flow, improving overall processing efficiency, reducing potential workpiece damage from multiple clamping operations, and enhancing the stability of the processing and the product qualification rate.

[0011] In some embodiments, after processing, the remaining external support layer is peeled off or cut away. The peeled-off external support layer can be recycled and reused in the molding of the composite masterbatch. Therefore, removing the remaining external support layer by peeling or cutting after processing is simple and does not damage the internal rubber base material, ensuring the structural integrity and processing accuracy of the finished product. Simultaneously, the peeled-off external support layer can be recycled and reused in the molding of the composite masterbatch, realizing the recycling of the support layer material, effectively reducing raw material waste, lowering production and processing costs, and improving the economic efficiency and environmental friendliness of the process.

[0012] A processing structure based on the above-mentioned sealing ring processing technology includes: a rubber base material, the rubber base material being cylindrical in shape, and an outer support layer covering the outer peripheral surface of the rubber base material and coaxially arranged with the rubber base material; the outer support layer is made of a machinable and selectively removable hard material, the hardness of which is higher than that of the rubber base material, and has a separable interface structure with the rubber base material.

[0013] With the aforementioned technical features, this sealing ring processing structure employs a cylindrical rubber base material coupled with a coaxially wrapped external support layer. Utilizing a rigid, machinable, and selectively removable support layer material, it provides rigid constraint to the flexible and easily deformable rubber base material, effectively solving the problems of clamping difficulties and elastic yielding during rubber processing, significantly improving the processing accuracy and dimensional stability of the sealing ring. The support layer has a higher hardness than the rubber base material, making it compatible with conventional machining equipment. It eliminates the need for specialized molds or cryogenic equipment, reducing the processing cost for small-batch custom sealing rings. Simultaneously, a separable interface is provided between the support layer and the rubber base material, allowing for complete removal after processing without damaging the rubber substrate surface, ensuring the sealing performance of the sealing ring. The coaxial structure also unifies the processing benchmark, reducing coaxiality deviations and further optimizing the quality of the finished product.

[0014] In some embodiments, the material of the outer support layer is any one of polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene, nylon, or recycled engineering plastic, and its Shore hardness is not less than D75. Therefore, in this sealing ring processing structure, the outer support layer is selected from any one of polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene, nylon, or recycled engineering plastics, with a Shore hardness of not less than D75. This material selection and hardness setting ensure that the outer support layer has sufficient rigidity and good machinability, allowing it to stably adapt to conventional machining equipment for cutting and other processing operations. At the same time, this hardness setting enables the outer support layer to provide reliable rigid constraints for the flexible and easily deformable cylindrical rubber base material. Combined with the coaxial setting of the support layer and the rubber base material, it can effectively ensure the uniformity of the processing benchmark and reduce dimensional deviations during processing. The selected materials have both easy processing and separability characteristics. Combined with the separable interface between the support layer and the rubber base material, it can not only meet the rigid support requirements during processing, but also allow for convenient and non-destructive selective removal of the support layer after processing, avoiding damage to the surface of the rubber base material and ensuring the molding quality and sealing performance of the sealing ring. In addition, the availability of recycled engineering plastics can further reduce processing costs and improve resource utilization while ensuring support performance, adapting to the processing needs of small-batch, customized sealing rings.

[0015] In some embodiments, the difference in the linear expansion coefficients of the external support layer and the rubber base material is controlled within ±30%. Therefore, in this sealing ring processing structure, controlling the difference in the linear expansion coefficients of the external support layer and the rubber base material within ±30% effectively reduces the difference in thermal expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes during processing. This avoids gaps, peeling, or relative displacement between the support layer and the rubber base material due to inconsistent expansion or contraction, ensuring that they are always tightly fitted and coaxially aligned. This control method ensures a stable rigid constraint effect of the external support layer on the rubber base material, preventing processing reference deviation due to thermal deformation, and further improving the dimensional accuracy and molding stability of the sealing ring. Simultaneously, it prevents the support layer from cracking or deforming during processing due to excessive differences in expansion coefficients, or damage to the surface of the rubber base material when removing the support layer, ensuring the surface integrity of the rubber base material and thus ensuring the sealing performance of the sealing ring. It also extends the processing adaptability and recyclability of the external support layer.

