Compressor O-Ring Assembly Using Relief Grooves and Guide Rods
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of centrifugal compressors with O-ring sealing portions is time-consuming and prone to damage due to the need for precise alignment of heavy components, which complicates the assembly process.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of relief grooves and guide rods to align and position O-rings during assembly, allowing for efficient assembly without damaging the O-rings, by using guide rods and relief grooves to guide the O-rings into their designated positions within the casing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If precise alignment is performed to prevent O-ring damage during assembly, then sealing reliability is improved, but assembly time and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning guide rods in the lower half casing and upper half casing before assembly. These guide rods are installed in advance to automatically guide the O-rings into their correct positions during the assembly process, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual alignment operations while ensuring proper sealing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses guide rods as intermediary elements between the O-rings and the casing halves. The guide rods act as mediators that automatically position the O-rings correctly during assembly, preventing direct contact between O-rings and casing surfaces that could cause damage, while also eliminating the need for precise manual alignment
2Reliability
If precise alignment is performed to prevent O-ring damage during assembly, then O-ring integrity is improved, but assembly process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rods serve as intermediary components that simplify the assembly process. By introducing these simple guiding elements, the patent eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures and manual positioning operations, reducing assembly process complexity while ensuring O-ring integrity through automatic positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rods enable the assembly process to be self-aligning. As the upper and lower casing halves are brought together, the guide rods automatically guide the O-rings into their correct positions without requiring external alignment tools or complex procedures, thereby reducing assembly complexity while maintaining O-ring integrity
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for manufacturing a compressor includes a step of installing a bundle having an O-ring on an outer peripheral surface inside a lower half casing so that a position of the O-ring in an axial direction coincides with a position of a lower half relief groove, a step of installing an upper half casing having an upper half relief groove on the lower half casing so that a position of the upper half relief groove in the axial direction coincides with the position of the O-ring, and a step of pressing the bundle in the axial direction to move the O-ring to a position away from the lower half relief groove and the upper half relief groove, and bringing the O-ring into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the lower half casing and the inner peripheral surface of the upper half casing.