Conductive Sliding Seal Lip for Noise and Electrical Erosion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sealing devices in vehicles with electric motors face challenges in easily imparting conductivity to address electromagnetic noise and electrical erosion without requiring design changes to the reduction gear.

Innovation Solution

A conductive sliding member with an annular conductive lip portion and a sealing device bonding portion is integrated into the sealing device, allowing easy attachment and conductivity through a molded body of an elastic body, with engagement and bonding portions for seamless integration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conductive brush is incorporated into a reduction gear or the sealing device is replaced with a conductive material sealing device, then conductivity is improved to address electromagnetic noise and electrical erosion, but design changes to the reduction gear are required

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconductivityVSAvoiddesign changes
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing device is divided into a sealing device main body portion and a separate conductive sliding member. The conductive sliding member can be attached to the sealing device main body portion, allowing conductivity to be added without redesigning the entire sealing device or reduction gear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The conductive sliding member serves multiple functions: it provides conductivity to address electromagnetic noise and electrical erosion, while also functioning as part of the sealing mechanism. This multi-functional component eliminates the need for separate conductive brushes or redesigns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If additional conductive components are added to the sealing device, then conductivity is improved, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconductivityVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive sliding member combines the sealing function and conductive function into a single integrated component. By merging these functions, the overall structure remains simple while achieving the desired conductivity without adding separate complex components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the sealing device is replaced with a conductive material sealing device, then conductivity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconductivityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive sliding member is designed as a separate attachable component rather than requiring the entire sealing device to be manufactured from conductive material. This segmentation allows the main body to be manufactured using conventional materials and processes, while only the sliding member requires conductive material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The conductive sliding member can be pre-formed with conductive properties and then attached to the sealing device main body portion. This preliminary preparation of the conductive component simplifies the overall manufacturing process compared to manufacturing the entire sealing device from conductive material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 easy conductivity enhancement in sealing devices, reducing electromagnetic noise and electrical erosion without altering the reduction gear design, facilitating easy assembly and maintaining sealing performance.

Implementation Method 1

formed of a molded body of an elastic body having conductivity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP4585834A1Conductive sliding member, sealing device, and method for producing sealing device
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 NOK CORP
  • EP4585834A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4585834A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4585834A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Conductivity is easily imparted. A conductive sliding member (10) includes, in an annular space (S) between a relatively rotating shaft (20) and a housing (30) having conductivity, an annular conductive lip portion (11) that is formed of a molded body of an elastic body having conductivity, and is slidable on a surface (21) of the shaft (20); and a sealing device bonding portion (14) that is provided on an outer peripheral side of the conductive lip portion (11) and is capable of being bonded to a sealing device main body portion (200) on a side opposite to a sealing target fluid side of a sealing device (100) that seals the annular space (S).