Coolant Regulator Shaft Seal With Axial Stop Against Vacuum Shift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coolant regulators with shaft seals face a risk of irreversible sealing failure due to pressure differences when the cooling circuit is initially filled under vacuum, causing the shaft seal to shift and lose contact with the housing inner lateral surface.
Innovation Solution
A circular ring with a bead-shaped cross-section is used as the end portion of the shaft seal, which elastically deforms to seal against the housing inner lateral surface and includes a spreading ring that acts as an axial stop, limiting the seal's shift and maintaining contact even under pressure differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional shaft seal is used in the coolant regulator, then the sealing function is provided, but the shaft seal may shift axially under pressure difference and lose sealing contact with the housing inner lateral surface
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft seal is divided into functionally distinct segments: a bead-shaped sealing portion for maintaining sealing contact and a spreading ring portion for providing axial positioning stability. This segmentation allows each portion to specialize in its function while working together as an integrated seal assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The spreading ring acts as a counterbalancing element that provides axial positioning stability against the pressure difference forces. By positioning the spreading ring opposite the axial stop, the design creates a mechanical counterbalance system that prevents the seal from shifting axially under vacuum conditions.
2Reliability
If the shaft seal is pressed against the housing inner lateral surface with sufficient force to maintain sealing, then sealing is improved, but the shaft seal may be irreversibly shifted under pressure difference
Solution Approach 1:
The bead-shaped cross-section is designed to elastically deform during installation to initially seal against the housing inner lateral surface. This preliminary elastic deformation ensures sealing contact is established before the system operates under vacuum pressure differences.
Solution Approach 2:
The spreading ring is positioned beforehand to act as a mechanical stop against the axial stop feature. This pre-positioned cushioning element prevents excessive axial displacement under pressure difference, protecting the sealing interface from irreversible shifts while allowing sufficient sealing force.
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 seal design prevents the shaft seal from displacing and losing contact with the housing inner lateral surface, ensuring a consistent sealing effect even in evacuated conditions by limiting axial shift and maintaining elastic deformation.
Implementation Method 1
a circular ring, under elastic deformation of the bead, seals against the housing inner lateral surface
Data Source
AI summary
A coolant regulator is provided including a housing having a coolant chamber and a rotary vane arranged therein, a drive shaft leading out of the coolant chamber that rotates the rotary vane, and a shaft seal which seals the coolant chamber from the surroundings. The shaft seal seals against a housing inner lateral surface of a housing recess and sealingly encloses the drive shaft. An end portion of the shaft seal facing the rotary vane is a circular ring that, under elastic deformation of the bead thereof, seals against the housing inner lateral surface on the outer circumference and encompasses a spreading ring on the inner circumference that limits an axial shift of the shaft seal toward the rotary vane to a dimension d<s. s is the axial distance between the bead center of the undisplaced shaft seal and the opening of the housing recess facing the rotary vane.