Conductive sliding member, sealing device, and method for producing sealing device

Abstract

To easily impart conductivity.SOLUTION: A conductive sliding member 10 comprises, in an annular space S between a relatively rotating shaft 20 and a housing 30 having conductivity, an annular conductive lip portion 11 formed of a molded body of an elastic body having conductivity and slidable on a surface 21 of the shaft 20, and a sealing device bonding portion 14 provided on an outer peripheral side of the conductive lip portion 11 and capable of being bonded to a sealing device main body 200 on a side opposite to a sealing target fluid side of a sealing device 100 that seals the annular space S.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a conductive sliding member, a sealing device, and a method for manufacturing the sealing device. [Background technology]

[0002] It is known that in vehicles equipped with electric motors, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), induced currents generated by the motor can cause electromagnetic noise in AM (amplitude modulation) radios or electrolytic corrosion in bearings. One technology that addresses such issues is a vehicle power transmission device that includes a conductive brush electrically connected to the vehicle body via a case that supports the output shaft (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Another technology that addresses such issues is a seal that includes a sealing lip made of a conductive polymer material (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-207534 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-189236 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the occurrence of the above-mentioned electromagnetic noise and electrolytic corrosion may become apparent in the later stages of development of the drive unit of a vehicle equipped with an electric motor. In such cases, solving the problem by adding conductive brushes to the reducer or changing the existing sealing device to one using a conductive material may require a change in the design of the reducer. Therefore, further improvements are needed to easily add conductivity to sealing devices.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a conductive sliding member, a sealing device, and a method for manufacturing a sealing device that can easily impart conductivity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the conductive sliding member according to the present invention is a conductive sliding member that is attached to an annular space between a shaft that rotates relative to a housing that is conductive, and that includes: an annular conductive lip portion that is formed from a molded body of a conductive elastic material and that can slide on the surface of the shaft; and a sealing device joining portion that is provided on the outer periphery of the conductive lip portion and that can be joined to a sealing device main body that seals the space on the side opposite to the side of the sealing target fluid of the sealing device main body.

[0007] In the conductive sliding member according to one aspect of the present invention, the sealing device joint portion is a disk-shaped surface provided on the outer circumferential side of the conductive lip portion, and includes: a disk portion joint portion that can be joined to the disk portion of the sealing device main body portion on the side opposite to the sealed fluid side of the sealing device main body portion that seals the space; and a cylindrical portion joint portion that is provided on the outer circumferential side of the disk portion joint portion and can be joined to a surface on the outer circumferential side of the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body portion.

[0008] In the conductive sliding member according to one aspect of the present invention, the cylindrical portion joint portion has a cylindrical portion engaging portion that can engage with a cylindrical portion engaged portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body.

[0009] In the conductive sliding member according to one aspect of the present invention, the disk portion joint portion has a disk portion engaging portion that engages with a disk portion engaged portion provided on a surface of the disk portion of the sealing device body opposite to the side of the fluid to be sealed.

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the sealing device of the present invention is a sealing device that seals an annular space between a shaft that rotates relative to a shaft and a conductive housing, and includes: a sealing device main body that is slidable relative to the shaft and seals the space; and a conductive sliding member that is provided on the opposite side of the sealing device main body from the fluid to be sealed and is formed of a molded body of a conductive elastic body, wherein the sealing device main body has a seal lip portion that is formed of an elastic body having lower conductivity than the conductive elastic body, and the conductive sliding member has: an annular conductive lip portion that can slide on the surface of the shaft; and a sealing device joining portion that is provided on the outer circumferential side of the conductive lip portion and can be joined to the sealing device main body on the opposite side of the sealing device main body that can seal the space from the fluid to be sealed.

[0011] In a sealing device according to one aspect of the present invention, the conductive sliding member has a disk portion joining portion, in which the sealing device joining portion is a disk-shaped surface provided on the outer circumferential side of the conductive lip portion, and which can be joined to the disk portion of the sealing device main body portion on the side opposite to the sealed fluid side of the sealing device main body portion that seals the space, and a cylindrical portion joining portion, which is provided on the outer circumferential side of the disk portion joining portion and can be joined to a surface on the outer circumferential side of the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body portion.

[0012] In a sealing device according to one aspect of the present invention, the cylindrical portion joint portion has a cylindrical portion engaging portion that can engage with a cylindrical portion engaged portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body.

[0013] In a sealing device according to one aspect of the present invention, the conductive sliding member has a disk portion engaging portion at the disk portion joint portion that can engage with a disk portion engaged portion provided on a surface of the disk portion of the sealing device main body portion opposite to the side of the fluid to be sealed.

