Compensating Element for Drive Pressure Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive systems face challenges in cost-effective production of compensating elements that can efficiently equalize air pressure and reinforce areas with thin walls while maintaining sealing integrity and easy assembly.
Innovation Solution
A compensating element with an elastically deformable design, featuring a base body and cover part formed in one piece, with sealing lips and a helical internal toothed area, allowing for air pressure compensation and easy tool removal through plastic injection molding, and a cover part that can be pressed into the base body to reinforce thin walls and stabilize sealing lips.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the compensating element is produced using plastic injection molding with a complex tool, then manufacturing precision and sealing integrity are improved, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is divided into two independent parts: a tool core that forms the internal toothed area and an outer mold that forms the external geometry. These can be manufactured separately and assembled, reducing the complexity of any single tool component while maintaining the precision of the molded compensating element.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool core is inserted into the compensating element during the molding process, with the compensating element being formed in the space between the tool core and the outer mold. This nested arrangement allows complex internal geometries to be created without requiring equally complex tooling.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the compensating element has a thin-walled base body, then ease of deformation for pressure compensation is improved, but mechanical strength and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The compensating element features varying wall thicknesses in different regions: thin-walled areas in the base body for deformability, and thick-walled areas at the axial ends for strength. This local differentiation allows the element to deform where needed while maintaining structural integrity where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The compensating element combines regions of different wall thicknesses and structural characteristics within a single molded part, creating a composite structure that exhibits both flexibility and strength properties in different locations.
3Ease of operation
If the cover part is separately managed in the warehouse, then ease of assembly is improved, but device complexity and inventory management increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cover part and base body are combined into a single integrally molded compensating element. The cover part forms the axial end region of the base body, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and inventory management of these components while maintaining their functional distinction.
Solution Approach 2:
The single-piece compensating element serves multiple functions: it provides pressure compensation through deformation, maintains structural strength, provides sealing surfaces, and eliminates the need for separate cover part management. This multi-functionality is achieved within a single component.
4Reliability
If the sealing lips are pressed with high contact pressure, then sealing reliability is improved, but the compensating element's ability to deform for pressure compensation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing lips are positioned at the axial end regions where the wall thickness is increased for strength. This allows the sealing lips to withstand high contact pressures while the thinner-walled central regions remain free to deform for pressure compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The compensating element is functionally segmented into sealing regions (axial ends with increased thickness) and compensation regions (central areas with thinner walls). This segmentation allows different mechanical properties in different zones to fulfill their respective functions optimally.
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 solution enables cost-effective production of a drive system with enhanced sealing and pressure equalization capabilities, ensuring mechanical stability and long service life of shaft sealing rings by allowing the compensating element to deform and compensate for pressure differences without impairing air pressure equalization.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable compensating element, having a base body
Implementation Method 2
the sealing lips are pressed against the inner wall with a predeterminable contact pressure
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a compensation element (1), in particular an elastically deformable compensation element, which has a base body with which a cover part (80) is moulded in one piece, wherein said cover part can be pressed into a receiving region of the base body and/or connected in a force fit thereto.