Damper Seal Ring Groove Layout for Lower Return Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air damper devices, such as those described in Patent Literature 1, face challenges in reducing the operational force required to move the piston in the return direction, due to high frictional resistance from the O-ring seal member.
Innovation Solution
The proposed damper device incorporates a seal ring with an annular groove and a unique bottom portion configuration, where the deep bottom portion is on the damper braking direction side and the shallow bottom portion is on the return direction side. This design allows the seal ring to deform towards the deep bottom portion when moving in the return direction, reducing the pressure contact force and frictional resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an O-ring seal member is used to seal the piston and cylinder, then sealing performance is improved, but frictional resistance increases making it difficult to operate the piston in return direction
Solution Approach 1:
The annular groove is designed with different depths at different locations: a deep bottom portion on the damper braking direction side and a shallow bottom portion on the return direction side. This local variation in groove depth allows the seal ring to deform selectively, reducing frictional resistance in the return direction while maintaining sealing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal ring is designed to be deformable rather than rigid. When the piston moves in the return direction, the seal ring deforms toward the deep bottom portion of the annular groove, dynamically adjusting its shape to reduce contact pressure and frictional resistance with the cylinder's inner peripheral surface.
2Reliability
If the seal member maintains constant pressure contact with the cylinder inner peripheral surface, then sealing reliability is improved, but frictional resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The annular groove has asymmetric depth distribution with a deep bottom portion on the braking direction side and a shallow bottom portion on the return direction side. This creates localized differences in seal ring deformation, allowing reduced contact pressure specifically in the return direction where high friction is problematic, while maintaining adequate sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact pressure parameter is dynamically changed based on piston movement direction. The seal ring's deformation state changes with piston position, altering the pressure contact force between the seal ring and cylinder inner peripheral surface. This reduces frictional resistance during return movement while maintaining sealing reliability.
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 damper device effectively reduces the operational force required to move the piston in the return direction by minimizing frictional resistance, thereby enhancing the ease of operation and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the seal ring is deformed toward the deep bottom portion of the annular groove by a frictional force from the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder acting on the cylinder contact portion
Implementation Method 2
the seal ring is deformed toward the deep bottom portion of the annular groove by a frictional force from the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder acting on the cylinder contact portion
Data Source
AI summary
A damper device includes: a cylinder; a rod; a piston having an annular groove; and a seal ring. A bottom portion of the annular groove is provided with a deep bottom portion, and a shallow bottom portion. The seal ring is provided with, on an outer peripheral surface thereof, a cylinder contact portion configured to come into contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder, and is provided with, on an inner peripheral surface thereof, a shallow bottom portion contact portion configured to come into contact with the shallow bottom portion, a center of the cylinder contact portion and a center of the shallow bottom portion contact portion are offset in an axial direction, and the inner peripheral surface of the seal ring does not come into contact with the deep bottom portion when the piston moves in a damper braking direction.