Bearing Seal with Multi-Height Drains for Lubricant Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed rotating components with large diameters face challenges in maintaining a secure seal due to air-liquid mixture carryover and backpressure issues in labyrinth seals, leading to lubricant leakage, especially in designs with limited installation space.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a second outlet in the outer sealing chamber above the lowest point, combined with a backstop that blocks a significant portion of the cross-section and a guide element to direct the lubricant flow, ensures effective discharge of lubricant without accumulation and leakage through the meandering sealing gap.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single drain is provided at the lowest point of the outer sealing chamber, then the structure is simple, but lubricant backlog and leakage occur at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The single drain at the lowest point is segmented into multiple drains distributed at different heights and angular positions around the sealing chamber. This segmentation allows lubricant to be discharged from multiple locations simultaneously, preventing backlog and leakage while maintaining reliable sealing performance even as speed increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain configuration transitions from a single-point (0D) drain at the lowest point to a multi-dimensional arrangement with drains positioned at different heights and angular positions. This dimensional expansion creates multiple discharge paths that effectively handle lubricant flow at various operating conditions without compromising sealing reliability.
2Volume of stationary object
If the installation space is minimized, then the device is compact, but the sealing chamber volume is reduced leading to lubricant accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing the entire sealing chamber volume, the invention applies local quality improvements by strategically positioning multiple drains at specific heights and angular positions within the compact chamber. This localized drainage enhancement ensures effective lubricant removal without requiring additional chamber volume, maintaining both compactness and sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the drainage parameters by distributing multiple drain openings at different heights and angular positions rather than using a single drain. This parameter modification optimizes lubricant discharge efficiency within the limited chamber volume, preventing accumulation while maintaining the compact sealing chamber design.
3Productivity
If backstops are positioned to block the cross-section significantly, then lubricant discharge is improved, but the gap between backstop and rotating component becomes larger reducing sealing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The backstop structure is segmented into multiple sections with distributed drain openings at different heights. This segmentation allows the backstop to block the cross-section sufficiently for effective lubricant discharge while maintaining smaller gaps in critical sealing regions, balancing discharge efficiency with sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The backstop design transitions from a simple planar structure to a three-dimensional configuration with drain openings distributed at multiple heights and angular positions. This dimensional enhancement allows the backstop to effectively block lubricant flow paths while maintaining appropriate gap dimensions for sealing, optimizing both discharge efficiency and sealing effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration prevents lubricant backlog and leakage, maintaining a secure seal even with minimal installation space, effectively managing high-speed and large-diameter rotating components by ensuring efficient lubricant discharge and minimizing environmental contamination.
Implementation Method 1
an air-liquid mixture or air Lubricant mixture is carried along by the high peripheral speed of the shaft
Implementation Method 2
a simple or meandering sealing gap is formed between the chambers, which on the one hand allows contactless rotation of the rotating component and which on the other hand represents a flow resistance for the liquid lubricant
Implementation Method 3
The backstops are designed in such a way that they block the cross section of the outer sealing chamber to a large extent
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4b
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for sealing a bearing, which is lubricated with a liquid lubricant, of a rotating component. Said device has at least one inner sealing chamber (6) which runs around in the circumferential direction and one outer sealing chamber (7) which likewise runs around in the circumferential direction. The sealing chambers (6, 7) correspond via sealing gaps (9). The outer sealing chamber (7) is sealed off with respect to the environment by means of a labyrinth seal (8). The sealing chambers (6,7) have in each case at least one outlet (61,71) into the housing of the rotating component (1). During intended use, the outlet in the outer sealing chamber (7) is arranged at the lowest point of the sealing chamber (7). According to the invention, at least one second outlet (72) is provided in the outer sealing chamber (7), which second outlet is arranged above the lowest point of the sealing chamber (7) in the circumferential direction.