[0016] In some embodiments, a weak bonding interface is formed between the outer support layer and the rubber base material. By adjusting the extrusion temperature, surface roughness, or applying a release coating, the outer support layer can be completely peeled off after processing without damaging the surface of the rubber base material. Therefore, this sealing ring processing structure sets a weak bonding interface between the outer support layer and the rubber base material, which can be easily prepared by adjusting the extrusion temperature, interface surface roughness, or applying a release coating. During processing, the weak bonding interface ensures a tight fit between the two, preventing accidental loosening or misalignment, and stably maintaining rigid constraints and coaxial positioning references. After processing, the outer support layer can be completely peeled off without damaging the surface of the rubber base material. No additional grinding or repair post-processing steps are required, significantly simplifying the process, improving delamination efficiency, preserving the surface condition of the rubber substrate, ensuring the sealing performance of the sealing ring, and effectively improving the finished product processing quality and production yield.

[0017] It should be understood that the description in the Summary of the Invention is not intended to limit the key or essential features of the embodiments of this disclosure, nor is it intended to restrict the scope of this disclosure. Other features of this disclosure will become readily apparent from the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of a sealing ring processing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0019] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating a sealing ring manufacturing process according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0020] Symbol Explanation 1. Composite masterbatch; 11. Rubber base material; 12. External support layer. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The preferred embodiments (or implementation methods) of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] The following is for reference. Figure 1-2 This invention describes a sealing ring processing technology and processing structure.

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of a sealing ring processing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. (Reference) Figure 1 As shown, a sealing ring processing mechanism includes a rubber base material 11 and an outer support layer 12. The rubber base material 11 has a cylindrical structure, and the outer support layer 12 covers the outer peripheral surface of the rubber base material 11 and is coaxially arranged with the rubber base material 11. The outer support layer 12 is made of a machinable and selectively removable hard material. The hardness of the hard material is higher than that of the rubber base material 11. At the same time, a separable interface structure is formed between the outer support layer 12 and the rubber base material 11.

[0024] The rubber base material 11 is the core substrate of the sealing ring processing structure. Its cylindrical structure conforms to the basic forming requirements of the sealing ring. The outer support layer 12 is an outer support component used to assist in the processing of the rubber base material 11. It is coaxially wrapped around the outer circumference of the rubber base material 11 and can fit completely with the outer contour of the rubber base material 11. The separable interface structure formed between the two provides structural conditions for the removal of the outer support layer 12 after processing. The hard material used in the outer support layer 12 has both machinability and selective removal characteristics, and its hardness parameter is higher than that of the rubber base material 11, thereby meeting the basic performance requirements of the processing support.

[0025] The sealing ring processing structure, with the help of the coaxially arranged external support layer 12, can provide stable processing support for the relatively soft cylindrical rubber base material 11, effectively avoiding deformation problems of the rubber base material 11 during machining, ensuring the dimensional accuracy of the sealing ring. The machinable material properties of the external support layer 12 allow the overall processing of the sealing ring to proceed smoothly, while its selective removability, combined with the separable interface structure, allows the external support layer 12 to be easily separated from the rubber base material 11 after processing, simplifying the subsequent processing of the sealing ring. This improves the processing efficiency while ensuring the quality of the finished sealing ring.

[0026] In some embodiments, the material of the outer support layer 12 is selected from any one of polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene, nylon, or recycled engineering plastics, and the Shore hardness of the outer support layer 12 is not lower than D75. As an outer support component that plays an auxiliary role in the sealing ring processing structure, the outer support layer 12 uses polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene, nylon, and recycled engineering plastics, all of which are commonly used rigid engineering plastics. These materials all possess the characteristics of being machinable and selectively removable. The requirement that the Shore hardness of the outer support layer 12 be not lower than D75 clarifies the hardness standard of this support component, ensuring that its hardness performance matches the actual usage requirements of sealing ring processing.

