Composite Oil Seal With Conductive Fabric for Shaft Current Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shaft ground rings are expensive, require additional space and machining, and are not versatile in fitting different shaft diameters and motor housing configurations, leading to issues with electric corrosion and bearing damage in high-capacity and high-torque driving motors.
Innovation Solution
A composite oil seal with an integrated electric corrosion prevention function, featuring a rigid frame, an elastic seal main body, and an electrical path fabric made of woven metallic yarns, which connects the shaft to the motor housing to discharge induced current, thereby preventing electric corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional shaft ground ring is used to prevent electric corrosion, then bearing damage is prevented, but manufacturing cost increases and additional machining space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the shaft ground ring functionality with the oil seal into a single integrated component. The oil seal includes a sealing element with a conductive layer that provides both sealing and electrical grounding functions, eliminating the need for a separate shaft ground ring and reducing assembly complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The oil seal is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: mechanical sealing to prevent oil leakage and electrical conduction to ground induced currents. The conductive layer integrated into the sealing element enables the single component to address both sealing and electrostatic discharge requirements
2Reliability
If a shaft ground ring is mounted separately, then current discharge function is achieved, but assembly time and mounting space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive layer is integrated directly into the oil seal structure, combining two previously separate components (oil seal and shaft ground ring) into one. This integration reduces the number of assembly steps and eliminates the need for separate mounting operations, thereby improving assembly efficiency
3Reliability
If conventional shaft ground ring is used, then electrostatic discharge is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the conductive layer into the oil seal, the patent eliminates the need to manufacture and assemble a separate shaft ground ring. This consolidation reduces overall manufacturing costs by simplifying the supply chain and reducing the number of purchased components
Solution Approach 2:
The oil seal employs a composite structure combining a sealing element (elastic material) with a conductive layer (metal particles or conductive polymer). This composite design achieves both sealing and electrical conduction functions within a single component, reducing the need for multiple specialized parts
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 composite oil seal effectively prevents damage to bearings and electrical defects in motors by transmitting induced current to the motor housing, increasing the motor's lifespan while eliminating the need for a separate shaft ground ring, thus reducing costs and improving assembly efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical path fabric formed by weaving metallic yarns, the electrical path fabric being mounted to the seal main body to electrically connect the shaft to the motor housing so that current induced in the shaft flows to the motor housing
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a composite oil seal having an electric corrosion prevention function, which is mounted on a shaft in a motor housing to prevent leakage of oil in the motor housing. The composite oil seal includes a seal main body, which is formed of an elastic material and has an outer circumferential surface formed to be in tight contact with an inner circumferential surface of the motor housing and at least one lip protruding inwards so as to be in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the shaft, and an electrical path fabric, which is formed by weaving metallic yarns and is mounted to the seal main body to electrically connect the shaft to the motor housing so that current induced in the shaft flows to the motor housing.