Integrated Piston Seal Structure for Stable Sliding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing structures for hydraulic and pneumatic devices, such as piston type accumulators and hydraulic cylinders, have a large number of components, leading to increased manufacturing time and effort, and exhibit low stability in sliding due to separate seal and backup ring components that are not adequately held.
Innovation Solution
The integration of seal and backup ring portions with a bearing portion into a single, cylindrical structure reduces the number of components and enhances sliding stability by providing a unified axial end or end portion configuration, utilizing materials like PTFE for low friction characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If seal portions and backup ring portions are made as separate components, then each component can be manufactured independently with specialized materials, but the number of components increases leading to longer manufacturing time and more assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the seal portion and backup ring portion into a single integrated sealing structure. The seal portion is formed as an integral part of the backup ring portion, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly of these components. This reduces the total component count while maintaining the functional benefits of specialized materials and designs for each sub-component.
2Ease of operation
If seal portions are merely mounted in a mounting groove without additional holding, then assembly is simple, but the stability in sliding is low and seal portions may incline during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The seal portion is integrally formed with the backup ring portion, creating a unified structure that cannot separate or incline during operation. The bearing portion extends to form the seal portion, ensuring stable sliding while maintaining simple assembly procedures.
3Volume of moving object
If backup ring portions with small thickness are merely mounted in a mounting groove, then the structure remains compact, but the stability in sliding is low and backup ring portions may incline
Solution Approach 1:
The backup ring portion is integrally formed with the bearing portion, creating a unified structure that maintains compact dimensions while ensuring stable sliding. The integral connection prevents inclination during operation, solving the stability issue without increasing overall size.
4Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for sealing structures, then each component can be optimized for its specific function, but manufacturing time and effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure integrates the seal portion, backup ring portion, and bearing portion into a single component. This allows functional optimization of each sub-region during the design phase while enabling production of the entire assembly in one manufacturing process, significantly reducing manufacturing time and effort.
5Ease of repair
If seal portions and bearing portion are separate components, then replacement of worn seals is easier, but the overall structure becomes more complex and prone to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The seal portion is integrally formed with the backup ring portion, creating a unified structure that eliminates misalignment issues between separate components. The integrated design maintains ease of replacement for the entire sealing assembly while reducing structural complexity and alignment requirements.
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 integrated structure reduces component count and improves sliding stability, preventing deformation and enhancing the seal, backup, and bearing functions in hydraulic and pneumatic applications.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing materials like PTFE for low friction characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
A seal structure is provided which enables a reduction in the number of components and an improvement of the stability in sliding of the seal portion or the backup ring portion. A sealing structure seals two members which move relative to each other, in which a seal portion or a backup ring portion placed between the two members and a bearing portion similarly placed between the two members are formed into an integral structure. The seal portion or the backup ring portion is integrally provided to one end portion in the axial direction or both end portions in the axial direction of the bearing portion having a cylindrical shape. The seal structure is used as a piston seal or a rod seal in hydraulic and pneumatic devices in which a piston is inserted into a shell or a cylinder tube.