[0027] The outer support layer 12, made of the aforementioned material and with a Shore hardness of not less than D75, can provide stable hard support for the rubber base material 11 during the processing of the sealing ring, preventing deformation of the support components during processing. At the same time, this type of engineering plastic material has both good machinability and separability, which can be adapted to the machining process of the sealing ring and the outer support layer 12 can be easily removed after processing, thereby ensuring the processing accuracy and molding quality of the sealing ring and improving the feasibility and efficiency of the sealing ring processing process.

[0028] In some embodiments, the difference in linear expansion coefficients between the outer support layer 12 and the rubber base material 11 is controlled within ±30%. This limitation of ±30% is proposed in conjunction with their assembly relationship and processing / usage scenarios. It aims to coordinate their deformation characteristics under environmental changes, compensate for structural risks caused by the inherent expansion differences between different materials, and ensure that they always maintain a stable fit.

[0029] This limitation effectively prevents inconsistent expansion or contraction between the external support layer 12 and the rubber base material 11 during processing, especially when temperatures change, due to excessive differences in their linear expansion coefficients. This prevents problems such as support misalignment, deformation of the rubber base material 11 under stress, and premature interface separation, thereby ensuring the dimensional accuracy and structural integrity of the sealing ring. Simultaneously, the stable expansion characteristics combined with the separable interface structure ensure the stability of the support during processing and facilitate smooth separation of the external support layer 12 and the rubber base material 11 after processing. This avoids separation difficulties and damage to the rubber base material 11 caused by deformation differences, further improving the processing efficiency and yield rate of the sealing ring, and enhancing the practicality and reliability of the entire processing structure.

[0030] In some embodiments, a weak bonding interface is formed between the outer support layer 12 and the rubber base material 11. By controlling the extrusion temperature and surface roughness, or by applying a release coating, the outer support layer 12 can be completely peeled off after processing without damaging the surface of the rubber base material 11.

[0031] The weak bonding interface is the contact interface between the outer support layer 12 and the rubber base material 11 with low bonding strength. The extrusion temperature is the extrusion process temperature during the molding process of the two. The surface roughness is the surface roughness parameter of the side where the outer support layer 12 and the rubber base material 11 are attached. The release coating is a coating applied between the two to reduce the bonding force. By adjusting the above process parameters or applying the coating, it can be directly applied to the contact area between the outer support layer 12 and the rubber base material 11, thereby constructing a weak bonding interface between the two.

[0032] This structural design and processing control method makes the peeling operation of the external support layer 12 simpler and more efficient. During the peeling process, it can effectively avoid scratches and damage to the surface of the rubber base material 11, fully ensuring the integrity and processing accuracy of the surface of the rubber base material 11. At the same time, it simplifies the subsequent removal process of the external support layer 12, and improves the overall processing convenience and finished product qualification rate of the rubber base material 11.

[0033] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating a sealing ring manufacturing process according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. (Reference) Figure 2 As shown, a sealing ring processing technology includes the following steps: S1: Preparation of rubber base material 11. After the rubber raw material is mixed and plasticized, it is processed into a cylindrical structure of rubber base material 11 by extrusion or molding process. This ensures that the outer diameter, inner diameter and length of the rubber base material 11 meet the requirements of subsequent processing, and that the cylinder wall thickness is uniform and free from defects such as bubbles and cracks, thus laying the foundation for subsequent coating and finishing.

[0034] S2: Composite Masterbatch 1 is formed by uniformly coating a rigid support layer on the outer periphery of the prepared rubber base material 11 through a coating process. During the coating process, the coating force and coaxiality are strictly controlled to ensure that the rigid support layer is tightly attached to the rubber base material 11 and is coaxially arranged, thus forming an integral composite masterbatch 1. The rigid support layer can be made of rigid materials such as metal or hard plastic, and its thickness is reasonably set according to the size of the rubber base material 11 and subsequent processing requirements to ensure that it can provide stable support for the rubber base material 11.

