Machine-Tool Seal Lip Structure for Uneven Sliding Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sealing members for machine tools face challenges in maintaining consistent contact pressure due to uneven sliding surfaces, leading to wear and compromised sealing performance.
Innovation Solution
A sealing member with a flat plate-shaped elastic member and a support member, where the elastic member is sandwiched between the mount portion and the support surface, allowing the lip portion to curve and absorb unevenness, reducing contact pressure changes and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lip portion is made rigid to maintain stable contact pressure, then sealing performance is improved, but adaptability to uneven sliding surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is divided into two functional zones: a fixed portion (mounting area) that remains stable and maintains contact pressure, and a lip portion (sealing edge) that is free to deform and adapt to uneven surfaces. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the elastic member are given different degrees of freedom: the fixed portion is constrained to maintain stable contact pressure, while the lip portion is designed to be flexible and deformable to conform to surface irregularities. This local differentiation of mechanical properties resolves the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the elastic member is made highly flexible to adapt to uneven surfaces, then adaptability is improved, but contact pressure stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is divided into a fixed portion that provides structural stability and maintains consistent contact pressure, and a lip portion that provides flexibility for surface adaptation. The segmentation ensures that flexibility does not compromise overall stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges two seemingly contradictory properties (rigidity for stability and flexibility for adaptability) into a single component by strategically distributing these properties across different regions of the elastic member, achieving both contact pressure stability and surface adaptability simultaneously.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a groove is formed in the connection portion to enable swinging motion, then adaptability to uneven surfaces is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the swinging/adapting function from a separate mechanical mechanism (groove and fulcrum system) and integrates it directly into the elastic member's geometry. The lip portion itself forms the adaptive structure, eliminating the need for additional grooves or fulcrum features.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using rigid grooves and mechanical fulcrums to enable adaptation, the invention employs a flexible thin film (elastic member) that naturally deforms to conform to uneven surfaces. This flexible film approach simplifies the structure while achieving the same adaptive function.
4Strength
If the elastic member is made thick to increase durability, then strength is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a uniformly thick rigid structure, the invention employs a dynamic thin film elastic member with variable thickness optimized for functional performance. The thickness is sufficient to provide required durability while remaining thin enough for easy manufacturing and deformation capability.
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 provides excellent wear resistance and prolonged sealing performance by minimizing contact pressure changes and protecting the elastic member from damage, while also simplifying production and design adaptation.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive layer which joins the support member and the elastic member
Implementation Method 2
a plate-shaped elastic member... allowing the lip portion to curve and absorb unevenness
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a sealing member for machine tools capable of keeping sealing performance for a long period of time. The sealing member for machine tools includes a support member, and an elastic member formed in a flat plate shape, the elastic member having an edge portion to be slid on a sliding surface of a machine tool. The support member has a support surface facing a part of a front surface of the elastic member. The sealing member for machine tools is mounted to the machine tool such that the elastic member is sandwiched between a mount portion of the machine tool and the support surface of the support member. The elastic member has a fixed portion sandwiched between the mount portion and the support member and a lip portion not sandwiched between the mount portion and the support member when the sealing member for machine tools is mounted to the machine tool, the lip portion including the edge portion and configured to be curved.