Floating Ring Seal Surface Structure for Bidirectional Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floating ring seals face leakage issues during both forward and backward movements due to drying out, which can lead to failure of the drive unit, especially when rotating in the backward direction, as the pumping effect is not adequately managed.
Innovation Solution
A ring with an active face structured into inner and outer zones, each zone having a unique laser-processed surface configuration, where the inner zone creates a pumping effect in one direction and a barrier effect in the other, minimizing friction and wear, and ensuring liquid delivery and retention based on the direction of rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If laser processing is applied to create different structures in inner and outer zones, then directional liquid delivery and barrier effects are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Traditional mechanical methods for creating complex surface structures (such as multi-step machining, molding, or assembly of multiple components) are replaced by laser processing. The laser can directly write the required first and second structures into the material surface with high precision and flexibility, achieving the desired directional liquid delivery and barrier effects without increasing mechanical device complexity. This substitution simplifies manufacturing while maintaining the functional complexity required for bidirectional sealing.
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 ring effectively manages liquid flow and retention in both directions of rotation, preventing leakage and drying out, thus ensuring the reliability of the floating ring seal and the drive unit, with optimized performance during forward and backward movements.
Implementation Method 1
each of the two surfaces has a structure produced with a laser and/or structurized. With the laser or by laser processing, a first structure is introduced into the surface of the inner zone and a second structure is introduced into the surface of the outer zone
Implementation Method 2
If the ring is rotated in the first direction of rotation, a liquid is delivered radially from the inside to the outside. The inner zone is designed in this case as the first zone of the active face or frictional surface of the ring in order to create a pumping effect for the liquid in the first direction of rotation
Implementation Method 3
The outer zone as the second zone of the active face of the ring, on the other hand, is designed to create a barrier effect for the liquid in the first direction of rotation, with the result that no liquid emerges
Implementation Method 4
If the ring is rotated in the second direction of rotation, the liquid is delivered radially from the outside to the inside. The outer zone as the second zone of the active face of the ring is designed for the purpose of creating a pumping effect for the liquid in the second direction of rotation
Implementation Method 5
whereas the inner zone as the first zone of the active face of the ring is designed to create a barrier effect for the liquid
Implementation Method 6
In this case, a liquid film is formed on the active face of the ring, which is also designed and/or designated as the running surface, whereupon a friction and as well as wear on the active face are minimized
Data Source
AI summary
A ring for a floating ring seal having an active face. The active face has an inner zone with a surface and an outer zone with a surface. The outer zone surrounds the inner zone coaxially. Each of the two surfaces has a structure produced with a laser.