Boat Drive Sliding Seal for Annular Gap Water Ingress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing arrangements for swiveling boat drives face challenges in reliably sealing annular gaps with variable dimensions while transmitting forces, leading to material compromise and increased wear due to relative movements between the boat drive and hull.
Innovation Solution
A sliding seal arrangement using elastic sealing elements that maintain constant prestress, with separate sealing elements compensating for movements in different directions along specifically oriented sealing surfaces, and an additional V-ring for external protection, ensuring reliable sealing and long service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elastic sealing rings are used to seal the annular gap, then sealing effect is improved, but material selection becomes a compromise and wear increases due to relative movements
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing arrangement is divided into multiple independent sealing elements (first sealing element and second sealing element) that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows each sealing element to handle specific movement directions separately, reducing overall wear and improving service life while maintaining reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing elements are designed to be movable relative to each other rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically adapt to the variable annular gap dimensions caused by manufacturing tolerances, assembly tolerances, and operating conditions. This dynamic capability maintains effective sealing without excessive stress on the materials.
2Force
If elastic sealing rings are used to transmit forces, then force transmission is achieved, but sealing reliability deteriorates due to material compromise
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing arrangement separates force transmission and sealing functions into different components. The movable support ring and elastic fastening elements handle force transmission, while the sealing elements focus solely on sealing. This functional segmentation eliminates the need for material compromise and improves sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable support ring acts as an intermediary between the boat drive and the sealing elements. It transmits forces from the boat drive while allowing the sealing elements to maintain their sealing function independently, preventing force transmission from compromising sealing reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the boat drive is elastically suspended, then vibration-induced movements are allowed, but wear on sealing increases due to relative movements
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing elements are designed with dynamic movement capabilities that match the vibration characteristics of the elastically suspended boat drive. The first and second sealing elements can move independently to compensate for vibration-induced displacements in different directions, maintaining sealing contact without excessive wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing arrangement accommodates parameter changes (displacements) in multiple directions caused by vibrations. By allowing the sealing elements to change their position parameters dynamically while maintaining contact pressure, the system compensates for vibrations without increasing wear.
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
The sliding seal arrangement provides durable and improved sealing performance by maintaining consistent prestress on sealing elements, reducing wear and enhancing reliability, while allowing for horizontal and vertical movements, thus preventing water ingress and transmitting forces effectively through elastic fastening elements.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one first and the at least one second sealing element are arranged on a common carrier ring, wherein the carrier ring is displaceably arranged in the annular gap... the elastic sealing elements are continuously compressed with virtually the same preload
Implementation Method 2
a sealing arrangement for sealing the boat interior against water ingress is arranged in the region of the annular gap... The sealing elements slide along specifically oriented sealing surfaces
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a boat drive (1) having a drive upper part (3) arranged inside a hull (2) and a pivotable drive lower part (4) arranged outside the hull (2), the boat drive (1) being guided through a base-side opening (6) in the hull (2) thus forming an annular gap (5) surrounding the boat drive on the peripheral side, and a sealing arrangement (10) being arranged in the region of the annular gap (5), said sealing arrangement (10) being designed as a slide seal.