[0014] In order to achieve the above object, the manufacturing method of the sealing device according to the present invention is a manufacturing method of a sealing device that seals an annular space between a shaft that rotates relative to one another and a housing that is conductive, and includes the steps of: preparing a conductive sliding member that is formed from a molded body of a conductive elastic body; preparing a sealing device main body that is formed to be slidable on the shaft and that seals the space; and joining the sealing device main body and the conductive sliding member on the side of the sealing device main body that is opposite to the side of the fluid to be sealed.

[0015] In the method for manufacturing a sealing device according to one aspect of the present invention, the conductive sliding member is formed from a molded body of the conductive elastic body and has an annular conductive lip portion slidable on the surface of the shaft, and a conductive sliding member provided on the outer circumferential side of the conductive lip portion and joinable to the sealing device main body on the side opposite to the sealing target fluid side of the sealing device main body, and in the step of joining the sealing device main body and the conductive sliding member, the sealing device joining portion of the conductive sliding member is joined to the sealing device main body.

[0016] In a method for manufacturing a sealing device according to one aspect of the present invention, the sealing device main body includes a reinforcing ring including a cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape around an axis and a disk portion formed in a disk shape and provided at an end of the cylindrical portion opposite to the side of the fluid to be sealed, and a seal main body which is an elastic body having lower conductivity than the conductive elastic body molded into the reinforcing ring and has a seal lip portion, the sealing device joint portion of the conductive sliding member is a disk-shaped surface provided on the outer circumferential side of the conductive lip portion, and includes a disk portion joint portion joinable to the disk portion of the sealing device main body, and a cylindrical portion joint portion provided on the outer circumferential side of the disk portion joint portion and joinable to a surface on the outer circumferential side of the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body, and in the step of joining the sealing device main body and the conductive sliding member, the disk portion joint portion of the conductive sliding member is joined to the disk portion of the sealing device main body, and the cylindrical portion joint portion of the conductive sliding member is joined to the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body.

[0017] In a method for manufacturing a sealing device according to one aspect of the present invention, the conductive sliding member has a cylindrical portion engaging portion formed at the cylindrical portion joint portion and engageable with the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body portion, and a disk portion engaging portion formed at the disk portion joint portion and engageable with the disk portion of the sealing device main body portion, and in the step of joining the sealing device main body portion and the conductive sliding member, the disk portion engaging portion of the conductive sliding member is engaged with the disk portion of the sealing device main body portion, and the cylindrical portion engaging portion of the conductive sliding member is engaged with the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the conductive sliding member, sealing device, and method for manufacturing a sealing device according to the present invention, conductivity can be easily imparted. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a sealing device including a conductive sliding member according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conductive sliding member according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a reducer to which a sealing device according to a first embodiment is attached. [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a sealing device including a conductive sliding member according to a first embodiment is used. [Figure 5] 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before a conductive sliding member and a sealing device main body are assembled in a manufacturing method of the sealing device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state after an electrically conductive sliding member and a sealing device main body are assembled in a manufacturing method of the sealing device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart showing the steps of a method for manufacturing the sealing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a conductive sliding member and a sealing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a conductive sliding member and a sealing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a sealing device including a conductive sliding member according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a conductive sliding member and a sealing device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] [First embodiment] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a sealing device 100 including a conductive sliding member 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the conductive sliding member 10. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a reducer 1 to which the sealing device 100 is attached. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sealing device 100 including the conductive sliding member 10 is in use. The conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device 100 according to the first embodiment have a substantially rotationally symmetrical shape. FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 show cross-sectional views of the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device 100 cut along a plane including a central axis of the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device 100 (hereinafter referred to as "axis x").

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3 , a sealing device 100 according to this embodiment is mounted to a drive mechanism such as a reducer 1 of a vehicle equipped with an electric motor 2, such as an electric vehicle (EV) or a fuel cell vehicle (FCV). The reducer 1 includes, inside a housing 30, a first pinion gear 4 provided on a rotating shaft 3 of the motor 2, a first stage gear 6 attached to a shaft 5 and meshing with the first pinion gear 4, a second pinion gear 7 provided on the shaft 5, and a second stage gear 8 attached to a shaft 20 serving as an output shaft and meshing with the second pinion gear 7. The sealing device 100 constitutes a sealing structure in the reducer 1 that seals an annular space S between the shaft 20, which rotates relative to the shaft 20, and a shaft hole 31 of a conductive housing 30. The sealing device 100 may be mounted in place of the sealing device 300 mounted on the rotating shaft 3 (motor 2 side). The housing 30 is fixed to a vehicle body (not shown) and is electrically connected to the vehicle body. In Figures 3 and 4, the left side (the direction of arrow b in Figure 4) is a sealed area where a fluid to be sealed, such as oil, is sealed, and the right side (the direction of arrow a in Figure 4) is an area (atmospheric area) opposite to the sealed area. The sealing device 100 is fixed by fitting to an inner circumferential surface 32 of a shaft hole 31 of the housing 30. When the shaft 20 and the housing 30 rotate relative to each other, the sealing device 100 remains stationary with respect to the housing 30, and slides between the sealing device 100 and the shaft 20.

