Feather Key Torque Transmission in Slide Ring Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical seal arrangements face challenges in transmitting torque from a shaft to a rotating seal ring without compromising the strength of the slide ring, particularly in high-load operations, and struggle with precise axial positioning and assembly due to the use of driver elements with axial slots and pins.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical seal arrangement featuring a specially shaped feather key with an arc-shaped upper end and flat contact surfaces, which serves as a stop for precise positioning and reduces the number of parts, enabling secure torque transmission and cost-effective manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If pins or driver elements with axial slots are used for torque transmission, then torque can be transmitted from shaft to rotating seal ring, but the strength of the slide ring is reduced due to openings/bores and weak points are created
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the problematic axial slot from the driver element design and replaces it with a feather key that fits into a keyway. This removes the weak point and opening from the rotating seal ring structure while maintaining torque transmission capability through the feather key connection between shaft and driver element.
2Power
If driver elements with axial slots are used for torque transmission, then torque can be transmitted, but precise axial positioning of the driver element relative to the feather key is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a feather key as an intermediary element between the shaft and driver element. The feather key fits into a keyway in the shaft and has a flat contact surface that interfaces with the driver element, serving as a precise positioning mediator that enables accurate axial positioning while transmitting torque.
3Power
If conventional feather keys with axial slots are used, then torque transmission is possible, but assembly is complicated and the number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the positioning and torque transmission functions into a single feather key component. The feather key combines the role of torque transmitter and axial positioner, eliminating the need for separate positioning features like axial slots and reducing the overall number of parts required in the mechanical seal arrangement.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a slide ring seal arrangement comprising at least one first slide ring seal having a rotating slide ring (2) and a stationary slide ring (3) which between them delimit a sealing gap (4), a single-piece shaft sleeve (5), a driving element (6) for transmitting a rotation of the shaft sleeve (5) to the rotating slide ring (2), and at least one feather key (7) which is arranged between the shaft sleeve (5) and the driving element (6) to permit a torque transmission between the shaft sleeve (5) and the driving element (6), the feather key (7) having a base portion (71) and an upper end portion (72), and the upper end portion (72) being curved.