Integrated Annular Seal for Damper Rotor Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional damper devices face challenges in assembly due to potential misalignment or twisting of seal members, leading to insufficient sealing and reduced braking force.

Innovation Solution

The damper device incorporates an annular seal portion made of soft synthetic resin, integrated with the rotor through two-color molding, featuring an outside and inside annular portion connected by a connection portion, which minimizes component count and eliminates the need for separate seal members, ensuring proper alignment during assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate seal members are used inside and outside the rotor, then sealing function is improved, but assembly complexity increases and misalignment occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing propertyVSAvoidnumber of seal members
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate seal members into a single integrated annular seal portion that includes an outside annular portion, an inside annular portion, and a connection portion. This merging reduces the number of components from two separate seal members to one unified seal structure, simplifying assembly while maintaining the sealing function at both the outer and inner circumferential portions of the rotor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The annular seal portion is segmented into functional zones (outside annular portion for outer sealing, inside annular portion for inner sealing, and connection portion for structural integration) while remaining a single integrated component. This segmentation within unity allows the seal to perform multiple sealing functions simultaneously without requiring multiple separate seal members.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple separate seal members are assembled, then sealing coverage is improved, but assembly precision deteriorates due to misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing coverageVSAvoidassembly alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the outside and inside seal portions into a single annular seal portion manufactured as one integrated component, the patent eliminates the alignment and positioning issues that arise when assembling multiple separate seal members. The unified structure ensures precise relative positioning between the outer and inner sealing surfaces without requiring complex assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal portions are pre-integrated into a single annular seal portion during manufacturing, establishing their relative positions and orientations before assembly. This preliminary integration ensures that when the rotor is assembled into the stator, the seal portions are already correctly positioned and aligned, preventing misalignment issues during the final assembly process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If separate seal members are used, then sealing function is improved, but assembly time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing functionVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple seal members into a single annular seal portion, reducing the number of assembly steps from installing and positioning two separate seal members to installing one integrated seal component. This significantly reduces assembly time while maintaining the dual sealing function at the outer and inner circumferential portions of the rotor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This design facilitates easy and precise assembly of the damper device, preventing misalignment and twisting of seal members, thereby ensuring effective sealing and consistent braking performance.

Implementation Method 1

a viscous fluid filled therebetween for imparting a resistance to a rotation or a relative rotation of the rotor, to form a braking force by the resistance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscous resistance: Viscous Damping

Implementation Method 2

an annular seal portion made of soft synthetic resin by integral molding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic sealing: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3106707B1Damper device
Publication Date: 2019.06.19 NIFCO INC
  • EP3106707B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3106707B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3106707B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A damper device includes a stator, a rotor, and a viscous fluid imparting a resistance to a rotation or a relative rotation of the rotor, and forms a braking force by the resistance. In the rotor, an annular seal portion made of soft synthetic resin is provided by integral molding. The stator includes an annular space in which the viscous fluid is filled, and a main member portion of the rotor is housed in the annular space. The annular seal portion comprises an outside annular portion provided in an outer circumferential portion of the rotor; an inside annular portion provided in an inner circumferential portion of the rotor; and a connection portion therebetween.