[0023] 1, 2, 3, and 4, the direction of arrow a (one side in the axial direction) in the direction of axis x that forms the atmospheric region will be referred to as the atmospheric side (outside), and the direction of arrow b (the other side in the axial direction) in the direction of axis x that forms the sealed region during use will be referred to as the sealed fluid side (inside). In this embodiment, the side opposite the sealed fluid side is the atmospheric side. Also, in the direction perpendicular to axis x (hereinafter also referred to as the "radial direction"), the direction away from axis x (direction of arrow c) will be referred to as the outer circumferential side, and the direction approaching axis x (direction of arrow d) will be referred to as the inner circumferential side.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, a conductive sliding member 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is configured to be attachable to an annular space S between a shaft 20 and a housing 30 that rotate relative to one another. The sealing device 100 includes a sealing device main body 200 and a conductive sliding member 10. The sealing device main body 200 is formed of a non-conductive elastic body and has a seal lip portion 201 that is slidable on the shaft 20 and seals the annular space S. The conductive sliding member 10 includes an annular conductive lip portion 11 that is formed of a molded body of a conductive elastic body (conductive elastic body) and is slidably formed on a surface 21 of the shaft 20, and a sealing device joint portion 14 that is provided on the outer periphery of the conductive lip portion 11 and is joinable to the sealing device main body 200 on the side opposite to the sealed fluid side (atmosphere side) of the sealing device 100 that is configured to be able to seal the annular space S. The conductive sliding member 10, the sealing device 100, and a manufacturing method for the sealing device 100 will be specifically described below.

[0025] <Sealing device> 1, the sealing device 100 includes a sealing device main body 200 and a conductive sliding member 10. The sealing device main body 200 includes a reinforcing ring 211 and a seal main body 220 formed of a rubber-like elastic body that is integrally provided with the reinforcing ring 211.

[0026] The sealing device main body 200 is a molded body obtained by, for example, using the reinforcing ring 211 as an insert part to mold the seal main body 220 formed from an elastic body having lower conductivity than an elastic body having conductivity, specifically, an elastic body having no conductivity, by insert molding. The reinforcing ring 211 is composed of a cylindrical portion 212 that is cylindrical or approximately cylindrical about its axis, and a disk-shaped or approximately disk-shaped disk portion 213 that is provided at the end of the cylindrical portion 212 on the atmosphere side. The seal body 220 has a seal lip portion 201 , a peripheral seal portion 221 , and a dust lip portion 223 .

[0027] The outer circumferential seal portion 221 is provided on the outer circumferential side of the cylindrical portion 212. The outer circumferential seal portion 221 is configured to be in close contact with the inner circumferential surface 32 of the axial hole 31 of the housing 30. By providing the outer circumferential seal portion 221, the sealing device 100 is fixed to the inner circumferential surface 32 of the axial hole 31 of the housing 30 by fitting, and leakage of the fluid to be sealed from the space S between the sealing device 100 and the inner circumferential surface 32 is prevented.

[0028] Both the seal lip portion 201 and the dust lip portion 223 are configured to be slidable on the surface 21 of the shaft 20. The seal lip portion 201 prevents leakage of the fluid to be sealed. In addition, a garter spring 202 is provided on the surface side of the seal lip portion 201 to press the radially inner tip of the seal lip portion 201 against the shaft 20. The dust lip portion 223 prevents foreign matter (such as dust) from entering the sealed area from the outside.

[0029] <Conductive sliding material> As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conductive sliding member 10 includes a reinforcing ring 12 and a member main body 13 formed of a rubber-like conductive elastic body (preferably FKM or conductive fluororubber) that is integrally provided with the reinforcing ring 12.

[0030] The member main body 13 is, for example, a molded body obtained by insert molding using the reinforcing ring 12 as an insert part.

