Dual-Lip Ring Seal for Radial Offset in Rotary Cylinders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ring seals fail to maintain an effective seal between pivotable cylindrical elements when significant radial offsets occur, leading to leaks or flooding, particularly in applications like propulsion devices where deformation causes misalignment.
Innovation Solution
A ring seal design featuring a main body with a frontal surface for axial contact and two circumferential lips, one for static contact with the first cylindrical element and the other for dynamic contact with the second, allowing radial movement and re-centering to maintain sealing efficacy even with large radial offsets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional ring seal with a single circumferential lip is used, then the seal structure is simple, but the seal fails when significant radial offset occurs between cylindrical elements
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into two functional lips: a first circumferential lip for dynamic sealing with the rotating shaft and a second circumferential lip for static sealing with the housing. This segmentation allows each lip to specialize in its sealing function, with the second lip providing additional support during radial offset to prevent seal failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal design incorporates dynamic adaptability through the two-lip structure that can adjust its configuration in response to radial offset conditions. The lips can deform and reposition themselves to maintain sealing contact even when the shaft moves radially, transforming the seal from a rigid static structure to a dynamic adaptive system.
2Reliability
If the ring seal is made rigid to maintain sealing contact, then sealing contact is maintained, but the seal cannot accommodate radial offset of the cylindrical elements
Solution Approach 1:
The seal lips are designed with varying degrees of flexibility and deformation characteristics. The first lip is more compliant to accommodate shaft rotation and minor radial movements, while the second lip provides structural support. This parameter variation in flexibility allows the seal to maintain contact under normal conditions while adapting to radial offset through controlled deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal employs composite construction with the main body providing structural rigidity and the circumferential lips providing flexible sealing contact. This composite approach combines rigid and flexible properties within a single seal assembly, allowing simultaneous maintenance of sealing contact and accommodation of radial offset movements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the ring seal allows radial movement to accommodate offset, then radial offset is accommodated, but sealing contact is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The second circumferential lip is pre-positioned and pre-loaded against the housing to provide immediate support when radial offset occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures that before the first lip loses contact during severe offset, the second lip is already in place to prevent seal failure and maintain sealing integrity throughout the offset event.
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 design ensures a continuous seal by dynamically adjusting to radial offsets, preventing leaks and maintaining sealing integrity during deformations, and re-centers the seal when offsets reduce, thus enhancing the reliability of rotary seals in applications with pivotable cylindrical elements.
Implementation Method 1
a ring seal intended to provide a seal between two cylindrical elements that are pivotable relative to one another
Implementation Method 2
a first circumferential lip capable of cooperating by friction with a cylindrical surface of a second cylindrical element
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a ring seal which comprises a main body capable of implementing a seal by static contact relative to a first cylindrical element, and a first circumferential lip capable of engaging by friction with a cylindrical surface of a second cylindrical element, said cylindrical elements being substantially coaxial and mounted so as to pivot relative to one another. The main body comprises a front surface configured to be in axial contact with a front surface of the first cylindrical element, the main body comprising a second circumferential lip radially opposite the first circumferential lip and capable of being in radial contact with a cylindrical surface of the first cylindrical element.