Floating Ring Sealing Device Asymmetric Grooves Center Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing devices with floating rings face issues such as unstable behavior and eccentric assembly due to unmatched center alignment between the rotating shaft and the floating ring, leading to increased leakage and operational instability.
Innovation Solution
A sealing device with a floating ring featuring a turn-stopping mechanism and dynamically pressure-generating grooves on its inner surface, allowing for center alignment and preventing rotation, even when the weight of the floating ring and the wedging effect are mismatched, by strategically placing the turn-stopping means and dynamic pressure grooves in specific quadrants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If no turn-stopping means is provided for the floating ring, then the self-aligning action can be achieved to maintain uniform gap, but the floating ring rotates at high rotational speeds due to viscous fluid influence, causing unstable behavior
Solution Approach 1:
A turn-stopping means is introduced as an intermediary element between the floating ring and the system to prevent rotation. This mediator component allows the floating ring to maintain its self-aligning capability while preventing unwanted rotational movement at high speeds, thus resolving the contradiction between uniform gap maintenance and operational stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the dynamic pressure generated at the small portion in the gap is less than the weight of the floating ring, then the self-aligning action can operate, but the gap becomes eccentric and non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic pressure grooves are arranged asymmetrically on the floating ring surface, with unequal distribution in the circumferential direction. This asymmetric arrangement creates a moment that counteracts the weight of the floating ring, maintaining both the self-aligning action and uniform gap even when dynamic pressure is insufficient to fully support the ring's weight.
3Reliability
If interconnecting parts are provided to support the floating ring concentrically, then rotation is prevented, but assembly becomes difficult and eccentricity occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The turn-stopping means is extracted as a separate, simplified component from the complex interconnecting parts system. This extracted element provides rotation prevention through a single-point engagement mechanism that is much easier to assemble while avoiding the eccentricity problems associated with multi-point interconnecting parts.
4Ease of manufacture
If the floating ring is assembled eccentrically, then assembly is simplified, but the center alignment between rotating shaft and floating ring is mismatched, increasing leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric dynamic pressure groove arrangement performs a preliminary action by pre-positioning the floating ring in the correct angular orientation during assembly. This preliminary positioning ensures proper center alignment between the rotating shaft and floating ring, preventing leakage without requiring precise manual alignment or complex assembly procedures.
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
This solution ensures precise center alignment between the rotating shaft and the floating ring, reducing leakage and enhancing sealing performance by maintaining a thinner fluid film and preventing contact, thus improving the stability and efficiency of the sealing device.
Implementation Method 1
a groove for generating dynamic pressure is provided in unequal distribution in the circumferential direction to an inner peripheral surface of the floating ring
Implementation Method 2
a turn-stopping means is provided to a single point in a circumferential direction of the floating ring
Implementation Method 3
A wedging effect is thereby generated at a small portion in a gap formed between a rotating shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the floating ring (the effect of dynamic pressure generated at a wedge part)
Data Source
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AI summary
{Technical Problem} An object of the present invention is to provide a sealing device in which a dynamic pressure generated by a dynamic pressure groove provided to an inner peripheral surface of a floating ring is employed to thereby match together the center of the rotating shaft and the floating ring. {Solution to Problem} A sealing device provided with a floating ring between an outer periphery of a rotating shaft and an inner periphery of a casing is characterized in that a turn-stopping means is provided to a single point in a circumferential direction of the floating ring, and a groove for generating dynamic pressure is provided in unequal distribution in the circumferential direction to an inner peripheral surface of the floating ring.