Food Shaft Support Assembly Sealing Against IPx9k Water Ingress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support assemblies for rotating shafts in the food industry fail to withstand high-pressure jets of hot water during IPx9k testing, leading to water ingress and potential bacterial proliferation.
Innovation Solution
A support assembly design featuring a sealing device with a metal shield and vulcanized rubber coating, including a tubular locking collar and an undercut structure, to enhance sealing performance and withstand high-pressure and temperature conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional sealing device with metal shield and vulcanized rubber is used, then the support assembly can be manufactured at standard costs, but the sealing lips lift under high-pressure hot water jets causing water ingress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the sealing lip, specifically introducing a rounded tip radius (R1) between 0.5-2mm and a specific angle (α) between 45-90 degrees. These parameter changes allow the sealing lip to better withstand high-pressure hot water jets by distributing the mechanical stress more effectively, preventing lip lifting while maintaining contact with the shaft for reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing lip is designed with enhanced flexibility through its specific geometry (rounded tip and angle α), allowing it to dynamically adapt to shaft rotation and maintain sealing contact under varying pressure conditions. The lip can deform elastically to accommodate shaft runout and thermal expansion while retaining sealing effectiveness.
2Reliability
If the sealing lips are made more robust to withstand high-pressure jets, then water ingress is prevented, but the complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than adding complex structural elements, the patent achieves enhanced durability by optimizing existing geometric parameters: the rounded tip radius (R1) and angle (α). These parameter modifications strengthen the sealing lip's resistance to high-pressure jets without adding parts, assembly steps, or manufacturing complexity, maintaining simplicity while improving performance.
3Reliability
If multiple sealing devices are added on opposite sides of the bearing unit, then protection is improved, but the device complexity and production difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sealing function into two distinct sealing devices positioned on opposite sides of the bearing unit. Each sealing device independently protects one side of the bearing, ensuring comprehensive protection. This segmentation allows for standardized mass production of identical sealing device components, which simplifies manufacturing through repetition rather than complicating it through integration of complex multi-functional elements.
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
The support assembly effectively prevents water ingress and bacterial proliferation, achieving IPx9k certification while maintaining long-term performance without increased production costs.
Implementation Method 1
a vulcanized rubber coating (501), which covers practically the whole of the metal shield (51), comprising a corrugated cylindrical element (502) covering the outside of the mounting portion (511) to provide a fluid seal between the metal shield (51) and the casing (3), and which comprises two sealing lips (52, 53) extending radially and axially on opposite sides, starting from a terminal end (513) of the flanged portion (512), so as to come into sliding contact with the shaft (5)
Data Source
AI summary
A support assembly for moving shafts, comprising a bearing unit positioned in a casing, and a cover for fluid sealing the casing. The support assembly comprises double level of protection provided by two distinct sealing devices that keep the bearing unit protected from washing liquid even in the most demanding conditions of use. The better sealing configuration aids in overall better sealing of the bearing unit; greater resistance to contaminants; and improving the sealing performance of the whole support assembly.