Crowned Seal Anti-Rotation Lugs for Wear-Resistant Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Circumferential seals face challenges in preventing angular displacement, leading to wear and potential failure due to existing anti-rotation devices that cause material erosion or embedding issues.

Innovation Solution

An anti-rotation device featuring convexly curved lugs that fit within seal openings, preventing angular displacement by distributing contact pressure over a greater area, thus reducing material erosion and allowing radial movement of the seal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional anti-rotation devices with sharp edges are used, then angular displacement of the seal is prevented, but material erosion and embedding occur due to concentrated contact pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of angular displacementVSAvoidmaterial erosion and embedding

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer surface of the lug is made convexly curved instead of flat or sharp-edged. This curvature distributes the contact pressure over a larger area of the seal opening, preventing concentrated stress that causes material erosion and embedding, while still effectively preventing angular displacement of the seal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The lug structure is designed with differentiated local properties: the retainer surface has a specific convex curvature optimized for pressure distribution, while other portions of the lug maintain structural integrity for anti-rotation function. This localized optimization resolves the contradiction between prevention effectiveness and material protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the seal is allowed to float freely within the housing, then radial movement for wear reduction is enabled, but angular displacement occurs without proper constraint

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradial movement capabilityVSAvoidangular position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lug acts as an intermediary element between the housing and the seal. It provides rotational constraint through engagement with the seal opening while maintaining radial movement freedom. The convex retainer surface mediates the interaction by distributing contact forces, allowing the seal to float radially for wear reduction while preventing angular displacement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11105424B2Crowned anti-rotation device for circumferential seals

Publication Date: 2021.08.31 KAYDON RING & SEAL INC

AI summary

An anti-rotation device is for a circumferential seal disposed within a housing and having an annular body and one or more openings with facing first and second sides. The device includes at least one and preferably a plurality of lugs each having a first axial end coupled with the housing, preferably through an annular carrier disposed within the housing, an opposing second axial end, inner and outer radial ends each extending axially between the first and second axial ends, and opposing first and second retainer surfaces extending axially between the first and second axial ends and radially between the inner and outer radial ends. At least one retainer surface is convexly curved and each lug is disposable within a seal opening such that the convexly curved retainer surface is contactable with one of the seal opening sides to prevent angular displacement of the seal with respect to the housing.