Floating Ring Seal Assembly With Magnetic Clearance Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional seal devices for rotating fluid machines, such as pumps, face issues with surface roughening and anchoring of seal components, leading to loss of alignment and improper sealing due to contact between the seal ring and plate springs, and require complex assembly processes.

Innovation Solution

A seal device utilizing contactless magnetic support for the floating ring, where permanent magnets in the housing and on the floating ring provide circumferential repulsion to maintain clearance and alignment, reducing wear and simplifying assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If plate springs are used to support the seal ring, then the seal ring can be supported in the circumferential direction, but surface roughening and anchoring occur at contact portions leading to loss of alignment and sealing capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing capabilityVSAvoidsurface roughening and anchoring

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical plate spring support system with a magnetic field-based support system. Magnets are embedded in the seal ring to provide circumferential support through magnetic attraction to the housing, eliminating direct mechanical contact between the seal ring outer periphery and supporting components. This substitution eliminates surface roughening and anchoring while maintaining reliable sealing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces magnets as an intermediary between the seal ring and the housing. The magnets embedded in the seal ring interact with the housing through magnetic fields rather than direct contact, serving as a mediator that provides circumferential support without causing surface damage or anchoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If plate springs are provided in the retainer, then the seal ring can be supported, but assembling takes a lot of time and care due to the need to compress plate springs to ensure gaps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport functionVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical plate spring assembly process with a simpler magnet embedding process. The magnets are embedded in the seal ring during manufacturing, and no compression or complex assembly steps are required. The seal ring is simply inserted into the retainer, eliminating the time-consuming compression and gap-adjustment operations required for plate springs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the seal ring is contactlessly supported in the circumferential direction, then the seal ring can follow movement of the rotation shaft without restriction, but additional magnetic support components are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefollowability of seal ringVSAvoidsupporting structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the circumferential support function with the seal ring itself by embedding magnets directly in the seal ring structure. This integration eliminates the need for separate external support mechanisms while providing unrestricted followability to the rotation shaft movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical support structures with a compact magnetic field-based support system. The magnets embedded in the seal ring provide circumferential support through magnetic attraction, eliminating the need for elaborate mechanical guiding or support mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 magnetic support ensures the floating ring follows the rotation shaft's movement, maintains proper clearance, and enhances sealing and vibration damping, while simplifying assembly and reducing wear and vibration.

Implementation Method 1

permanent magnets in the housing and on the floating ring provide circumferential repulsion to maintain clearance and alignment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic repulsion: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

A seal device utilizing contactless magnetic support for the floating ring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectContactless magnetic support: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3587870B1Seal device

Publication Date: 2023.04.12 EAGLE INDS

Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
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AI summary

[Object] The present invention is to provide a seal device in which a floating ring follows movement of a rotation shaft even upon running for a long time, a clearance between the rotation shaft and the seal ring can be properly held, and a sealing operation by the floating ring and a vibration damping function can be exerted, the seal device to be easily assembled. [Solving Means] A seal device 10 that seals between a housing 11 and a rotation shaft 20 passing through the housing 11 includes a floating ring 15 arranged with a gap h with respect to the rotation shaft 20, and the floating ring 15 includes at least one supporting means 18 that supports in the circumferential direction.