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

The conductive sliding member, with its conductive elastic body and annular conductive lip portion, addresses the challenge of adding conductivity to sealing devices in electric vehicles, effectively mitigating electromagnetic noise and electric corrosion without requiring design changes to the speed reducer.

JP7693125B2Active Publication Date: 2025-06-16NOK CORP
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024545604
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2022-09-09
Filing Date
2023-08-30
Publication Date
2025-06-16
Estimated Expiration
2043-08-30

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing sealing devices in vehicles equipped with electric motors face challenges in easily adding conductivity to address electromagnetic noise and electric corrosion issues without requiring design changes to the speed reducer.

Method used

A conductive sliding member formed of a molded body of a conductive elastic body is attached to an annular space between a rotating shaft and a conductive housing, featuring an annular conductive lip portion and a sealing device joining portion that can be easily joined to the sealing device main body portion.

Benefits of technology

This solution allows for easy addition of conductivity to the sealing device, effectively reducing electromagnetic noise and electric corrosion without the need for design changes to the speed reducer, thereby enhancing the operational reliability of vehicle systems.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The present invention easily adds conductivity. A conductive sliding member (10) comprises: an annular conductive lip part (11) that is formed of a molded article of a conductive elastic body and that is slidable on a surface (21) of a shaft (20) which rotates relatively, in an annular space (S) between the shaft (20) and a conductive housing (30); and a sealing device joining part (14) that is provided to the outer peripheral side of the conductive lip part (11) and that is capable of joining to the sealing device body (200) on the side opposite from the sealing-target fluid side of a sealing device (100) which seals the annular space (S).
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Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] In vehicles equipped with an electric motor such as an electric vehicle (EV) or a fuel cell vehicle (FCV), it is known that electromagnetic noise to an AM (Amplitude Modulation) radio or electric corrosion of a bearing may occur due to an induced current generated from the motor. As a technique for dealing with such a case, a vehicle power transmission device including a conductive brush electrically connected to a vehicle body via a case supporting an output shaft is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, as a technique for dealing with such a case, a seal including a seal lip made of a conductive polymer material is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, the occurrence of the above-described electromagnetic noise and electric corrosion may become a problem in the latter stage of the development of the drive unit of a vehicle equipped with an electric motor. In such a case, in order to solve the problem, adding a conductive brush to the speed reducer or changing the existing sealing device to one using a conductive material may involve a design change of the speed reducer. Therefore, further improvement is required for easily adding conductivity to the sealing device.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a conductive sliding member, a sealing device, and a method for manufacturing the sealing device, which can easily add conductivity.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a conductive sliding member according to the present invention is a conductive sliding member attached to an annular space between a relatively rotating shaft and a conductive housing, and is formed of a molded body of an elastic body having conductivity, and has an annular conductive lip portion slidable on the surface of the shaft, and a sealing device joining portion provided on the outer peripheral side of the conductive lip portion and joinable to the sealing device main body portion on the side opposite to the fluid to be sealed of the sealing device main body portion that seals the space.

[0007] In the conductive sliding member according to one aspect of the present invention, the sealing device joining portion is a disc-shaped surface provided on the outer peripheral side of the conductive lip portion, and has a disc portion joining portion joinable to the disc portion of the sealing device main body portion on the side opposite to the fluid to be sealed of the sealing device main body portion that seals the space, and a cylindrical portion joining portion provided on the outer peripheral side of the disc portion joining portion and joinable to the outer peripheral side surface 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 joining portion has a cylindrical portion engaging portion engageable with a cylindrical portion engaged portion provided on the outer peripheral side surface of the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body portion.

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

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, a sealing device according to the present invention is a sealing device for sealing an annular space between a relatively rotating shaft and a conductive housing, including a sealing device main body portion that is slidable with respect to the shaft and seals the space, and a conductive sliding member provided on a side opposite to the sealing target fluid side with respect to the sealing device main body portion and formed of a molded body of a conductive elastic body. The sealing device main body portion 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 joint portion provided on the outer peripheral side of the conductive lip portion and joinable to the sealing device main body portion on the side opposite to the sealing target fluid side of the sealing device main body portion capable of sealing the space.

