Link Seal Assembly With Lip Ring Against Sand Wear and Oil Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seal assemblies in crawler belt type traveling vehicles, such as bulldozers and hydraulic excavators, suffer from poor durability due to direct contact with earth and sand, leading to wear and leakage of lubricating oil.
Innovation Solution
A link assembly with a seal assembly featuring a seal ring and load ring configuration, where the seal ring includes a support ring, a lip ring with axial and radial lip parts, and a C-shaped opposing surface, is used to prevent earth and sand intrusion and protect the load ring, thereby enhancing durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal assembly with load ring and seal ring is used to suppress lubricating oil leakage, then sealing performance is improved, but earth and sand come into direct contact with the load ring causing wear and reducing durability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lip ring as an intermediary component between the seal ring and the load ring. The lip ring includes a first lip part that contacts the rotating member and a second lip part that contacts the load ring, thereby preventing direct contact between earth/sand and the load ring while maintaining sealing performance
Solution Approach 2:
The seal ring is segmented into multiple functional parts: a support ring for structural support, a lip ring with axial and radial lip parts for sealing and protection, and a load ring for maintaining sealing pressure. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function while protecting the load ring from direct exposure to contaminants
2Reliability
If the seal ring directly contacts the load ring to maintain sealing pressure, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but wear from earth and sand contact reduces the service life
Solution Approach 1:
The lip ring serves as a mediator between the seal ring and load ring, with its second lip part contacting the load ring to prevent direct contact between the seal ring and load ring, thereby reducing wear on the load ring while maintaining sealing effectiveness through the lip ring's contact mechanism
3Reliability
If the seal assembly allows earth and sand intrusion to be suppressed by the load ring, then sealing function is improved, but the load ring is easily worn and durability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The lip ring acts as a protective intermediary with its second lip part extending radially to contact the load ring, creating a barrier that prevents earth and sand from directly contacting the load ring while the seal ring maintains sealing function through the lip ring's first lip part
Solution Approach 2:
The lip ring is designed with different lip parts having different functions: the first lip part for sealing against the rotating member and the second lip part for protecting the load ring from contaminants. This local differentiation of function protects the load ring from harmful factors while maintaining sealing performance
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 solution effectively suppresses lubricating oil leakage and protects the load ring from wear, improving the overall durability of the seal assembly by preventing direct contact with earth and sand.
Implementation Method 1
The lip ring abuts the load ring. Earth and sand that has intruded from the outside can be suppressed from coming into contact with the load ring by the second lip part
Data Source
AI summary
A link assembly includes a first member, a second member opposing the first member and being rotatable around a rotating shaft, a seal housing formed between the first and second members, and a seal assembly disposed inside the seal housing. The seal assembly has a seal ring and a load ring. The seal ring has a support ring and a lip ring. The seal ring is disposed between the first member and the load ring. The load ring is disposed between the seal ring and the second member. The lip ring abuts the load ring. The lip ring has a first lip part that abuts the first member and protrudes in an axial direction of the rotating shaft, and a second lip part that abuts the second member and protrudes in a radial direction perpendicular to the rotating shaft.