Deflection Roller Sealing Structure for Independent Wire Saw Speeds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Deflection rollers in wire saws face high loads and speed differences, leading to wear and clogging issues in pivot bearings due to dust and water ingress, necessitating a reliable sealing solution that allows independent speed adaptation without damaging the sealing element.

Innovation Solution

A sealing element with a cord thickness greater than the radius difference between the outer and inner sleeves, contacting adjacent deflection rollers radially, forms a continuous tube with pivot bearings, reducing load on the sealing element and allowing speed differences without wear, while maintaining a good seal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sealing element touches both stationary and rotating elements to seal each pivot bearing individually, then a good seal is achieved, but the high speed causes wear of the sealing element

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidservice life of sealing element
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing element is positioned to contact only the rotating wheel, not the stationary axle. The inner sleeve and outer sleeve act as intermediaries that guide the sealing element's position, allowing it to seal the pivot bearing while minimizing direct contact with stationary elements, thereby reducing wear

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing system is divided into multiple components: the sealing element itself, the inner sleeve, and the outer sleeve. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the sealing element provides the seal, while the sleeves provide structural support and positioning, distributing the mechanical loads away from the sealing element

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If deflection rollers are completely independent with individual seals, then complete independence is achieved, but the sealing element is subjected to high load and wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependence of deflection rollersVSAvoidload on sealing element
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Adjacent deflection rollers are connected through the continuous tube formed by overlapping inner and outer sleeves. This merging creates a shared sealing system where the sealing element contacts both rollers, reducing the individual load on each sealing element while maintaining the functional independence of each roller through the flexible tube connection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the sealing element has a cord thickness greater than the radius difference between sleeves, then it contacts adjacent deflection rollers radially forming a continuous tube, but this increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of pivot bearingsVSAvoidstructure of sealing system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing element with increased cord thickness performs multiple functions simultaneously: it seals the pivot bearing, contacts adjacent deflection rollers radially, and forms a continuous tube structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, actually simplifying the overall device complexity while improving reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4045216B1Deflection roller, deflection roller package and cable saw
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 HILTI AG
  • EP4045216B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4045216B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4045216B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a deflection roller (32) for a deflection roller package (33) of a wire saw (1), having a wheel (32), a pivot bearing (42) and a sealing element (55). The wheel (32) has a raceway (45) along the periphery thereof for guiding a saw wire (3) of the wire saw (1). The pivot bearing (42) is coaxially inserted in the wheel (32). An outer sleeve (51) protrudes from a lateral surface (49) of the wheel (32). An inner sleeve (50) protrudes from a lateral surface opposite the one lateral surface (49). A radius (53) of the inner sleeve (50) is smaller than a radius (52) of the outer sleeve (51). The sealing element (55) is placed on the outer sleeve (51) or inserted into the inner sleeve (50).