Lubricant-Conducting X-Ring for High-Pressure Wind Power Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lubricant conducting elements, such as those described in EP 1 488 139 A1, are unable to withstand high lubricant pressures and compensate for translational relative movements between transmission parts in wind power transmissions, leading to leakage issues.
Innovation Solution
A lubricant material conducting element with a U-shaped cross-section is designed to have mirror-symmetrical U-shaped areas, creating a ring with enhanced sealing lips and cavities to handle high pressures and relative movements, and can be partially or fully made of plastic or metal materials for improved durability and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional lubricant conducting ring with U-shaped cross section is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot withstand high lubricant pressures (more than 1.5 bar) and leaks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant conducting element is divided into multiple independent sealing lips (first sealing lip, second sealing lip, third sealing lip, fourth sealing lip) that are segmented along the lubricant flow path. Each sealing lip can independently deform to seal against corresponding grooves, allowing the structure to maintain simplicity while achieving reliable sealing under high pressure through distributed sealing points rather than a single continuous seal
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing lips are designed to be elastically deformable, allowing them to dynamically adapt their shape in response to pressure differential forces. When pressure differential acts across the element, the sealing lips deform to enhance contact with the grooves in the transmission parts, maintaining sealing effectiveness under varying high pressure conditions without requiring a complex rigid structure
2Device complexity
If a conventional lubricant conducting ring is used, then the design is straightforward, but it cannot compensate for translational relative movements between transmission parts, leading to leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant conducting element utilizes flexible, elastically deformable sealing lips that can bend and shift position in response to translational relative movements between the transmission parts. This flexibility allows the element to maintain sealing contact despite movement, providing adaptability without requiring complex mechanical compensation mechanisms or adjustable components
Solution Approach 2:
The element changes its physical parameters (shape, position, deformation state) in response to operational conditions. The sealing lips deform elastically under pressure differential forces and relative movements, dynamically adjusting their geometry and position to maintain sealing effectiveness, thereby achieving adaptability through material property utilization rather than complex structural design
3Reliability
If the lubricant conducting element has multiple sealing lips and cavities as described in the invention, then it can withstand high pressures and compensate for movements, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant conducting element performs multiple functions simultaneously: it conducts lubricant from one transmission part to another, seals against high pressure through multiple sealing lips, compensates for translational relative movements through elastic deformation, and distributes pressure differential forces through its cavity structure. By integrating these functions into a single element rather than separate components, the design achieves high reliability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A lubrication conducting element has first and second side parts, each of which creates a sealing lip. The first side part extends to the intermediate part and the second side part extends to the intermediate part. The first and second side parts and the intermediate part form a first cavity with a first opening. Third and fourth side parts each creates a sealing lip. The third side part extends to the intermediate part and the fourth side part extends to the intermediate part. The third and fourth side parts and the intermediate part form a second cavity with a second opening. A hole in the intermediate part facilitates lubrication flow between the first and second cavities. The side parts, the sealing lips, the intermediate part, the cavities and the openings extend rotationally symmetric around a common symmetric axis.