Resin Seal Structure for Crawler Driving Apparatus Eccentricity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing seal structures for crawler-driving devices face challenges in preventing foreign objects like mud from invading the apparatus while maintaining effective lubrication, as the rotational casing can become eccentric due to load variations, leading to increased frictional heat and lubricant overheating.
Innovation Solution
A seal structure comprising annular holding grooves, seal rings, and elastic members with a slide ring of higher rigidity, which maintains a sealed contact despite eccentricity and reduces frictional loss by using low-frictional resin materials and elastic restoring forces to prevent mud intrusion and lubricant leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a floating seal with metal seal rings is used to seal the gap between the rotational casing and fixed housing, then lubricant leakage is prevented, but frictional heat is generated causing lubricant overheating and increased frictional loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the seal ring from metal to resin, which fundamentally alters the friction characteristics. The resin material provides lower friction coefficient compared to metal, thereby reducing frictional heat generation and frictional loss while maintaining sealing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite sealing structure consisting of a resin seal ring combined with elastic members (O-rings). This composite approach leverages the low-friction properties of resin while using the elastic members to maintain contact pressure and sealing effectiveness, achieving both low friction and reliable sealing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the rotational casing becomes eccentric due to load variations, then the clearance between rotational casing and fixed housing varies, but it becomes difficult to prevent foreign object intrusion using the floating seal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces elastic members (O-rings) that provide dynamic adaptability to the seal ring. These elastic members allow the seal ring to automatically adjust its position and maintain contact with the rotational casing surface even when eccentricity causes clearance variations, ensuring continuous sealing effectiveness under varying operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of resin material with specific mechanical properties allows the seal ring to deform and adapt to the varying clearance caused by eccentricity. The material parameters of the resin enable it to conform to the rotational casing surface while maintaining sealing pressure, preventing foreign object intrusion despite clearance variations.
3Productivity
If the rotational casing rotates in a muddy state on miry mud, then the crawler drives effectively, but mud invades the gap between the rotational casing and fixed housing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible resin seal ring that can conform to the rotational casing surface and maintain sealing contact. The flexibility of the resin material allows the seal to adapt to the dynamic conditions of crawler operation while effectively blocking mud from invading the gap between the rotational casing and fixed housing.
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 proposed seal structure effectively prevents mud intrusion and lubricant leakage, reduces frictional loss, and enhances the durability of components by maintaining a sealed condition even when the rotational casing is eccentric, thus improving the overall performance and fuel efficiency of crawler vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic member that is held in the first holding groove to bias the seal ring to the slide ring, and a second elastic member that is held in the second holding groove to bias the slide ring to the seal ring
Implementation Method 2
The seal ring elastically supported by the O-ring installed in the fixed housing and the seal ring supported by the O-ring installed in the rotational casing make sliding contact with each other. As a result, lubricant inside the crawler-driving apparatus is sealed to prevent an external leakage, and a foreign object is prevented from invading the apparatus from the outside
Data Source
AI summary
A seal structure is provided to block a clearance between a rotational casing and a fixed housing for driving a crawler of a crawler vehicle. A seal ring is held in a first annular holding groove provided in the fixed housing together with a first O-ring that biases the seal ring toward the outside of the first holding groove. A second holding groove having an opening facing the first holding groove is provided in the rotational casing to hold a slide ring having a higher rigidity than that of the seal ring together with a second O-ring that biases the slide ring toward the seal ring. A foreign object such as mud is thereby prevented from invading a gear chamber without increasing a frictional loss.