[0035] S3: Segmented machining. The composite masterbatch 1 after molding is machined in segments. Before machining, the outer circle of the rigid support layer of the composite masterbatch 1 is used as the positioning reference for clamping to ensure that the clamping is firm and the positioning is accurate. This achieves coaxial machining of the cutting of the rigid support layer and the finishing of the rubber base material 11, avoiding positioning deviation from affecting the machining accuracy. During the machining process, the rigid support layer in the corresponding area is cut away according to the preset size to expose the rubber base material 11 area below. The segmented machining width is adapted to the outer diameter of the composite masterbatch 1 to ensure that the rubber base material 11 exposed after the removal of the rigid support layer does not undergo elastic deformation that affects the machining accuracy during subsequent cutting. Then, the exposed rubber base material 11 area is finished. The machining method can be one or more combinations of turning, milling, and grinding, depending on the machining accuracy requirements and structural characteristics of the rubber base material 11. During the machining process, the remaining rigid support layer that has not been cut away continues to constrain the rubber base material 11, effectively eliminating the yielding phenomenon of the rubber base material 11 due to its own elasticity during the cutting process, further ensuring the machining accuracy.

[0036] S4: Cutting and Finished Product Forming. The composite masterbatch 1 after finishing is cut. During the cutting process, the cutting size and flatness of the cutting surface are strictly controlled to ensure that the cut product meets the specifications of the finished sealing ring. In order to further improve processing efficiency and avoid the accuracy deviation caused by secondary positioning, steps S3 and S4 are completed in one clamping on the same CNC machine tool without secondary positioning, which effectively reduces positioning error and improves the dimensional consistency of the finished sealing ring.

[0037] In the description of this specification, the terms "connection," "installation," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0038] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A sealing ring processing technology, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Process the rubber raw material into a cylindrical rubber base material (11); S2: A rigid support layer is wrapped around the outer periphery of the rubber base material (11) to form an integral composite masterbatch (1) arranged coaxially; S3: The composite masterbatch (1) is machined in segments. First, the rigid support layer in the corresponding area is cut off, and then the exposed rubber base material (11) area is finely machined. S4: Perform a cutting process on the finely processed composite masterbatch (1) to obtain the finished sealing ring.

2. The sealing ring processing technology according to claim 1, characterized in that, The segmented processing width of the composite masterbatch (1) is adapted to the outer diameter of the composite masterbatch (1) so that the rubber base material (11) exposed after the removal of the outer support layer (12) does not produce elastic deformation that affects the processing accuracy during the cutting process.

3. The sealing ring processing technology according to claim 1, characterized in that, The machining method in step S3 is selected from one or more combinations of turning, milling, and grinding; during the machining process, the remaining external support layer (12) continuously constrains the rubber base material (11) to eliminate the elastic yielding of the rubber base material (11) during the cutting process.

4. The sealing ring processing technology according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S3, the outer circle of the outer support layer (12) of the composite masterbatch (1) is used as the positioning reference for clamping, so as to realize the coaxial machining of the cutting of the outer support layer (12) and the finishing of the rubber base material (11).

5. The sealing ring processing technology according to claim 1, characterized in that, Steps S3 and S4 are completed in one clamping operation on the same CNC machine tool, without the need for secondary positioning.

6. The sealing ring processing technology according to claim 1, characterized in that, After processing, the remaining external support layer (12) is peeled off or cut off. The peeled external support layer (12) can be recycled and reused for molding of composite masterbatch (1).

7. A processing structure for the sealing ring processing technology according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, include: Rubber base material (11), wherein the rubber base material (11) is arranged in a cylindrical shape. An external support layer (12) covers the outer peripheral surface of the rubber base material (11) and is coaxially arranged with the rubber base material (11); The outer support layer (12) is made of a machinable and selectively removable hard material, which has a higher hardness than the rubber base material (11) and has a separable interface structure with the rubber base material (11).

8. The sealing ring processing structure according to claim 7, characterized in that, The material of the outer support layer (12) is any one of polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene, nylon or recycled engineering plastic, and its Shore hardness is not less than D75.

9. The sealing ring processing structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, The difference in the linear expansion coefficient between the external support layer (12) and the rubber base material (11) is controlled within ±30%.

10. The sealing ring processing structure according to claim 7 or 9, characterized in that, A weak bonding interface is formed between the outer support layer (12) and the rubber base material (11). By adjusting the extrusion temperature, surface roughness, or applying a release coating, the outer support layer (12) can be peeled off as a whole after processing without damaging the surface of the rubber base material (11).

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