[0011] In a sealing device according to an aspect of the present invention, the conductive sliding member has a disk-shaped surface on which the sealing device joint portion is provided on the outer peripheral side of the conductive lip portion, a disk portion joint portion joinable to the disk portion of the sealing device main body portion on the side opposite to the sealing target fluid side of the sealing device main body portion that seals the space, and a cylindrical portion joint portion provided on the outer peripheral side of the disk portion joint portion and joinable to the outer peripheral side surface of the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body portion.

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

[0013] In a sealing device according to an aspect of the present invention, the conductive sliding member has a disk portion engaging portion engageable with a disk portion engaged portion provided on the surface of the disk portion of the sealing device main body portion on the side opposite to the sealing target fluid side.

[0014] In order to achieve the above object, a method for manufacturing a sealing device according to the present invention is a method for manufacturing a sealing device for sealing an annular space between a relatively rotating shaft and a conductive housing, the method comprising: preparing a conductive sliding member formed of a molded body of a conductive elastomer; preparing a sealing device main body portion that is slidably formed with respect to the shaft and seals the space; and joining the sealing device main body portion and the conductive sliding member on a side opposite to the fluid to be sealed of the sealing device main body portion.

[0015] In the method for manufacturing a sealing device according to one aspect of the present invention, the conductive sliding member is formed of a molded body of the conductive elastomer, and includes an annular conductive lip portion slidable on the surface of the shaft, and an outer peripheral side of the conductive lip portion, which is provided on a side opposite to the fluid to be sealed of the sealing device main body portion and can be joined to the sealing device main body portion. Sealing device joint In the step of joining the sealing device main body portion and the conductive sliding member, the sealing device joining portion of the conductive sliding member is joined to the sealing device main body portion.

[0016] In the method for manufacturing a sealing device according to one aspect of the present invention, the sealing device main body portion includes a reinforcing ring composed of a cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape about an axis, and a disk portion formed in a disk shape provided at an end of the cylindrical portion on a side opposite to the fluid to be sealed, and a seal main body portion made of an elastomer having a lower conductivity than the conductive elastomer molded on the reinforcing ring and having a seal lip portion. The conductive sliding member has a disk-shaped surface where the sealing device joining portion is provided on the outer peripheral side of the conductive lip portion, a disk portion joining portion that can be joined to the disk portion of the sealing device main body portion, and a cylindrical portion joining portion provided on the outer peripheral side of the disk portion joining portion and capable of being joined to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body portion. In the step of joining the sealing device main body portion 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 portion, and the cylindrical portion joining portion of the conductive sliding member is joined to the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body portion.

[0017] In a method for manufacturing a sealing device according to an 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. 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.

Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the conductive sliding member, the sealing device, and the method for manufacturing the sealing device of the present invention, conductivity can be easily added.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

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

[0021] [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view for 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 speed reducer 1 to which the sealing device 100 is attached. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a usage state of the sealing device 100 including the conductive sliding member 10. The conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device 100 according to the first embodiment are substantially rotationally symmetric. In FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, cross-sectional views of the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device 100 cut along a plane including the central axis (hereinafter "axis x") of the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device 100 are shown.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the sealing device 100 according to the present embodiment is mounted on a drive mechanism such as a speed reducer 1 of a vehicle equipped with an electric motor 2 such as an electric vehicle (EV) or a fuel cell vehicle (FCV). The speed 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 which is an output shaft and meshing with the second pinion gear 7. The sealing device 100 constitutes a sealing structure for sealing an annular space S between a relatively rotating shaft 20 and a shaft hole 31 of the conductive housing 30 in the speed reducer 1. Note that the sealing device 100 may be mounted in place of a sealing device 300 mounted on the rotating shaft 3 side (motor 2 side). The housing 30 is fixed to a vehicle body (not shown) of the vehicle and is electrically conductive to the vehicle body. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the left side (the direction of arrow b in FIG. 4) is a sealed region where a fluid to be sealed such as oil is sealed, and the right side (the direction of arrow a in FIG. 4) is a region opposite to the sealed region (atmospheric region). The sealing device 100 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface 32 of the shaft hole 31 of the housing 30 by fitting. When the shaft 20 and the housing 30 rotate relative to each other, the sealing device 100 maintains a stationary state with respect to the housing 30 and slides between the sealing device 100 and the shaft 20.

