Open Compressor Shaft Seal with Oil Adsorbent
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Solution Overview
Problem
In open-type compressors, lubricant leaks from the seal device can flow along the drive shaft and adhere to external components, posing a problem as existing solutions do not effectively prevent this leakage.
Innovation Solution
An open-type compressor design featuring a housing with a boss part, a drive shaft, a seal device, an annular plate, and an oil adsorbent material, where the plate and oil adsorbent material work together to scatter and absorb leaked lubricant using centrifugal force, preventing it from flowing to the exterior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal device is provided between the boss part and the drive shaft, then sealing function is improved, but lubricant still leaks along the drive shaft surface when the seal member deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of a plate and oil adsorbent material positioned between the drive shaft and the external environment. This intermediary structure intercepts lubricant before it can reach external components, effectively mediating the harmful leakage effect while the seal device continues its sealing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of lubricant leakage into a beneficial collection process. By positioning the plate and oil adsorbent material to intercept leaking lubricant, the system transforms the harmful leakage into a controlled collection and adsorption process, preventing environmental contamination while maintaining operational functionality.
2Productivity
If a ring-shaped member is provided to splatter oil on the boss part side, then oil collection is improved, but oil may adhere to the drive shaft again after falling
Solution Approach 1:
The plate serves as an intermediary barrier that intercepts oil before it can fall back onto the drive shaft. This intermediary structure redirects oil flow toward the boss part while preventing re-adhesion to the drive shaft surface, solving the cyclic leakage problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by positioning the plate and oil adsorbent material in a location that intercepts oil flow in a three-dimensional space. This dimensional approach redirects oil away from the drive shaft surface, preventing re-adhesion while maintaining collection efficiency.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the plate and oil adsorbent material are positioned to intercept leaking lubricant, then lubricant leakage prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lubricant control function into distinct components: the plate for interception and redirection, and the oil adsorbent material for absorption. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system simplicity through modular functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of oil adsorbent material with porous structure provides an effective solution for lubricant interception and absorption. The porous nature of this material enables passive absorption of leaking lubricant without requiring complex mechanical structures, thereby preventing leakage while maintaining device simplicity.
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 design effectively prevents lubricant from flowing along the drive shaft and adhering to external components by scattering and absorbing it with the oil adsorbent material, enhancing the sealing function and reducing external leakage.
Implementation Method 1
a lubricant, which has leaked out from a seal device and has flowed along an outer peripheral surface of a drive shaft, to be scattered on the boss part side by a centrifugal force of rotation of the drive shaft and the plate
Implementation Method 2
to be adsorbed by the oil adsorbent material
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an open-type compressor equipped with: a housing (2) having a housing main body and a boss part (13) integrally attached to the housing main body; a compression mechanism housed in the housing main body; a drive shaft (9) coupled to the compression mechanism and one end of which on one side (Da1) in the axial line direction protrudes to the exterior of the housing main body and is surrounded by the boss part (13); a seal device (18) sealing the interval between the housing (2) and the drive shaft (9); a plate (42) that is provided on an outer circumferential surface (9B) of the drive shaft (9) on one side (Da1) of the seal device (18) in the axial line direction, and that forms an annular shape having a first gap (G1) between itself and an inner peripheral surface (13C) of the boss part (13) facing the drive shaft (9); and an oil adsorbent material (45) that is provided on the inner peripheral surface (13C) of the boss part (13) on one side (Da1) of the plate (42) in the axial line direction, and that forms an annular shape having a second gap (G2) between itself and the outer circumferential surface (9B) of the drive shaft (9).