Guide Block Tangent Geometry for Rotary Seal Heat Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seal devices for mixing machines suffer from ineffective heat removal and guide member deformation due to turbulence and external pressure, leading to potential leakage issues.
Innovation Solution
A seal device comprising a sleeve, gland, guide block, and fixing member, where the guide block has inclined end faces tangent to the outer peripheral face of a ring, and a welding material is used to securely fix the fixing member within a stepped fixing hole, ensuring stable positioning and smooth fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a guide member is provided in the fluid passage to guide fluid flow, then fluid guidance is improved, but heat removal effectiveness deteriorates because the guide member occupies space in the fluid passage
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is divided into multiple guide blocks (first guide block, second guide block, third guide block) arranged along the fluid passage. This segmentation allows fluid to flow through multiple pathways around the guide blocks, maintaining effective heat removal while providing proper fluid guidance. Each guide block handles a portion of the flow, preventing any single block from obstructing the entire passage.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide blocks are positioned at different locations along the fluid passage (axial dimension) rather than all at one location. The first guide block is near the inlet, the second guide block is intermediate, and the third guide block is near the outlet. This dimensional distribution allows fluid to flow around multiple blocks in sequence, maintaining heat removal effectiveness while achieving comprehensive fluid guidance.
2Ease of manufacture
If the guide block is fixed using a fixing member inserted into a positioning hole, then assembly is simplified, but positioning reliability deteriorates because the fixing member engages merely at an end portion
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing member is divided into multiple engagement portions (first engagement portion, second engagement portion, third engagement portion) that engage with corresponding engagement structures on different guide blocks. This segmentation distributes the fixing force across multiple points rather than concentrating it at a single end portion, significantly improving positioning reliability while maintaining assembly simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple fixing functions are merged into a single fixing member that simultaneously engages with multiple guide blocks through its different engagement portions. This combining approach maintains the simplicity of using one fixing component while achieving the reliability of multiple fixation points, as the fixing member integrates multiple engagement features in one element.
3Ease of manufacture
If the inclined end faces of the guide block are not tangent to the outer peripheral face of the sleeve, then manufacturing is simplified, but fluid flow smoothness deteriorates causing turbulence and heat aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined end faces of the guide blocks are designed with specific tangent relationships to the sleeve's outer peripheral face at localized areas. Rather than requiring the entire guide block structure to have complex geometry, only the critical inclined end faces near the fluid passage have the precise tangent orientation needed for smooth flow. This localized precision maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving fluid flow smoothness where it matters most.
4Ease of manufacture
If a conventional fixing method is used with the guide block, then assembly is easier, but reliability deteriorates because the guide block is liable to shake or the fixing member is liable to break during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing member is designed with pre-formed engagement portions and engagement structures that are prepared in advance during manufacturing. These engagement features are preliminarily configured to match corresponding structures on the guide blocks, ensuring proper alignment and secure engagement before assembly. This preliminary preparation maintains assembly ease while guaranteeing operational reliability by preventing shaking and breakage during use.
Data Source
AI summary
A seal device for a rotary shaft includes a sleeve, a gland, a ring, a guide block, and a fixing member. The guide block has an outer block surface extending circumferentially and abutting against a portion of an inner gland surface of the gland, and an inner block surface extending circumferentially and opposite to the outer block surface. The outer block surface has two circumferentially opposite outer ends. The inner block surface has two circumferentially opposite inner ends. The guide block further has two opposite end faces each of which connects one of the outer ends to one of the inner ends. The inner ends subtend an angle of not larger than 90° at a center line of the gland. At least one of the end faces lies in a plane line that is substantially tangent to an outer peripheral face of the ring.