[0023] Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, in the axial direction x of the axis which is the atmospheric region, the direction of arrow a (one side in the axial direction) is defined as the atmospheric side (outer side), and in the axial direction x of the axis which becomes the sealed region during use, the direction of arrow b (the other side in the axial direction) is defined as the fluid side to be sealed (inner side). In the present embodiment, the side opposite to the fluid side to be sealed is the atmospheric side. Also, in a direction perpendicular to the axis x (hereinafter also referred to as the "radial direction"), the direction away from the axis x (the direction of arrow c) is defined as the outer peripheral side, and the direction approaching the axis x (the direction of arrow d) is defined as the inner peripheral side.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the conductive sliding member 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is formed to be attachable to an annular space S between a relatively rotating shaft 20 and a housing 30. The sealing device 100 includes a sealing device main body portion 200 and the conductive sliding member 10. The sealing device main body portion 200 is formed of an elastic body having no conductivity, and is formed to be slidable with respect to the shaft 20 and has a seal lip portion 201 for sealing the annular space S. The conductive sliding member 10 is formed of a molded body of an elastic body having conductivity (conductive elastic body), and is formed to be slidable on the surface 21 of the shaft 20. The conductive sliding member 10 includes an annular conductive lip portion 11 and a sealing device joint portion 14 provided on the outer peripheral side of the conductive lip portion 11 and formed to be joinable to the sealing device main body portion 200 on the side opposite to the fluid to be sealed of the sealing device 100 (atmosphere side) which is formed to be able to seal the annular space S. Hereinafter, the conductive sliding member 10, the sealing device 100, and the manufacturing method of the sealing device 100 will be specifically described.

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

[0026] The sealing device main body portion 200 is, for example, a molded body obtained by molding a seal main body portion 220 formed of an elastic body having lower conductivity than an elastic body having conductivity by insert molding with the reinforcing ring 211 as an insert part, specifically, an elastic body having no conductivity. The reinforcing ring 211 includes a cylindrical portion 212 having a cylindrical shape or a substantially cylindrical shape centered on the axis, and a disk portion 213 having a disk shape or a substantially disk shape provided at the end portion on the atmosphere side in the cylindrical portion 212. The seal main body portion 220 has an outer peripheral seal portion 221 and a dust lip portion 223 in addition to the seal lip portion 201.

[0027] The outer peripheral seal portion 221 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical portion 212. The outer peripheral seal portion 221 is configured to be in close contact with the inner peripheral surface 32 of the shaft hole 31 of the housing 30. By providing the outer peripheral seal portion 221, the sealing device 100 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface 32 of the shaft 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 peripheral surface 32 is prevented.

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

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

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

[0031] The reinforcing ring 12 is composed of a cylindrical portion 121 having a cylindrical shape or a substantially cylindrical shape centered on the axis x, and a disk portion 122 having a disk shape or a substantially disk shape provided at the end on the atmosphere side in the cylindrical portion 121.

[0032] The cylindrical portion 121 is a cylindrical surface provided on the outer peripheral side of the conductive lip portion 11. The cylindrical portion 121 is a surface located on the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical portion 212 of the sealing device main body portion 200 in a state where the conductive sliding member 10 is assembled to the sealing device main body portion 200 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

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

[0034] The sealing device joint portion 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 portion 200. The sealing device joint portion 14 is composed of a cylindrical portion joint portion 141 and a disk portion joint portion 142.

[0035] The cylindrical portion joint portion 141 is formed so as to be able to join with a part of the outer peripheral seal portion 221 provided on the outer peripheral side surface of the cylindrical portion 212 of the sealing device main body portion 200. Specifically, it is desirable that the cylindrical portion joint portion 141 has a shape that can join with a cylindrical portion to-be-joined portion 224 formed on a part closer to the atmosphere side of the outer peripheral seal portion 221.

[0036] The disk portion joint portion 142 is desirably formed in a shape that can join with a disk portion to-be-joined portion 225 formed on the surface (atmosphere side surface) of the disk portion 213 of the sealing device main body portion 200 on the atmosphere side (opposite side to the fluid to be sealed side) 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 joint portion 141 has a cylindrical portion engaging portion 143 that engages with the shape (concave and convex shape: cylindrical portion engaged portion 227) of the outer peripheral side surface of the cylindrical portion to-be-joined portion 224. Note that 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 in the present embodiment.

[0038] The disk portion joint 142 has a disk portion engaging portion 144 that engages with a concave disk portion engaged portion 226 provided on the disk portion to-be-joined portion 225. Note that, in the present embodiment, the disk portion engaged portion 226 is concave and the disk portion engaging portion 144 is convex, but the disk portion engaged portion 226 may be convex and the disk portion engaging portion 144 may be concave.

