Dual-Lip Seal with Ventilation Orifice for Dirt Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel mounting seals are prone to dirt accumulation and increased friction due to environmental loads, leading to inefficiencies in pressure compensation and lubrication, particularly in vehicle applications where dirt can clog ventilation orifices, affecting the seal's functionality.
Innovation Solution
A seal design featuring two sealing lips directed away from each other, with one lip angled outward to form a ventilation orifice at the sealing edge, reducing the risk of dirt accumulation and incorporating a recessed design that self-cleans and allows for elastic prestress adjustments to minimize friction during mounting and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ventilation orifices are provided in the sealing lip for pressure compensation, then pressure compensation function is improved, but dirt accumulation and clogging occur reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing ventilation orifices in the sealing lip (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by using the recessed sealing edge design where the sealing lip seals against a recessed sealing surface. This inversion eliminates the need for ventilation orifices in the lip itself while maintaining pressure compensation functionality through the recessed geometry, thereby preventing dirt accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the ventilation function from the sealing lip structure by eliminating the need for ventilation orifices. The pressure compensation is achieved through the recessed sealing edge geometry itself, removing the problematic component (ventilation orifices) that accumulates dirt while preserving the essential pressure compensation function.
2Reliability
If radial prestress is applied to the sealing lip against the sealing surface, then sealing action is improved, but friction and wear increase leading to higher operating temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating a recessed sealing surface geometry where the sealing lip engages. This localized recessed structure modifies the stress distribution and contact mechanics at the sealing interface, allowing for effective sealing with reduced friction compared to a flat sealing surface, thereby lowering operating temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the sealing interface by introducing a recessed sealing surface. This parameter change in the sealing geometry alters the contact conditions between the sealing lip and sealing surface, optimizing the balance between sealing force and friction to reduce operating temperature.
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 seal effectively prevents dirt ingress while maintaining low friction and efficient pressure compensation, eliminating the need for additional mounting aids and reducing wear and temperature generation, thus enhancing the operational reliability and longevity of wheel mounting components.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing lips of the seals are prestressed elastically against a sealing surface
Implementation Method 2
Overpressures from inside lift off the sealing lips in sealing contact from the sealing surfaces elastically
Implementation Method 3
friction arises during contact between the sealing surface and the contact zone of the sealing lip with the sealing surface
Data Source
AI summary
The seal for sealing off the bearing interior of a bearing has a first sealing lip angled outward from a base of the seal and forming a first sealing contact, and a second sealing lip angled inward from the base and forming a second sealing contact. An annular chamber is formed between the first sealing lip and the second sealing lip. The first sealing lip has at least one ventilation opening which leads into the chamber from the outside. The ventilation opening is positioned at the first sealing contact.