[0031] The reinforcing ring 12 is composed of a cylindrical portion 121 that is cylindrical or approximately cylindrical about the axis x, and a disk-shaped or approximately disk-shaped disk portion 122 that is provided at the end of the cylindrical portion 121 on the atmosphere side.

[0032] The cylindrical portion 121 is a cylindrical surface provided on the outer circumferential side of the conductive lip portion 11. The cylindrical portion 121 is a surface located on the outer circumferential side of the cylindrical portion 212 of the sealing device main body 200 in a state in which the conductive sliding member 10 is assembled to the sealing device main body 200 as shown in FIGS.

[0033] The disk portion 122 is a disk-shaped surface provided on the outer circumferential side of the conductive lip portion 11. The disk portion 122 is a surface located closer to the atmosphere (opposite the side of the fluid to be sealed) than the disk portion 213 of the sealing device main body 200 in a state in which the conductive sliding member 10 is assembled to the sealing device main body 200 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 .

[0034] The sealing device joint 14 is formed on the atmosphere side of the sealing device 100 so as to be able to join the conductive sliding member 10 to the sealing device main body 200. The sealing device joint 14 is composed of a cylindrical portion joint 141 and a disk portion joint 142.

[0035] The cylindrical portion joining portion 141 is formed so as to be able to join with a part of the outer circumferential seal portion 221 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 212 of the sealing device main body 200. Specifically, the cylindrical portion joining portion 141 is desirably shaped so as to be able to join with a cylindrical portion to-be-joined portion 224 formed on a part of the outer circumferential seal portion 221 closer to the atmosphere.

[0036] It is desirable that the disc portion joining portion 142 has a shape that allows it to be joined to the disc portion joining portion 225 formed on the surface (atmosphere side) of the disc portion 213 of the sealing device main body portion 200 on the atmosphere side (opposite the side of the fluid to be sealed) of the sealing device main body portion 200 that seals the annular space S between the shaft 20 and the housing 30.

[0037] The cylindrical portion joining portion 141 has a cylindrical portion engaging portion 143 that engages with the shape of the outer peripheral surface (uneven shape: cylindrical portion engaged portion 227) of the cylindrical portion joined portion 224. In this embodiment, the cylindrical portion engaged portion 227 and the cylindrical portion engaging portion 143 are not limited to the shapes shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 as long as the cylindrical portion engaged portion 227 and the cylindrical portion engaging portion 143 can engage with each other.

[0038] The disk joining portion 142 has a disk engaging portion 144 that engages with a concave disk engaged portion 226 provided in the disk joined portion 225. In this embodiment, the disk engaged portion 226 is concave and the disk engaging portion 144 is convex, but the disk engaged portion 226 may be convex and the disk engaging portion 144 may be concave.

[0039] The member main body 13 has a conductive lip portion 11 and a housing contact portion 131. The conductive lip portion 11 is configured to be slidable relative to the surface 21 of the shaft 20. The conductive lip portion 11 may have irregularities on the contact surface with the surface 21 of the shaft 20. The housing contact portion 131 is provided on the member main body 13 on the outer circumferential side of the conductive lip portion 11, specifically at a position where it can contact the inner circumferential surface 32 of the shaft hole 31 of the housing 30 during use. In the member main body 13 formed of a conductive elastic body, the conductive lip portion 11 contacts the surface 21 of the shaft 20, and the housing contact portion 131 contacts the inner circumferential surface 32 of the housing 30, thereby forming a conductive path from the shaft 20 to the housing 30 via the conductive sliding member 10. As described above, the housing 30 is fixed to the vehicle body (not shown) and is electrically connected to the vehicle body. Therefore, in a vehicle equipped with the reducer 1 to which the sealing device 100 is attached, a conductive path for grounding is formed via the shaft 20 and the conductive sliding member 10. That is, according to this embodiment, induced current from the motor or the like, which causes high-frequency noise and electrolytic corrosion of the bearings, flows to the housing 30 via the conductive path. Therefore, according to this embodiment, induced current from the motor or the like, which causes high-frequency noise and electrolytic corrosion of the bearings, can be reduced.

[0040] Next, a method for manufacturing the sealing device 100 including the above-described conductive sliding member 10 will be described.