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

[0040] Next, a manufacturing method of 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 assembling the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device main body 200 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 assembling the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device main body 200 in the manufacturing method of the sealing device 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the manufacturing method of the sealing device 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, in order to manufacture the sealing device 100, a conductive sliding member 10 in which a member main body 13 is formed of an elastic body having conductivity by insert molding is prepared with a reinforcing ring 12 as an insert part (step S101). In order to manufacture the sealing device 100, a sealing device main body 200 in which a seal main body 220 is formed of an elastic body having no conductivity by insert molding is prepared with a reinforcing ring 211 as an insert part (step S102). Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the previously prepared conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device main body 200 are joined (step S103). Specifically, in step S103, the disk part joining part 142 of the conductive sliding member 10 is joined to the disk part 213 of the sealing device main body 200, and the cylindrical part joining part 141 of the conductive sliding member 10 is joined to the cylindrical part 212 of the sealing device main body 200. When joining the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device main body 200, the disk part engaged part 226 provided in the disk part to-be-joined part 225 of the sealing device main body 200 and the disk part engaging part 144 provided in the disk part joining part 142 of the conductive sliding member 10 are engaged. Also, the cylindrical part engaged part 227 provided in the cylindrical part to-be-joined part 224 of the sealing device main body 200 and the cylindrical part engaging part 143 provided in the cylindrical part joining part 141 of the conductive sliding member 10 are engaged.

[0043] After assembling the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device main body 200, the sealing device 100 is installed in the annular space S between the shaft 20 and the housing 30 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0044] According to the sealing device 100 configured as described above, when installing in the annular space S between the shaft 20 and the housing 30, the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device main body 200 can be installed while 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 an elastic body having conductivity. Therefore, compared with the conventional conductive sliding member formed of a conductive brush or fiber, the deformation of the member main body 13 is suppressed, so that it is easy to attach to the sealing device main body 200.

[0045] The conductive sliding member 10 has a cylindrical portion engaging portion 143 provided at the cylindrical portion joint portion 141 and a disk portion engaging portion 144 provided at the disk portion joint portion 142, so that attachment and positioning to the sealing device main body 200 can be easily performed. That is, according to the sealing device 100 including the conductive sliding member 10, proficiency is not required for the manufacturing operation and the attachment operation to the annular space S. Further, according to the sealing device 100 including the conductive sliding member 10, since the conductive sliding member 10 can be installed in the annular space S while assembled to the sealing device main body 200, the time required for the installation operation can be shortened.

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

[0047] Since the conductive sliding member 10 can be easily positioned with respect to the sealing device main body 200, 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 dimension of the shaft 20, it can be easily used as a sealing device having conductivity when assembled to other sealing device main bodies with different specifications. In other words, in the sealing device 100, since the conductive sliding member 10 and the sealing device main body 200 can be produced separately, by changing only the specification of the conductive sliding member 10 without changing the specification of the sealing device main body 200 for sealing the fluid to be sealed, conductivity conforming to the requirements and specifications for coping with noise from the motor 2 etc. can be imparted without impairing the sealing performance of the fluid to be sealed.

[0048] Further, according to the conductive sliding member 10, by assembling it to the existing sealing device main body 200, conductivity conforming to the requirements and specifications for coping with noise from the motor 2 etc. can be imparted without impairing the sealing performance of the fluid to be sealed. In this case, the conductive sliding member 10 has a cylindrical portion engaging portion 143 provided at the cylindrical portion joint portion 141 and a disk portion engaging portion 144 provided at the disk portion joint portion 142, thereby enabling 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 added.

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

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

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

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

[0054] And according to the sealing device 100B provided with the conductive sliding member 10B according to the second embodiment, conductivity can be easily added in the same manner as the sealing device 100 provided with the conductive sliding member 10 described above.

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

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

[0057] In the sealing device 100C provided with the conductive sliding member 10C shown in Fig. 9, the material constituting the member main body portion 13C of the conductive sliding member 10C 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 provided with the conductive sliding member 10C mainly differs from the sealing device 100 provided with the conductive sliding member 10 described above in the configuration of the disk portion engaging portion 144C provided in the disk portion joint portion 142 of the conductive sliding member 10C and the configuration of the disk portion engaged portion 226C provided in the disk portion joint portion 225 of the sealing device main body portion 200C.

