Bearing Seal Assembly With Load Ring for Axial Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seal assemblies for bearings face challenges in providing sufficient rigidity to absorb and transfer axial loading while maintaining the bearing outer ring's position, which requires additional manufacturing steps and costs due to the need for elastomeric material removal and complex machining.

Innovation Solution

A seal assembly featuring an annular load ring within the outer member's bore, configured to support axial loading and prevent displacement of the bearing outer ring, allowing the seal to be formed with reduced rigidity and material thickness, eliminating the need for machining elastomeric material from the axial sides and simplifying the manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the seal case has sufficient material thickness and rigidity to support axial loading, then the bearing outer ring can be retained axially, but elastomeric material must be machined off the axial sides which creates debris and requires additional cleaning steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaxial load bearing capacityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The seal assembly is divided into two functional components: a rigid seal case for sealing and a separate annular load ring for axial load bearing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromise, eliminating the need for the seal case to both seal and bear axial loads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The load bearing function is extracted from the seal case and placed into a separate annular load ring. This extraction allows the seal case to be made with sufficient elastomeric material for molding without requiring subsequent machining to remove material from the axial sides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If elastomeric material is molded on the axial sides of the case to allow material flow to radially inner portions, then the sealing member can be formed, but the material must be machined off creating debris that adheres to the seal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemolding process feasibilityVSAvoidelastomeric debris

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the sealing member from the load bearing function into distinct components (seal case with molded elastomeric material and separate load ring), the elastomeric material can be fully molded without requiring post-molding machining, thus eliminating debris generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If the seal case is made with reduced material thickness, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but the seal loses the rigidity needed to support axial loading

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidaxial load bearing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The functions of sealing and axial load bearing are segmented into separate components, allowing the seal case to use reduced material thickness for cost reduction while the separate load ring provides the necessary axial load bearing capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The axial load bearing function is extracted from the seal case structure and assigned to a dedicated load ring, enabling the seal case to be optimized for cost-effective manufacturing with reduced material thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If the seal case has sufficient rigidity to prevent axial displacement of the bearing outer ring, then the bearing is retained, but additional machining steps are required to remove elastomeric material from axial sides

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaxial retention capabilityVSAvoidnumber of manufacturing steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The axial retention function is segmented from the sealing function and assigned to a separate load ring component. This allows the seal case to focus solely on sealing while the load ring provides axial retention, eliminating the need for complex machining operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The axial retention capability is extracted from the seal case and implemented through a dedicated load ring, simplifying the manufacturing process by eliminating post-molding machining steps while maintaining reliable axial retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11815131B2Seal assembly with a load bearing ring

Publication Date: 2023.11.14 AB SKF SKF PATENT DEPARTMENT

AI summary

A seal assembly is for sealing a space adjacent to a bearing and defined between an inner member and an outer member disposed about the inner member. The seal assembly includes an annular seal disposed about the inner member and having a sealing lip sealingly engageable with the inner member. An annular load ring is disposed within the outer member bore and has an inner circumferential surface defining a bore, the seal being disposed within the bore and coupled with the ring. A first axial end of the ring is disposed against the bearing outer ring, or a spacer disposed axially between the load ring and the bearing outer ring, and a second axial end is disposed against a radial surface of the outer member. The load ring is configured to support axial loading on, and to prevent axial displacement of, the bearing outer ring.