[0041] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device main body 200 are assembled in the manufacturing method of the sealing device 100 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state after the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device main body 200 are assembled in the manufacturing method of the sealing device 100 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the steps of the manufacturing method of the sealing device 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, to manufacture the sealing device 100, a conductive sliding member 10 is prepared in which a member main body 13 is formed of a conductive elastic body by insert molding, using a reinforcing ring 12 as an insert part (step S101). To manufacture the sealing device 100, a sealing device main body 200 is prepared in which a seal main body 220 is formed of a non-conductive elastic body by insert molding, using a reinforcing ring 211 as an insert part (step S102). Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device main body 200, which have been prepared in advance, are joined together (step S103). Specifically, in step S103, the disc portion joint portion 142 of the conductive sliding member 10 is joined to the disc portion 213 of the sealing device main body 200, and the cylindrical portion joint portion 141 of the conductive sliding member 10 is joined to the cylindrical portion 212 of the sealing device main body 200. When the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device main body 200 are joined together, a disk portion engaged portion 226 provided on the disk portion joined portion 225 of the sealing device main body 200 is engaged with a disk portion engaging portion 144 provided on the disk portion joining portion 142 of the conductive sliding member 10. Also, a cylindrical portion engaged portion 227 provided on the cylindrical portion joined portion 224 of the sealing device main body 200 is engaged with a cylindrical portion engaging portion 143 provided on the cylindrical portion joining portion 141 of the conductive sliding member 10.

[0043] After the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device main body 200 are assembled, the sealing device 100 is placed in the annular space S between the shaft 20 and the housing 30 as shown in FIG.

[0044] According to the sealing device 100 configured as above, when the sealing device 100 is installed in the annular space S between the shaft 20 and the housing 30, it can be installed with the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device main body 200 still assembled. Specifically, in the sealing device 100, the member main body 13 including the conductive lip portion 11 of the conductive sliding member 10 is a molded body made of a conductive elastic body. Therefore, compared to conventional conductive sliding members formed of a conductive brush or fiber, deformation of the member main body 13 is suppressed, and therefore, it is easy to install the member main body 13 on the sealing device main body 200.

[0045] The conductive sliding member 10 has the cylindrical portion engaging portion 143 provided at the cylindrical portion joint portion 141 and the disk portion engaging portion 144 provided at the disk portion joint portion 142, and therefore can be easily attached to and positioned on the sealing device main body 200. That is, the sealing device 100 including the conductive sliding member 10 does not require skill in the manufacturing work and the work of attaching it to the annular space S. Furthermore, the sealing device 100 including the conductive sliding member 10 can be installed in the annular space S while being assembled to the sealing device main body 200, and therefore the time required for the installation work can be shortened.

[0046] The improvement in ease of assembly work to the sealing device 100 and installation work to the annular space S by the conductive sliding member 10 described above is particularly remarkable when the installation space of the sealing device 100 (the annular space S and the space around it) is small.

[0047] The conductive sliding member 10 can be easily positioned on the sealing device main body 200, and therefore, by matching the dimensions of the conductive lip portion 11 and the seal lip portion 201 of the sealing device main body 200 with the dimensions of the shaft 20, it can be assembled to another sealing device main body having different specifications and used easily as a sealing device having conductivity. In other words, in the sealing device 100, the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device main body 200 can be produced separately, and therefore, by changing only the specifications of the conductive sliding member 10 without changing the specifications of the sealing device main body 200 that seals the fluid to be sealed, it is possible to impart conductivity that meets the requirements and specifications for dealing with noise from the motor 2, etc., without impairing the sealing performance for the fluid to be sealed.

[0048] Moreover, the conductive sliding member 10 can be attached to the existing sealing device main body 200 to impart conductivity that meets the requirements and specifications for dealing with noise from the motor 2, etc., without impairing the sealing performance for the fluid to be sealed. In this case, the conductive sliding member 10 has the cylindrical portion engaging portion 143 provided at the cylindrical portion joining portion 141 and the disk portion engaging portion 144 provided at the disk portion joining portion 142, which allows for easy attachment and positioning to the sealing device main body 200.

[0049] Therefore, according to the sealing device 100 including the conductive sliding member 10 and the method for manufacturing the sealing device, conductivity can be easily imparted.

[0050] [Second embodiment] Next, a sealing device 100B including a conductive sliding member 10B according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, components having the same or similar functions as those of the conductive sliding member 10, the sealing device main body 200, and the sealing device 100 according to the first embodiment described above will be assigned the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted, and only different components will be described.

[0051] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a sealing device 100B including an electrically conductive sliding member 10B according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] The sealing device 100B including the conductive sliding member 10B shown in FIG. 8 differs from the sealing device 100 including the conductive sliding member 10 described above mainly in the configuration of the disk portion engaging portion 144B provided at the disk portion joining portion 142 of the conductive sliding member 10B and the configuration of the disk portion engaged portion 226B provided at the disk portion joined portion 225 of the sealing device main body 200B.

