Grid Coupling Seal Assembly for Easier Replacement and Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Grid couplings face limitations in accommodating misalignment, requiring frequent cleaning and reapplication of lubrication, and laborious seal replacement processes due to their design, which complicates reinstallation and can damage seals during installation.
Innovation Solution
The design includes two housing halves with combined seal members featuring a gasket seal portion and radial seal portions that can be inserted around a rotating group while the housing is removed, allowing for easier seal replacement and alignment without disassembling the hubs, with the gasket seal creating a mechanical face seal between flanges and radial seal portions providing a sliding seal between the housing and cylindrical bearing surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radial or O-ring seals are used to seal the hub neck to the housing, then sealing is achieved, but hub removal is required for installation and the seal may be damaged during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into two distinct portions: a radial seal portion that provides the sealing function, and a gasket seal portion that facilitates installation. The gasket seal portion acts as an installation aid that can be engaged with installation tools, allowing the seal to be installed without hub removal while the radial seal portion maintains sealing effectiveness between the hub and housing.
2Ease of operation
If the seal is made large enough to stretch over the teeth of the hub, then installation from the external end becomes possible, but the seal may be cut or damaged during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is segmented into a radial seal portion and a gasket seal portion. The gasket seal portion is specifically designed to be engaged by installation tools (such as a tool inserted through the coupling opening) to pull the seal into position without requiring the seal to stretch over the hub teeth, thereby preventing cutting or damage while enabling installation from the external end.
3Manufacturing precision
If hub realignment is performed during reinstallation, then proper coupling alignment is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming especially with heated interference fit
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is pre-installed onto the hub before the hub is mounted to the shaft. This preliminary action allows the seal to be in place before the time-consuming hub realignment process, so that when the hub is reinstalled and realigned, the seal is already positioned and does not require additional manipulation or reinstallation, thereby reducing overall reinstallation time while maintaining alignment precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for replacing a sealing arrangement of a grid coupling without removing or disturbing a mechanical connection of the coupling with driver and driven shafts connected to the coupling includes providing combined seal members having gasket seal portions that are integrally formed with radial seal portions and that are disposed between portions of the housing and the rotating seal group of the grid coupling.