Hydrostatic Linear Guide Seal with Curved Lip Transition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seals for hydrostatic linear guides suffer from oil leakage at transition positions between longitudinal and transverse seal sections due to the one-dimensional movement of the carrier body relative to the guide rail, leading to inefficient oil recirculation and reduced dynamic oil tightness.
Innovation Solution
The first and second lip seals merge into each other with a constant curvature, creating a peripheral sealing edge that prevents leakage and allows for reliable oil recirculation, with the second lip seal taking over sealing functions and the third lip seal acting to prevent dirt and dust entry, using materials like nitrile-butadiene rubber and thermoplastics for enhanced performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lip seals are arranged at the corner regions where longitudinal and transverse seal sections meet, then the seal structure can prevent oil leakage during linear movement, but oil discharged at angles to the adjustment direction cannot be effectively recirculated back into the system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional sharp corner geometry with a rounded corner region having a constant radius of curvature. This curved transition allows oil discharged at various angles to be redirected back into the carrier body, enabling effective oil recirculation while maintaining sealing reliability during linear movement of the carrier body relative to the guide rail.
2Ease of operation
If the carrier body moves relative to the guide rail, then the hydrostatic linear guide functions properly with oil forming a sliding film, but oil always escapes at the lip seals during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The rounded corner regions with constant radius of curvature create smooth transition zones that guide escaping oil back into the carrier body during linear movement, preventing oil loss while maintaining the hydrostatic sliding film function between the carrier body and guide rail.
3Reliability
If the seal is designed to be closed oil-tight at standstill, then overall oil loss is prevented, but the seal must still allow for dynamic movement of the carrier body
Solution Approach 1:
The curved corner regions provide a geometric solution that maintains static oil tightness when the carrier body is stationary while simultaneously enabling dynamic movement by redirecting oil flow during operation, thus satisfying both static and dynamic sealing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A seal (1) for a hydrostatic linear guide with a given adjustment direction (5), with a longitudinal seal section (7, 7′) extending essentially parallel to the adjustment direction (5), and with a transverse seal section (8, 8′) extending essentially transverse to the adjustment direction (5), wherein a first lip seal with a projecting lip portion (12) extends along the longitudinal seal section and a second lip seal with a projecting lip portion (14) extends along the transverse seal section. A height of the projecting lip portion (12) of the first lip seal oscillates in a wave shape in the adjustment direction. With such a seal (1), both a high degree of static oil tightness and also a high degree of dynamic oil tightness are achieved for a hydrostatic linear guide.