[0053] Specifically, the disk engaging portion 144B is provided near the inner periphery of the disk joining portion 142 of the member main body 13 of the conductive sliding member 10B. The disk engaging portion 144B is formed in a convex shape facing the sealing device main body 200B side (outer periphery side) in the assembled state. The disk engaged portion 226B is formed in a concave shape facing the conductive sliding member 10B side (inner periphery side) in the assembled state so as to be able to receive the disk engaging portion 144B. The disk engaging portion 144B and the disk engaged portion 226B are provided on the inner periphery side of the cylindrical portion engaging portion 143 and the cylindrical portion engaged portion 227.

[0054] Furthermore, according to the sealing device 100B including the conductive sliding member 10B according to the second embodiment, conductivity can be easily imparted, similarly to the sealing device 100 including the conductive sliding member 10 described above.

[0055] [Third embodiment] Next, a sealing device 100C including a conductive sliding member 10C according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, components having the same or similar functions as those of the conductive sliding members 10 and 10B, the sealing device main bodies 200 and 200B, and the sealing devices 100 and 100B according to the first and second embodiments described above will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted, and only different components will be described.

[0056] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a sealing device 100C including an electrically conductive sliding member 10C according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] 9, a sealing device 100C including a conductive sliding member 10C is made of a material that forms a member main body 13C of the conductive sliding member 10C, which is an elastic body having conductivity (for example, a rubber-like elastic body having conductivity, or a conductive resin such as conductive PTFE). The sealing device 100C including the conductive sliding member 10C differs from the sealing device 100 including the conductive sliding member 10 described above mainly in the configuration of a disk portion engaging portion 144C provided in a disk portion joining portion 142 of the conductive sliding member 10C and the configuration of a disk portion engaged portion 226C provided in a disk portion joined portion 225 of a sealing device main body 200C.

[0058] Specifically, the disk engaging portion 144C is attached to the fluid-to-be-sealed side of the disk portion 122 of the reinforcing ring 12. Therefore, the disk engaging portion 144C has a convex shape that protrudes from the disk portion 122 toward the fluid-to-be-sealed side. The disk engaged portion 226C is formed in a concave shape toward the conductive sliding member 10C side (inner peripheral side) in the assembled state so as to be able to receive the disk engaging portion 144C.

[0059] And, according to the sealing device 100C including the conductive sliding member 10C according to the third embodiment, conductivity can be easily imparted, similarly to the sealing device 100 including the previously described conductive sliding member 10. Moreover, according to the sealing device 100C, the distance between the metallic reinforcing ring 12 and the shaft becomes short in use, and therefore the conductive path from the conductive lip portion 11 to the housing becomes short, and the conductivity can be further improved.

[0060] [Fourth embodiment] Next, a sealing device 100D including a conductive sliding member 10 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, components having the same or similar functions as those of the conductive sliding member 10, the sealing device main body 200, and the sealing device 100 according to the first embodiment described above will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted, and only different components will be described.

[0061] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a sealing device 100D including a conductive sliding member 10 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] 10 , a sealing device main body 200D is a dust seal that suppresses the intrusion of dust or dirt from the atmosphere side to the fluid-to-be-sealed side by a dust lip 223. That is, in the sealing device 100D, a seal main body 220D of the sealing device main body 200D is not provided with the seal lip portion 201 and the garter spring 202 that are provided in the sealing device 100 that includes the previously described conductive sliding member 10. The conductive sliding member 10 is not limited to the example in which it is used in combination with an oil seal that suppresses leakage of a sealing fluid such as oil from the fluid-to-be-sealed side to the atmosphere side by the seal lip portion 201 such as the sealing device main body 200 in the previously described sealing device 100, and may be used in combination with a dust seal such as the sealing device main body 200D.

[0063] According to the sealing device 100D including the conductive sliding member 10 according to the fourth embodiment, similarly to the sealing device 100 described above, conductivity can be easily imparted to the sealing device main body 200D.

[0064] [Fifth embodiment] Next, a sealing device 100E including a conductive sliding member 10C according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, components having the same or similar functions as the sealing device main body 200C according to the third embodiment and the sealing device 100C will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted, and only different components will be described.