[0058] Specifically, the disk portion engaging portion 144C is attached to the sealing target fluid side of the disk portion 122 of the reinforcing ring 12. For this reason, the disk portion engaging portion 144C has a convex shape protruding from the disk portion 122 toward the sealing target fluid side. The disk portion 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 portion engaging portion 144C.

[0059] And according to the sealing device 100C provided with the conductive sliding member 10C according to the third embodiment, conductivity can be easily added in the same manner as the sealing device 100 provided with the conductive sliding member 10 described above. Further, according to the sealing device 100C, since the distance between the metal reinforcing ring 12 and the shaft becomes closer in the use state, the conductive path from the conductive lip portion 11 to the housing becomes shorter, and the conductivity can be further improved.

[0060] [Fourth Embodiment] Next, a sealing device 100D provided with the conductive sliding member 10 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, the same reference numerals are given to configurations having the same or similar functions as the conductive sliding member 10, the sealing device main body portion 200, and the sealing device 100 according to the first embodiment described above, and the description thereof will be omitted, and only different configurations will be described.

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

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

[0063] According to the sealing device 100D including the conductive sliding member 10 according to the fourth embodiment, similar to the sealing device 100 described above, conductivity can be easily added to the sealing device main body portion 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, the same reference numerals are given to the components having the same or similar functions as the sealing device main body portion 200C according to the third embodiment described above and the sealing device 100C, and the description thereof will be omitted, and only the different components will be described.

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

[0066] In the sealing device 100E including the conductive sliding member 10C shown in FIG. 11, the sealing device main body portion 200E is a dust seal that suppresses the intrusion of chipping or dust or the like from the atmosphere side to the fluid to be sealed side by the dust lip portion 223E. That is, in the sealing device 100E, the seal main body portion 220E of the sealing device main body portion 200E is different from that described above in that the seal lip portion 201 and the garter spring 202 are not provided, and instead, the dust lip portion 223E is provided. The conductive sliding member 10C is not limited to an example of being 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 a seal lip portion 201 such as the sealing device main body portion 200C in the sealing device 100C described above, and may be used in combination with a dust seal such as the sealing device main body portion 200E. Sealing device 100C And according to the sealing device 100E according to the fifth embodiment, similarly to the sealing device 100C including the conductive sliding member 10C described above, conductivity can be easily added to the sealing device main body portion 200E.

[0067] And according to the sealing device 100E according to the fifth embodiment, similarly to the sealing device 100C including the conductive sliding member 10C described above, conductivity can be easily added to the sealing device main body portion 200E.

[0068] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and includes all aspects included in the concept and claims of the present invention. Further, each configuration may be appropriately and selectively combined so as to achieve at least a part of the above-described problems and effects. For example, in the above embodiments, the shape, material, arrangement, size, etc. of each component can be appropriately changed according to the specific usage mode of the present invention.

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

[0070] For example, in the above embodiment, an example in which the cylindrical portion engaging portion 143 is provided at the cylindrical portion joint portion 141 has been described. In the conductive sliding member, the cylindrical portion joint portion is not limited to this example, and may simply be able to contact the sealing device main body portion without having a claw-shaped or uneven portion that engages with the sealing device main body portion.

[0071] For example, in the above embodiment, an example in which the disk portion engaging portion 144 is provided at the disk portion joint portion 142 has been described. In the conductive sliding member, the disk portion engaging portion is not limited to this example, and may simply be able to contact the sealing device main body portion without having a claw-shaped or uneven portion that engages with the sealing device main body portion.

[0072] For example, in the above embodiment, an example in which the housing contact portion 131 forms a conductive path by contacting the housing 30 because it is formed of an elastic body having conductivity has been described. In the conductive sliding member, the conductive path from the shaft 20 to the housing 30 is not limited to this example. For example, a conductive (metal) reinforcing ring 12 that is electrically connected to the member main body portion 13 may contact the housing 30 to form a conductive path. Further, when the metal reinforcing ring 211 of the sealing device main body portion 200 is exposed from the outer peripheral seal portion 221, the conductive sliding member may form a conductive path by the reinforcing ring 12 of the conductive sliding member being in electrical contact with the reinforcing ring 211 of the sealing device main body portion 200.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[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 main 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, 143: Cylindrical portion engagement portion, 144, 144B, 144C: Disk portion engagement 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 peripheral seal portion, 223, 223E: Dust lip portion, 224: Cylindrical portion to-be-jointed portion, 225: Disk portion to-be-jointed 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, a member main body portion formed of a molded body of an elastic body having conductivity and provided integrally with a metal reinforcing ring as an insert part; an annular conductive lip portion formed on the member main body portion and slidable on the surface of the shaft; a sealing device joint portion provided on the outer peripheral side of the conductive lip portion in the reinforcing ring and joinable to the sealing device main body portion on the side opposite to the fluid side to be sealed of the sealing device main body portion that seals the space; comprising a conductive sliding member.