[0065] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a sealing device 100E including an electrically conductive sliding member 10C according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] 11 , a sealing device 100E including a conductive sliding member 10C has a sealing device main body 200E as a dust seal that uses a dust lip 223E to prevent dust or dirt from entering from the atmosphere side to the fluid-to-be-sealed side. That is, the sealing device 100E differs from the conductive sliding member 10C described above in that the seal main body 220E of the sealing device main body 200E does not have the seal lip 201 and the garter spring 202, but instead has a dust lip 223E. The conductive sliding member 10C is not limited to being used in combination with an oil seal that uses the seal lip 201 like the sealing device main body 200C in the sealing device 100C described above to prevent leakage of a sealing fluid such as oil from the fluid-to-be-sealed side to the atmosphere side, but may also be used in combination with a dust seal like the sealing device main body 200E.

[0067] Furthermore, according to the sealing device 100E according to the fifth embodiment, similarly to the sealing device 100C provided with the conductive sliding member 10C described above, the sealing device main body 200E can be easily made conductive.

[0068] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and includes all aspects encompassed within the concept and scope of the claims of the present invention. Furthermore, each configuration may be appropriately and selectively combined to achieve at least some of the above-described problems and effects. For example, the shape, material, arrangement, size, etc. of each component in the above embodiments may be appropriately modified depending on the specific use of the present invention.

[0069] For example, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the sealing device joint 14 is configured with the cylindrical portion joint 141 and the disk portion joint 142. The sealing device joint 14 is not limited to this example as long as it can join the conductive sliding member 10 to the sealing device main body 200. The sealing device joint may be, for example, one that can be joined by a protrusion and a recess provided in the sealing device main body, or one that is formed so as to be able to fit into the sealing device main body.

[0070] For example, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the cylindrical portion joint 141 is provided with the cylindrical portion engaging portion 143. In the conductive sliding member, the cylindrical portion joint is not limited to this example, and may be one that does not have a claw-shaped or uneven portion that engages with the sealing device main body, but is simply able to come into contact with the sealing device main body.

[0071] For example, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the disk portion joint portion 142 is provided with the disk portion engaging portion 144. In the conductive sliding member, the disk portion engaging portion is not limited to this example, and may be one that does not have a claw-shaped or uneven portion that engages with the sealing device main body portion, but is simply capable of contacting the sealing device main body portion.

[0072] For example, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the housing contact portion 131 is formed of a conductive elastic body and thus comes into contact with the housing 30 to form a conductive path. In the conductive sliding member, the conductive path from the shaft 20 to the housing 30 is not limited to this example, and for example, the conductive path may be formed by the conductive (metallic) reinforcing ring 12 electrically connected to the member main body 13 coming into contact with the housing 30. Furthermore, in the conductive sliding member 10, when the metallic reinforcing ring 211 of the sealing device main body 200 is exposed from the outer circumferential seal portion 221, the reinforcing ring 12 of the conductive sliding member may be in electrical contact with the reinforcing ring 211 of the sealing device main body 200 to form a conductive path. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1: reducer, 2: motor, 3: rotating shaft, 4: first pinion gear, 5, 20: shaft, 6: first stage gear, 7: second pinion gear, 8: second stage gear, 10, 10B, 10C: conductive sliding member, 11: conductive lip portion, 12: reinforcing ring, 13, 13C: member body portion, 14: sealing device joint portion, 21: surface, 30: housing, 31: shaft hole, 32: inner peripheral surface, 100, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100E, 300: sealing device, 121: cylindrical portion, 122: disk portion, 131: housing contact portion, 141: cylindrical portion joint portion, 142: disk portion joint portion mating portion, 143: cylindrical portion engaging portion, 144, 144B, 144C: disk portion engaging portion, 200, 200B, 200C, 200D, 200E: sealing device main body portion, 201: seal lip portion, 202: garter spring, 211: reinforcing ring, 212: cylindrical portion, 213: disk portion, 220, 220D, 220E: seal main body portion, 221: outer periphery seal portion, 223, 223E: dust lip portion, 224: cylindrical portion to be joined portion, 225: disk portion to be joined portion, 226, 226B, 226C: disk portion to be engaged portion, 227: cylindrical portion to be engaged portion, S: space, x: axis

Claims

1. A conductive sliding member attached to an annular space between a relatively rotating shaft and a conductive housing, an annular conductive lip portion formed of a molded conductive elastic body and capable of sliding on the surface of the shaft; a sealing device joining portion that is provided on an outer circumferential side of the conductive lip portion and that can be joined to the sealing device main body on the side opposite to the sealed fluid side of the sealing device main body that seals the space; Equipped with Conductive sliding member.

2. The sealing device joint is a disc portion joining portion which is a disc-shaped surface provided on an outer circumferential side of the conductive lip portion and which can be joined to a disc portion of the sealing device main body portion on an opposite side to the sealed fluid side of the sealing device main body portion which seals the space; a cylindrical portion joining portion provided on the outer circumferential side of the disk portion joining portion and capable of joining to an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body; having The conductive sliding member according to claim 1 .

3. the cylindrical portion joining portion has a cylindrical portion engaging portion that can engage with a cylindrical portion engaged portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body, The conductive sliding member according to claim 2 .

4. the disk portion joint portion has a disk portion engaging portion that is engageable with a disk portion engaged portion that is provided on a surface of the disk portion of the sealing device main body that is opposite to the side of the fluid to be sealed, The conductive sliding member according to claim 2 .

5. A sealing device for sealing an annular space between a relatively rotating shaft and a conductive housing, a sealing device main body portion that is slidable relative to the shaft and seals the space; a conductive sliding member provided on the opposite side of the sealing device main body from the fluid to be sealed, the conductive sliding member being formed of a molded body of a conductive elastic material; Equipped with the sealing device main body has a seal lip portion formed of an elastic body having lower conductivity than the conductive elastic body, the conductive sliding member has an annular conductive lip portion slidable on the surface of the shaft, and a sealing device joining portion provided on the outer circumferential side of the conductive lip portion and joinable to the sealing device main body on the side opposite to the sealed fluid side of the sealing device main body capable of sealing the space. Sealing device.

6. The conductive sliding member is the sealing device joint portion is a disk-shaped surface provided on the outer circumferential side of the conductive lip portion, and is joinable to the disk portion of the sealing device main body portion on the side opposite to the sealed fluid side of the sealing device main body portion that seals the space; and a cylindrical portion joint portion is provided on the outer circumferential side of the disk portion joint portion and is joinable to a surface on the outer circumferential side of the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body portion. having The sealing device according to claim 5 .

7. The conductive sliding member is the cylindrical portion joining portion has a cylindrical portion engaging portion that can engage with a cylindrical portion engaged portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body, The sealing device according to claim 6.

8. The conductive sliding member is the disk portion joining portion has a disk portion engaging portion that is engageable with a disk portion engaged portion that is provided on a surface of the disk portion of the sealing device main body that is opposite to the side of the fluid to be sealed, The sealing device according to claim 6.

9. A method for manufacturing a sealing device for sealing an annular space between a relatively rotating shaft and a conductive housing, comprising: a step of preparing a conductive sliding member formed by molding a conductive elastic body; a step of preparing a sealing device main body formed to be slidable relative to the shaft and to seal the space; joining the sealing device main body and the conductive sliding member on a side of the sealing device main body opposite to a side of the sealing target fluid; A method for manufacturing a sealing device, comprising:

10. The conductive sliding member is the sealing device has an annular conductive lip portion formed by a molded body of the conductive elastic body and slidable on the surface of the shaft, and a sealing device joining portion provided on the outer circumferential side of the conductive lip portion and joinable to the sealing device main body on the side opposite to the sealed fluid side of the sealing device main body, In the step of joining the sealing device main body and the conductive sliding member, the sealing device joining portion of the conductive sliding member is joined to the sealing device main body. A method for manufacturing the sealing device according to claim 9.

11. The sealing device main body includes: a reinforcing ring including a cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape around an axis and a disk portion formed in a disk shape at an end of the cylindrical portion opposite to the side of the fluid to be sealed; and a seal main body having a seal lip portion and being an elastic body having lower conductivity than the conductive elastic body molded into the reinforcing ring, The conductive sliding member is the sealing device joint portion is a disk-shaped surface provided on the outer circumferential side of the conductive lip portion, and includes: a disk portion joint portion that can be joined to the disk portion of the sealing device main body; and a cylindrical portion joint portion that is provided on the outer circumferential side of the disk portion joint portion and can be joined to a surface on the outer circumferential side of the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body, In the step of joining the sealing device main body and the conductive sliding member, the disk portion joining portion of the conductive sliding member is joined to the disk portion of the sealing device main body, and the cylindrical portion joining portion of the conductive sliding member is joined to the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body. The method for manufacturing the sealing device according to claim 10.

12. The conductive sliding member is a cylindrical portion engaging portion formed at the cylindrical portion joint portion and capable of engaging with the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body portion, and a disk portion engaging portion formed at the disk portion joint portion and capable of engaging with the disk portion of the sealing device main body portion, In the step of joining the sealing device main body and the conductive sliding member, the disk portion engaging portion of the conductive sliding member is engaged with the disk portion of the sealing device main body, and the cylindrical portion engaging portion of the conductive sliding member is engaged with the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body. The method for manufacturing the sealing device according to claim 11.

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