2. The sealing device joint portion is a disk-shaped surface provided on the outer peripheral side of the conductive lip portion, and a disk portion joint portion joinable to the disk portion of the sealing device main body portion on the side opposite to the fluid side to be sealed of the sealing device main body portion that seals the space; a cylindrical portion joint portion provided on the outer peripheral side of the disk portion joint portion and joinable to the outer peripheral side surface of the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body portion; having the conductive sliding member according to claim 1.

3. The cylindrical portion joint portion has a cylindrical portion engaging portion engageable with a cylindrical portion engaged portion provided on the outer peripheral side surface of the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body portion, the conductive sliding member according to claim 2.

4. The disk portion joint portion has a disk portion engaging portion engageable with a disk portion engaged portion provided on the surface of the disk portion of the sealing device main body portion on the side opposite to the fluid side 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 slidable with respect to the shaft and for sealing the space; A conductive sliding member provided on the side opposite to the fluid to be sealed with respect to the sealing device main body portion and formed of a molded body of a conductive elastic body, is provided with, The sealing device main body portion has a seal lip portion formed of an elastic body having a lower conductivity than the conductive elastic body, The conductive sliding member includes a member main body portion provided integrally with the reinforcing ring with the metal reinforcing ring as an insert part, an annular conductive lip portion formed on the member main body portion and slidable on the surface of the shaft, and provided on the outer peripheral side of the conductive lip portion in the reinforcing ring, and a sealing device joint portion that can be joined to the sealing device main body portion on the side opposite to the fluid to be sealed of the sealing device main body portion that can seal the space. Sealing device.

6. The conductive sliding member, The sealing device joint portion is a disk-shaped surface provided on the outer peripheral side of the conductive lip portion, and 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 fluid to be sealed of the sealing device main body portion that seals the space, and a cylindrical portion joint portion provided on the outer peripheral side of the disk portion joint portion and capable of being joined to the outer peripheral side surface of the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body portion. has, The sealing device according to claim 5.

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

8. The conductive sliding member, The disk portion joint portion has a disk portion engaging portion that can engage with a disk portion engaged portion provided on the surface of the disk portion of the sealing device main body portion opposite to 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, preparing a conductive sliding member formed by a molded body of a conductive elastic body integrally provided with a metal reinforcing ring as an insert part; preparing a sealing device main body part formed slidably with respect to the shaft for sealing the space; joining the sealing device main body part and the conductive sliding member on a side opposite to the fluid to be sealed side of the sealing device main body part; A method for manufacturing a sealing device that executes the above steps.

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

11. The sealing device main body part comprises a cylindrical part formed in a cylindrical shape around an axis, a reinforcing ring composed of a disk part provided at an end of the cylindrical part on a side opposite to the fluid to be sealed side and formed in a disk shape, and a seal main body part which is an elastic body having a lower conductivity than the conductive elastic body molded on the reinforcing ring and has a seal lip part. The conductive sliding member has a disk-shaped surface where the sealing device joint part is provided on the outer peripheral side of the conductive lip part, a disk part joint part joinable to the disk part of the sealing device main body part, and a cylindrical part joint part provided on the outer peripheral side of the disk part joint part and joinable to the outer peripheral side surface of the cylindrical part of the sealing device main body part. In the step of joining the sealing device main body portion 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 portion, and the cylindrical portion joining portion of the conductive sliding member is joined to the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body portion. The method for manufacturing a sealing device according to claim 10.

12. The conductive sliding member has a cylindrical portion engaging portion formed in the cylindrical portion joining portion and engageable with the cylindrical portion of the sealing device main body portion, and a disk portion engaging portion formed in the disk portion joining portion and engageable with the disk portion of the sealing device main body portion. 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. The method for manufacturing a sealing device according to claim 11.

Citation Information

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